AASV Adopts IT Position

April 25, 2018 — 

On January 3, 2018, an ad hoc group of representatives from the National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, Swine Health Information Center, and American Association of Swine Veterinarians met to discuss swine health and the role of information technology (IT). Invitees included: Lisa Becton (NPB), Tom Burkgren (AASV), Maryn Ptaschinski (practitioners/producers), Harry Snelson (AASV), Paul Sundberg (SHIC), Liz Wagstrom (NPPC) and Patrick Webb (NPB). The group discussed the swine health concerns facing the constituents of each organization represented and the potential impact of improved IT.

Producers and veterinarians have recognized the need for herd health information at the farm, regional and national level. Recent disease challenges have increased interest in data analysis and the capability to efficiently share data on a permissioned basis. Technology now exists to enable and enhance those capabilities. In addition, state and federal animal health officials concede the need for electronic data transfer to maintain business continuity during animal health emergencies and for routine disease control programs. Efforts to monitor emerging disease challenges globally and raise awareness of impending threats are likewise facilitated through improved communication technologies. The veterinary diagnostic laboratories have also responded to IT concerns by working to standardize the reporting of diagnostic results.

There was also recognition that stakeholders utilize data differently. Some want access to data in a manner that allows them to perform their own analysis in an effort to answer specific questions. Others are content to have a third party collect and analyze the data providing them with routine or specialized reports of the analysis. The industry's IT solution should effectively address both these scenarios to promote widespread benefit from the data availability.

The group identified a number of areas which would benefit from a robust IT infrastructure. While the group recognized the myriad of independent efforts to address IT challenges within the industry, it was evident that there is no unified structured approach to coordinate a focused strategy to promote IT advances and adoption. It was the opinion of the group that an effective coordinated IT strategy is necessary to, among other things:

• promote continuous improvement;
• facilitate the identification of swine health trends and emerging diseases;
• enable business continuity during animal health emergencies; • enhance disease prevention, response and recovery;
• promote trade; and
• promote permissioned data sharing within the industry and to external stakeholders when appropriate.

To this end, it was the opinion of the participants representing all four allied groups that a structured coordinated IT strategy should be a priority for the swine industry. The group recommends that each organization consider adopting the following position statement regarding the importance and prioritization of IT in the swine industry:

Position statement

"The American Association of Swine Veterinarians, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council and Swine Health Information Center recognize the importance of information technology and its impact on all aspects of pork production especially swine health, production and well-being. The industry recognizes the need to prioritize the adoption of a strategy to coordinate and direct the development of information technologies to address current and future industry needs with the goal of promoting continuous improvement within the industry."