The AASV Board of Directors establishes committees to address specific issues associated with swine veterinary medicine and provide recommendations for action to the AASV leadership. The AASV committees are a critical part of the leadership structure within AASV, and they also serve as a great way for members to participate in developing positions for the association, learn about important issues, network with other members, and develop their own leadership skills. The AASV members, leaders, and staff greatly appreciate the efforts of more than 300 volunteer members who serve on at least one committee.
The AASV’s issue- and membership-based committees meet virtually during the summer and winter months and in-person at the AASV Annual Meeting. During their in-person meetings in Nashville, Tennessee in February, they planned work for the upcoming year. The following are some highlights from the Nashville committee meetings:
The Boar Stud Committee revised the Boar Stud Health, Hygiene, and Sanitation Guidelines. The committee plans to hold a preconference session during the 2025 AASV Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
The Collegiate Activities Committee has been investigating swine medicine curriculum and resources in US and Canadian schools of veterinary medicine. They will conduct a survey of the swine faculty workforce in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
The Committee on Transboundary and Emerging Diseases heard updates from the newly established Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) Elimination Task Force. Goals of the task force are to 1) determine how to measure PED virus prevalence, 2) debate modified-live virus vaccine use, 3) debate biosecurity gaps, 4) outline PED virus control and elimination strategies, and 5) determine how the plans fit within a body such as the US Swine Health Improvement Plan. The committee also recommended the AASV Board of Directors reaffirm the position statements on permanent identification of swine and a North American program is needed to manage the risk of foreign animal disease introduction through feed ingredients. They recommended the board adopt a new position on traceability. The PED Task Force recommended a new position statement on PED virus elimination.
During the upcoming year, the Communications Committee is looking forward to the release of an updated AASV website. They established an outreach subcommittee to create a document listing speakers for schools or other entities looking for a swine medicine speaker.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee discussed plans to attend the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) conference to highlight careers in swine veterinary medicine.
The Early Career Committee heard updates about the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Veterinary Services Grant Program funded AASV Participant-Led Early-Career Swine Veterinarian Development Program. The program has been extremely well received, and the committee plans to apply for funding again in 2025. The committee discussed how to best distribute results from the veterinarian attrition survey and is supporting the Student Engagement Committee as they work to develop a similar survey for fourth year veterinary students who were interested in joining the swine industry but chose another career path.
The Human Health, Safety, and Well-being Committee hosted a well-attended hearing screening during the 2024 Annual Meeting. They recommend AASV offer this service again in the future.
The Influenza Committee continues to consider how breeding herds may be classified by influenza status. They established two working groups to focus on vaccines and surveillance. The committee recommended revisions to the influenza A position statement.
In addition to preparing for the 2024 AASV Annual Meeting preconference seminar, the Nutrition Committee discussed the best way to offer educational resources and learning opportunities in nutrition to veterinarians and how to grow nutrition PhD graduate student membership in the association.
After careful review and consideration of the name and mission of the group, the Pharmaceutical Issues Committee updated its name to the Pharmaceutical and Biologics Committee. The committee is now responsible for all pharmaceutical and biological topics. The committee heard a progress report on their international withdrawal interval project, formed a subcommittee to update the swine section of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship in Pathogens Affecting Animal Health in the US report, and planned for the incorporation of biologics into their work.
In cooperation with the Boar Stud Committee, the Pig Welfare Committee recommended a lameness preconference seminar for the 2025 AASV Annual Meeting. The committee recommended the board reaffirm the position statements on castration of swine, pig welfare, and anti-abuse policy and revise the position statements on sow housing and tail docking and teeth clipping in swine.
The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) Committee has finalized two factsheets prepared by the committee on PRRS virus next-generation sequencing and PRRS virus recombination. These have been published and are available on the AASV website at aasv.org/documents/NGS-Factsheet.pdf and aasv.org/documents/Replication-Recombination-Factsheet.pdf.
The Pork Safety Committee continues to monitor the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service actions toward the 2022 proposed performance standards for Salmonella in raw pork. The committee recommended a preconference seminar at the 2025 AASV Annual Meeting.
The Student Engagement Committee will continue to host The Swine Medicine Talks: An AASV Series for Veterinary Students. The committee discussed updating the student recruitment brochure and opportunities to reach pre-veterinary students, such as the National FFA Convention, the Student American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, and the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association Symposium. They plan to expand the current work the Early Career Committee has done in recruitment and retention.
See aasv.org/aasv/positions for all current position statements.
Almost all committees need additional members who are swine veterinary practitioners. If you are interested in learning more about the committee activities, visit the committee web pages on the AASV web site (aasv.org/members/only/committee). Contact a committee chair or the AASV office to join a committee.
Abbey Canon, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Director of Public Health and Communications