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U Of I Extension Hosts Bird Flu Conference Call

Although the bird flu virus has not yet been reported in Illinois, its presence in several midwestern states is close enough to home to cause concern. University of Illinois Extension will host a one-hour conference call to address questions about avian influenza.

Information will be shared on topics such as, how to identify the virus, how to limit risk to a flock, and what to do if birds are infected. Poultry producers, backyard chicken enthusiasts, and others who are interested in learning more about the virus are invited to join the live conference call:

Thursday, April 30, at 1 p.m. CST.

888-983-3631, passcode 86333472#

Poultry experts on the call will be:

Ken Koelkebeck, Ph.D., University of Illinois

Kyle Cecil, Ed.D., University of Illinois Extension

Andrew Larson, M.S., M.B.A., University of Illinois Extension

Source:illinois.edu


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Four Star Pork Industry Conf - Back to Basics: Fundamentals drive vaccine performance

Video: Four Star Pork Industry Conf - Back to Basics: Fundamentals drive vaccine performance

At a time when disease pressure continues to challenge pork production systems across the United States, vaccination remains one of the most valuable and heavily debated tools available to veterinarians and producers.

Speaking at the 2025 Four Star Pork Industry Conference in Muncie, Indiana, Dr. Daniel Gascho, veterinarian at Four Star Veterinary Service, encouraged the industry to return to fundamentals in how vaccines are selected, handled and administered across sow farms, gilt development units and grow-finish operations.

Gascho acknowledged at the outset that vaccination can quickly become a technical and sometimes tedious topic. But he said that real-world execution, not complex immunology, is where most vaccine failures occur.