Farms.com Home   News

Small Pests, Bigger Threats: Flies and Gnats Spread Swine Rotaviruses and Sapovirus

Annoying. Bothersome. Irritating. Inconvenience. Pest. No matter how you describe Musca domestica, aka the house fly, and its friend the gnat, one thing's for sure - they are a nuisance and pose a threat to your swine herd.

Everyone knows the small stature of flies and gnats and their ability to fly allows them to easily enter and exit barns and vehicles while bringing with them viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens. For the first time ever, a study led by Allison Knox of the Walcott Veterinary Clinic in Walcott, Iowa, shows the ability of house flies and gnats to transmit rotavirus and sapovirus in swine nurseries.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

How Generations of Pig Farming Lead to Sustainable Solutions

Video: How Generations of Pig Farming Lead to Sustainable Solutions

Hog producers are taking their stewardship to the next level by finding new ways to manage manure that benefit both the environment and their operations. One approach is using slatted floors with an 8-foot pit. By storing manure in this system, and combining it with variable rate spreading, they're able to apply manure nutrients exactly where needed, improving crop production and reducing waste.

Minnesota pig farmer, Randy Spronk shares how this system has transformed his operation, allowing him to grow healthy crops for his herd while minimizing environmental impact. It's a solution he's proud of — one not that only benefits the land but also creates a lasting legacy he can pass down to his family and future generations.