Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been dominating everyone’s life for months. The virus was just beginning to appear in the United States as we approached the 2019 AASV Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. We feel fortunate to have been able to hold the meeting; we may have had to cancel had it been scheduled one week later. We are very thankful to everyone who attended and the sponsors who continue to support the association. Nonetheless, due to reduced registrations, technical tables, and subsequent cancellations, the global pandemic did have a significant impact on the revenue AASV derives from the annual meeting.
Since March, the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on our industry has been dramatic and unprecedented. The AASV has worked in collaboration with the National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, and Swine Health Information Center to engage with allied organizations such as the North American Meat Institute, North American Renderers Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. We have supported efforts at the local and national level to stress the importance of recognizing processing facilities as an integral part of critical infrastructure necessary to feed America. We have actively participated in daily calls with state and federal animal health officials to coordinate preparation efforts to address the marketing challenges resulting from the closure and reduced operating capacity of the nation’s processing facilities as well as helping states prepare to address the need to depopulate and dispose of thousands, if not millions, of market-weight hogs. The goal of this enhanced interaction is to emphasize the concerns of swine veterinarians and pork producers to ensure every effort is being made to recognize and address those concerns.
More importantly, the AASV staff has attempted to provide access to the resources necessary to help guide our members as they work with their clients to address these unprecedented challenges. Dr Abbey Canon developed the AASV’s COVID-19 webpage and gathered a wealth of information regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its impact on human and animal populations. She has authored numerous updates and messages distributed to AASV members via email alerts and e-Letter articles. Sherrie Webb has provided her years of pig welfare expertise to provide insights regarding humane euthanasia and mass depopulation to help veterinarians guide their clients through the decision-making process when faced with the unthinkable challenge of having to dispose of large numbers of animals. Sherrie worked with the AASV Pig Welfare Committee to consider the options facing producers and veterinarians regarding the decision to depopulate herds and develop a position statement on the issue, which was subsequently adopted by the AASV Board of Directors.
Abbey and Sherrie have emphasized the importance of the health and well-being of our member veterinarians working on the front lines during this pandemic. They have posted additional resources on the AASV website to raise awareness about human wellness and initiated discussions with Dr Elizabeth Strand from the University of Tennessee that resulted in the implementation of HEARD VET, a swine veterinarian-peer support group. This virtual group offers a space to share your experiences with your fellow veterinarians. Dr Strand has agreed to provide this service to AASV members for as long as it is needed. Whether it is through Heard Vet or some other support structure, I hope you will take advantage of the resources available to promote your mental well-being.
The AASV office is in Dallas County, which has been one of the counties with the highest rate of positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa. As local and state officials closed businesses and requested residents to stay at home, I instructed our staff to work from home when possible. Dr Sue Schulteis agreed to continue managing the office and has worked diligently to coordinate phone calls, emails, invoicing, et cetera while wrapping up the 2020 Annual Meeting and preparing for the 2021 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. We just held a successful virtual Program Planning Committee meeting under the very capable direction of AASV President-elect Dr Mary Battrell. The group has proposed an excellent list of timely topics and speakers for next year’s meeting. We are proceeding in the hopes of holding an in-person meeting but are exploring virtual options as well. Stay tuned, we will keep you updated.
Above all, we are here to support you and provide you with whatever resources and information we can. I hope by the time you read this, we will be on the recovery side of this outbreak and looking forward to getting back to what we do best – caring for the animals, working to support the farmers who raise those animals, and producing safe wholesome food.
Harry Snelson, DVM
Executive Director