Missouri’s pork producers are dealing with mounting concerns over livestock health as disease outbreaks surge across farms throughout the state. According to Scott Hays, who leads Missouri Pork as executive director, animal wellness has become the primary concern for producers in the region.
This year has brought an uptick in cases of Porcine epidemic diarrhea among swine herds, creating substantial obstacles for farm operations. Hays explained the severity of the situation, stating: “It’s a challenge because you’ll lose three to four weeks of production with the disease, which is a pretty big financial hit.”
The disease outbreaks are forcing farmers to halt normal production cycles, resulting in lost revenue during the affected periods. These health challenges underscore the vulnerability of livestock operations to disease pressures and their direct impact on agricultural profitability.
