A team of European scientists has found a key pig gene for the replication of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus. Researchers from the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) in Germany and the Roslin Institute of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, recently conducted this piece of research, which aimed to find out which pig genes are needed for the ASF virus (ASFv) to replicate. The study describing their findings was published in August 2023 in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Scientific Reports and shows that there is a gene from the pig’s immune system that is key to this process. This provides important new insights into the biology of the ASFv that could form the basis for future research approaches. ASFv has a large DNA genome from which more than 160 viral proteins are produced in infected cells. Little is known about the functions of many of these viral proteins. It is also unclear which cellular proteins are used by the ASF virus to enter the host cell. To identify host proteins important for ASFv, scientists at the Roslin Institute provided a CRISPR/Cas9 expression library as a molecular tool that allowed their colleagues Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute to knock out all known genes in the pig genome individually in vitro and test the resulting cell cultures for susceptibility to ASF virus infection. That led to the identification of several genes of the major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) as relevant factors for the reproductive capacity of ASFv, the news release explained. In particular, the MHC II receptor protein SLA-DM was shown to be required for efficient ASFv infection. Therefore, the research team concluded, SLA-DM may be a suitable target protein for the development of effective therapeutics against ASF or ASFv resistant pig breeds.

More than 70% of the body’s immune cells are located into the gut, which means there is a close connection between intestinal microbiota and the immune system. The sow’s microbiota influences the piglet’s immune system development and, consequently, their growth and survival. At birth and during early life, the piglets are highly dependent on the maternal passively derived immunity for the survival. The transfer of immunity initially occurs through colostrum. Antibodies are big proteins, and only get into the piglet’s blood stream in the first hours of life before the gut closure. Immunoglobulins from the mother, including immunoglobulin G (IgG) can be absorbed through the colostrum. The probiotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM-I-1079 included into the sows’ diet, has shown positive results on the IgG colostrum concentration. Recent studies have shown that animals raised on artificial milk formula rather than maternal milk have a higher susceptibility to disease, also linked to a reduced intestinal microbiota diversity. Cytokines and chemokines are making connections between the different organs to coordinate the immune response. They are biomarker peptides critical for humoral and cell mediated immunity. Cytokine gene expression in the lungs of piglets was influenced by the treatment of sows. The lower expression of cytokines in the lungs of the piglets born and nursed from supplemented sows suggests a reduced inflammatory reaction compared to the piglets from non-supplemented sows. The immune transfer through colostrum, modulation inflammatory response, etc. translated to better performance of the piglets after weaning, reflecting maternal imprinting. Probiotics, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM-I-1079, are positively affecting the gut microbiota from the sow to her piglets and driving their immune system to a more mature one and are interesting tools to support piglet quality and reduce antibiotic use.

Softer consumption trends in early 2023 are prompting caution in the global pork industry as it struggles to adjust to a moving target, according to Rabobank’s latest quarterly pork report. Weaker economic growth is starting to have an impact on global pork consumption. Although the worst of the inflationary effects appear to be in the past, the lagged impact on consumption is likely to be felt throughout 2023. In a slowing economy, pork remains well-positioned, as demand for the protein is historically less income-sensitive than more expensive proteins like beef and premium seafood. “Nevertheless, we see persistently high retail prices limiting consumption of all proteins. Consumers continue to conserve capital by shifting everyday purchases to lower-value protein options, switching channels, and moving to smaller pack sizes,” says Christine McCracken, senior analyst – animal protein at Rabobank. Moreover, industry optimism in 2022 after a notable upward shift in pork consumption (and prices) in some markets and expectations of a 2023 recovery of pandemic-restricted consumption in others contributed to planned supply growth in 2023. That growth will take time to curb. “Slowing supply in Europe will help balance the industry, yet high costs of production and limited consumer support will require a more conservative approach to production to stabilize margins,” McCracken said. Although a modest improvement in production costs is expected in 2023, local conditions will vary, and risk management will remain critical to success. Global feed stocks are at historically low levels, and availability remains tight. A disappointing Argentine harvest will partially offset Brazil’s record 2023 soybean and safrinha corn crops, leaving the market to focus on import needs, Black Sea grain availability, and the successful planting of a new crop in the Northern Hemisphere. “Rabobank expects the small global cushion in grain and oilseed stocks to drive additional feed cost volatility in 2023,” McCracken said.

