Parasite infection is a common problem in organic pig production, which can compromise health and growth of pigs, threaten food safety of pork products, and cause economic losses to organic farmers. To develop management strategies for controlling parasites, we evaluated intestinal parasite infection in pigs at different ages and of different sexes, and investigated whether parasite infection influences growth performance and carcass traits in a cross-sectional study. Fecal samples were collected from pigs (n = 298) raised under near-organic standards during nursery, growing, finishing, and gestating phases for analysis of fecal egg counts (FEC) of Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, and Oesophagostomum spp. Ascaris suum eggs were not detected in the feces of nursery pigs. Eggs of Ascaris suum were found in 45%, 74%, and 0% of fecal samples of growing pigs, finishing pigs, and gestating sows, respectively, after false-positive adjustment (P < 0.001). Mean FEC of Ascaris suum was higher in infected finishing pigs than in infected growing pigs [2,502 vs. 724 eggs per gram (epg), P < 0.001]. No differences in percent of Ascaris suum positive samples or FEC of Ascaris suum were detected between sexes. Growth performance and carcass traits were not different between non-infected pigs and those infected with Ascaris suum. All pigs (n = 32) examined at slaughter had white spots on the liver, and 78% harbored Ascaris suum worms. Trichuris suis eggs were not detected in any fecal samples. Eggs of Oesophagostomum spp. were found in 7%, 0%, 1%, and 9% of fecal samples of nursery pigs, growing pigs, finishing pigs, and gestating sows, respectively, with a maximum FEC of 40 epg in all age groups. These results indicate Ascaris suum was the predominant parasite infecting growing and finishing pigs in the herds studied. To control A. suum infection, future research should investigate the efficacy of treating pigs with organically approved anthelmintics during the growing phase of production.

In this paper we approach the COVID-19 pandemic through the genealogical analysis of biopolitics. We recognize two key discontinuities in the genealogy of biopolitics. First, we have the transformation of the ?old biological regime? and the emergence of the gaze as a technology of power/knowledge. This was essentially the epoch of the birth of biopolitics, and the period when life ?entered? the sphere of politics. We then note the emergent discontinuity in biopolitical technologies today, during the pandemic of COVID-19, as we are witness to the transformations of biopolitical measures on the global scale. We also recognize important lessons from the genealogy of biopolitics as a ?history of the present?. During just one historical epoch, biopolitics emerged as the power over life. That was the period of the so called ?epistemic break? and the emergence of life as the new dynamic force of productivity, power, trade, cities, urbanization, population, and capitalism. This is how the risk that was once the base of ?life function? instability became the central problem of biopolitics. It is the same concern of biopolitics today, but in completely novel social settings.

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This study explored whether biofumigation with rapeseed can reduce swine parasite eggs in pasture soil. Pastures were subjected to four treatments: rapeseed or Ladino clover pastures, each with or without biofumigation (i.e. mechanical incorporation of plant residues into the soil). Each pasture was split into four paddocks and 8 to 9 pigs were given access to each paddock for one week. Fecal samples (n = 66) were collected from each pig before grazing for analysis of Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, and Oesophagostomum spp. egg counts. Soil samples (n = 480) were collected from each paddock before grazing, immediately after pigs were removed from paddocks, and weekly thereafter for three weeks for analysis of Ascaris suum, and Trichuris suis egg counts. Pasture treatment did not affect egg counts of either parasite species in the soil. Eggs of A. suum and T. suis in pasture soil were reduced (both P < 0.05) two weeks after pigs were removed, compared to before grazing and immediately after pigs were removed. This study demonstrated that biofumigation was not effective in reducing swine parasite eggs in organic pasture soil, and parasite contamination was reduced two weeks after pigs were removed from pastures regardless of biofumigation.