News

National Pork Board: watch livestock closely for signs of screwworm infestation

The chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board is stressing the importance of monitoring livestock following detections of New World screwworm in the southern U.S.

Dr. Dusty Oedekoven says producers and pet owners should watch for signs of infestation.

“The most important thing that we can put on our animals now is our eyeballs.”

Speaking to Brownfield during the World Pork Expo in Des Moines last week, he said symptoms can include a wound that’s not healing.

“Or that has visible maggots in it, or sometimes a foul odor. So now that it’s been identified I think it’s just important to be watchful for signs like that, and if you see that you need to report it to your veterinarian.”

Oedekoven says it’s also very important to work with a veterinarian when moving livestock across state lines.

Elanco swine veterinarian Dr. Pat Hoffman says wounds that might become infected on pigs can stem from castration, ear tags, or ear notching.