Brazilian pork export increased with 15.7% in the first quarter of 2023 in comparison to the same period last year. The country exported 274,800 tonnes this season against 237,500 tonnes between January and March of 2022. In the same period, revenue from export totaled US$ 646.3 million. This is 29.6% more than the total of the first 3 months of 2022, which totaled US$ 498.5 million.

“Rising production costs in the world, as well as the impact of health issues in several producing countries have supported the trend of increasing demand”, analyses president of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) Ricardo Santin. The resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China and the Philippines should also keep Brazilian exports at levels above 100,000 tonnes a month in the coming months. China, the main destination of pork shipments, imported 109,600 tonnes between January and March. This was 25.6% more than in 2022, which totaled 87.200 tonnes. In the same period, sales to Chile also stood out with 21,300 tonnes (+96.8%), the Philippines, with 17,800 tonnes (+8), Singapore, with 15,900 tonnes (+25 .8%), and Japan, with 7200 tonnes (+36.9%).

The safety of mRNA vaccines created for protection against Covid-19 remains controversial. The accuracy and extent of testing has been questioned by many, including government officials and industry employees. Currently, some of these vaccines are approved in the US only under ‘Emergency Use Authorisation, but as of April 18, “the monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines are no longer even authorised for use in the US.” Now, the controversy has extended to using mRNA vaccines in pigs, cows and other livestock. For example, the Texas Agriculture Commissioner recently stated that “since news of the development of mRNA vaccines and mRNA-related treatments for livestock came to our attention, we have been working towards developing a fact- and science-based assessment of the risks.”

A company called Good Ranchers that sources all its meat from US independent farms and also strongly supports more accurate meat product labelling, states that “recently, some states have worked to make the mRNA vaccines mandatory. We have never and will never source meat from any farm that uses mRNA vaccines in their animals.” Years ago, Bayer joined with Germany-based BioNTech to develop mRNA vaccines for animals. Harrisvaccines created a swine mRNA vaccine platform called Sequivity in 2015. Merck Animal Health purchased it around that time. The company describes the platform as able to “create custom [veterinary] prescription products” such as vaccines against PCV2, PCV3, and PED. It also “allows for the creation of multivalent formulations by blending RNA particles to target multiple swine pathogens in one shot.” The US government granted a conditional licence for the Sequivity “PED Vaccine, RNA Caution” product sometime before 2015. Efficacy and potency test studies were in progress then. Dr Robert Malone, the originator of mRNA technology and very much against its use in vaccines, recently stated that Sequivity, which he calls a ‘pseudo mRNA’ vaccine, “has been approved for swine by the US Department of Agriculture, is on the market now and there is no special labelling for the meat.” However, in a recent podcast, molecular biologist Dr Kevin Folta of the University of Florida’s department of horticulture describes the controversy of using mRNA vaccines in livestock as “manufactured.”

One of his guests, Dr Alison Van Eenennaam of the University of California-Davis, noted that mRNA breaks down quickly and would not survive the digestive process. However, scientists in China concluded in a 2022 study “that bovine milk-derived exosome-based-mRNA vaccine could serve as a new strategy for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Meanwhile, it can also work as a new oral delivery system for mRNA.” For his part, Dr Malone recently stated that the mRNA in vaccines “has not been tested and it is not ‘normal’ mRNA like what is found in the body … ‘Pseudo’ uridine has been substituted for uridine in the mRNA. We ingest mRNA and DNA daily in our food. Our stomachs break it down. But this is not normal mRNA. So, who knows?” He also questioned the safety of other vaccine components such as lipid nano particles. “Will there be trace amounts in the meat? Will heat break it down? How much heat? Are there other chemical components in the products? We just do not know. If [testing] has been done, show me the data.”

