The Penn Vet Swine Group

Comprised of leading swine production medicine, reproduction and welfare behavior experts, Penn Vet’s Swine Group offers practical, applicable, and scalable production solutions tailored to addressing the challenges facing today’s pork industry and improving the viability of the farm or swine business.

In addition to offering herd production troubleshooting and sustainable, welfare-centric models for swine facilities, Penn Vet's Swine experts also implement the Pennsylvania Regional Control Program – a state-wide system that monitors for emerging diseases that threaten the well-being of Pennsylvania’s pigs and pork producers.

Swine Reproductive Health

Led by Dr. Gary Althouse, the Reference Andrology Laboratory at New Bolton Center provides complete testing of neat, cooled, and frozen-thawed semen to aid on-farm veterinarians in their differential diagnosis of individual, herd, or flock reproductive problems. In addition, Penn Vet's Swine Herd Health experts regularly provide on-location outreach services for all mammalian and avian species to troubleshoot reproductive issues and optimize breeding husbandry practices. Learn more about the Swine Reproduction services offered at Penn Vet...
Swine Welfare and Sustainability

Under the leadership of Dr. Tom Parsons, Penn Vet's Swine Teaching & Research Center supports swine operations through applied research in the areas of swine reproduction, swine welfare and behavior, and swine production medicine. In addition to its hallmark expertise in advancing welfare-centric practices, the center provides on-farm outreach services to help swine producers optimize, and ensure the viability of, their farm businesses. Learn more the Swine Teaching & Research Center...
Swine Disease Control and Management

Through the support of the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council, Penn Vet's Dr. Meghann Pierdon oversees the Pennsylvania Regional Control Program: a progressive state-wide system that monitors for emerging diseases that threaten the well-being of Pennsylvania’s pork and poultry producers. Beyond providing outreach services to improve on-farm biosecurity practices, Penn Vet also works with local, regional, and federal government agencies to decrease the amount of non-reportable disease spread, giving producers more control over protecting their farms or operations from harmful disease. Learn more about Penn Vet's Disease Control and Management services...

Penn Vet Swine Group
	Dr. Gary Althouse Expertise Areas: Swine Reproduction (Semen Analysis, Assisted Reproductive Technologies), Applied Swine Production and Management Strategies Reference Andrology Laboratory
	Dr. Tom Parsons Expertise Areas: Swine Behavior and Welfare, Applied Swine Production and Management Strategies, Swine Production Medicine Swine Teaching & Research Center
	Dr. Meghann Pierdon Expertise Areas: Swine Behavior and Welfare (Group Housing, Sow Lameness, Sow Gestation), Swine Disease Surveillance and Management Strategies, Swine Biosecurity and Diagnostics, Livestock Pain Mitigation Pennsylvania Regional Control

In the Media

Novel people movement management technology helps reduce swine disease transmission

Feedstuffs — Thursday, Jun 7, 2018
Dr. Thomas Parsons comments on the importance of managing the movement of people on-farm for a successful biosecurity program.
Chinese Visit Pennsylvania’s Pork Industry

Lancaster Farming — Monday, Sep 18, 2017
Penn Vet hosted representatives from some of China’s largest pork companies to provide industry insights.
Crate controversy: Pig farmers face growing pressure

WTHR-TV Channel 13 — Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015
The pork industry is under growing pressure to defend use of gestation crates

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Penn Vet News Stories

Stopping Disease in its Tracks: How Geospatial Mapping Protects Pennsylvania’s Producers

Tell a swine or poultry producer that their animals are sick and the first question they ask is, “How?”

Thanks to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet), producers can now get an answer to that pressing question fast – or even stop disease from encroaching past their property lines altogether.

Electronic sow feeding shows promise, despite challenges

It’s feeding time at the University of Pennsylvania’s Swine Teaching and Research Center in Chester County’s horse country.

Actually, it’s always feeding time in this loose pig environment. Sow gestation stalls are gone, free-roaming pig pens are in. The sow decides when she wants to eat, not the other way around.

Dr. Gary Althouse Named Penn Vet’s Associate Dean of Sustainable Agriculture and Veterinary Practices

The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) announced the appointment of Gary Althouse, PhD, DVM, to associate dean of Sustainable Agricultural and Veterinary Practices. The appointment was effective April 1, 2019.

Swine Production Facilities at New Bolton Center

Penn Vet Swine Group Discusses Global Challenges Arising from China’s African Swine Fever Outbreak

In China, a country that is home to more than half of the world’s swine population, the spread of deadly infectious disease - such as the current African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak - can carry tremendous implications for food supply and pricing across the globe.

Penn and Chinese pork producers swap ideas to share and learn

Pork is the world’s most consumed meat, thanks in large part to the Chinese. China consumes half of the planet’s pork and, accordingly, is home to roughly 50 percent of the world’s pigs.

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