LUBBOCK, Texas — Leaders from across the Texas swine industry met in Austin, Texas, from December 3–4 for the Texas Exhibition Swine Traceability (TEST) Summit, a two-day event designed to strengthen the state’s readiness in the event of a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) outbreak.
In partnership with the Pork Checkoff and Texas AgriLife Extension, the Texas Pork Producers Association brought together members of the major stock shows, Texas FFA validation, Texas Animal Health Commission, and industry partners to test preparedness plans, explore practical traceability solutions, and build a unified strategy for protecting the Texas swine exhibition industry.
The goals of the TEST summit were to strengthen stakeholder understanding of FAD threats, demonstrate the impact of an FAD event, identify potential outcomes, emphasize the importance of swine traceability, and explore incorporating tools to support traceability efforts and real-time disease response capabilities. As an outcome, participants were committed to finding ways to increase education and awareness of the importance of protecting swine health in Texas.
“Foreign Animal Disease preparedness is one of the most critical issues facing our industry,” said Colby Ferguson, executive director of the Texas Pork Producers Association. “By strengthening traceability and response systems now, we’re taking the next steps in safeguarding the future of our industry.”
Attendees participated in a full-day, scenario-based tabletop exercise simulating an FAD outbreak. The exercise identified vulnerabilities, outlined coordinated response actions, and established roles among shows, state agencies, and industry partners. Participants also engaged with presentations from representatives of the Texas Animal Health Commission, the National Pork Board, and Texas FFA validation, who provided valuable insights from their organizations’ perspectives.
Texas is home to one of the most active youth livestock communities in the nation, with roughly 27,000 show pigs validated each year. With increasing movement of people and animals, reducing the risk of an FAD event remains as a top priority. With continued conversations beyond the TEST summit, we can ensure Texas is prepared, resilient, and ready to protect our industry.
For more information about the TEST Summit, contact the TPPA office at 806-705-6800 or tppa@texaspork.org.