Analysis of pig DNA has offered insights into important correlations with muscle growth. This can provide tools to help predict piglet growth and support pig breeding programmes. Researchers from the Roslin Institute and the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health sought to find and examine regions of DNA that regulate muscle development in piglets. The team used a technique to study DNA in frozen tissue, which is advantageous because it can help limit the numbers of animals used for research. They applied this technique to samples from muscle in piglets at various stages of development, to pinpoint regions of DNA that control activity in genes linked to muscle growth, and to study activity in these genes. Variations in regions of DNA were observed between small and large piglets. These variations suggest a difference in how DNA is regulated – which in turn governs muscle growth – between large and small piglets. Researchers hope to explore their data further to identify variations in the genetic code of pigs that are linked to growth, and better understand how these differences regulate the activity of key genes involved in muscle development, to inform pig breeding programmes.

Research carried out by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern Ireland and Queen’s University, Belfast has found that stomach ulcers may cause changes in the way pigs rest, or may be the result of such changes. Therefore, changes in behaviour may allow an ulcer to be detected before more serious damage occurs. Also, pigs with stomach ulcers have been shown to be less prone to harmful behaviours such as tail biting. Stomach ulcers are an important pathological condition in pig farming. Research in several European countries suggests that approximately 20% of slaughtered pigs have mild ulcers, whilst another 10% have severe ulcers. The researchers from the two institutions identified pigs with and without stomach ulcers at slaughter, and then compared their behaviour using video recordings taken in the two weeks prior to slaughter.

The most obvious difference was the side they chose to rest on. Pigs with stomach ulcers (even mild ones) were much less likely to lie on their right side than those without ulcers (on average 12% of the time, as compared to 25% of the time for those without ulcers). The research team also observed that pigs with stomach ulcers showed less harmful social behaviour than those without ulcers; tail biting occurred only a third as often as in pigs without ulcers, and ear biting half as often. Both ulcers and harmful social behaviour are increased by stress, and it is conceivable that some pigs respond to stress by adapting their behaviour, while others that do not act upon it may suffer more physical consequences.

China’s pork production in 2022 rose 4.6% from 2021, to the highest level since 2014, according to official data released in mid-January that contradicted expectations of lower growth, reported Reuters. Pork output from the world’s top meat producer reached 55.41 million tons, the highest since 56.71 million tons eight years ago. Output was boosted by a high fourth-quarter production of 13.91 million tons, according to Reuters calculations based on data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics. This was 0.87% higher than the same quarter a year earlier, despite labour shortages in slaughterhouses due to the COVID outbreaks. Farmers have raised heavier hogs in the hope of benefiting from an expected recovery in demand and prices, which could have boosted output. However, demand remained subdued as the resurgence of the COVID-19 epidemic in China caused many to stay at home, causing prices to fall.

“Feed production has been weak throughout 2022 and we have also seen this reflected in the lower yearly soybean import number. It is difficult to reconcile this higher meat production number with the declines seen in feed production and soybean imports,” said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder of Shanghai-based agriculture consultancy Sitonia Consulting. The data shows that China’s pork production has increased every quarter year-on-year for the last two years despite weak demand. China’s beef output rose 3% last year to 7.18 million tons, the data also showed, while poultry output rose 2.6% to 24.43 million tons and lamb and mutton increased 2% to 5.25 million tons.

Research carried out by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern Ireland and Queen’s University, Belfast has found that stomach ulcers may cause changes in the way pigs rest, or may be the result of such changes. Therefore, changes in behaviour may allow an ulcer to be detected before more serious damage occurs. Also, pigs with stomach ulcers have been shown to be less prone to harmful behaviours such as tail biting. Stomach ulcers are an important pathological condition in pig farming. Research in several European countries suggests that approximately 20% of slaughtered pigs have mild ulcers, whilst another 10% have severe ulcers.

The researchers from the two institutions identified pigs with and without stomach ulcers at slaughter, and then compared their behaviour using video recordings taken in the two weeks prior to slaughter. The most obvious difference was the side they chose to rest on. Pigs with stomach ulcers (even mild ones) were much less likely to lie on their right side than those without ulcers (on average 12% of the time, as compared to 25% of the time for those without ulcers).

The research team also observed that pigs with stomach ulcers showed less harmful social behaviour than those without ulcers; tail biting occurred only a third as often as in pigs without ulcers, and ear biting half as often. Both ulcers and harmful social behaviour are increased by stress, and it is conceivable that some pigs respond to stress by adapting their behaviour, while others that do not act upon it may suffer more physical consequences.