US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Contents Project General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

2.0 Background

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Deliverables / Schedule

Project Impact of late weaning on viral pathogenesis and host immune response in swine.

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

Provide piglets for use in a study on the impact of late weaning on viral pathogenesis and host immune response.

2.0 Background

Studies are directly important to improving animal health, and indirectly good for society by improving the production of wholesome pork. Viral diseases commonly cause post-weaning morbidity and mortality in swine, thus reducing the impact of these viruses would improve animal welfare. The hypothesis of this research is that weaning pigs later than the current industry average of three weeks would allow for further maturation of the host immune system, providing pigs with a more robust response to viral infection and reducing post-weaning morbidity/mortality. The research project would compare viral pathogenesis and host immune response factors in pigs challenged with a viral isolate that were weaned either at approximately three weeks or four weeks of age.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

• PRRSV antigen and antibody negative o Ideally, pigs are also flu negative but this is a preference, not requirement.

• No cross fostered piglets used o It is acceptable for cross-fostered piglets to be placed on the sow being used, but procured piglets should not include any cross-fostered individuals

• Pigs are of a relatively uniform size and body condition, including appearing sound and healthy with no evidence of lameness, open wounds/sores, diarrhea, or respiratory distress

• Litter identification of piglets must be performed and provided prior to or alongside shipment ( e.g. ear tags, notches)

• Any other interventions beyond normal piglet processing (creep feed, vaccines, antibiotics) are okay but must be identical for approximate days of age between all litters and piglets. A list of interventions and dates would need to be documented and provided ( e.g. tail clipping, iron shot).

• Parity of all sows between 2-4

• Between-litter genetics reasonably similar (standard production line genetics)

• 6 piglets taken from each of 18 litters that were farrowed within 3 days of one another o 2 pigs from each litter taken at each timepoint. Same litters used for all timepoints, meaning 6 total pigs taken from each of 18 litters throughout study.

• All pigs are same gender

• Female gender preferred but all-male would also be acceptable. All same sex from each litter (but sex could vary across litter) could also be used. If this really would not be possible to get 6 same-sex pigs from each of 18 litters, please let us know. We could re-evaluate this if absolutely necessary.

• Numbers:

o 36 pigs weaned between 17-19 days of age. Composition is 2 piglets from each of 18 litters.

o 36 pigs weaned between 22-24 days of age. Composition is 2 piglets from each of 18 litters.

o 36 pigs weaned between 27-29 days of age. Composition is 2 piglets from each of 18 litters.

• Weaning and transport conditions as similar as possible for each weaning/transport date o We could negotiate who is performing transport of animals

• All piglet batches arrive in the month of September 2026

4.0 Deliverables / Schedule

All deliveries shall be made to the NCAH located at 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames Iowa 50010 within the month of September 2026 due to the timeframe of the research study.

• Group 1 - 36 pigs weaned between 17-19 days of age. Composition is 2 piglets from each of 18 litters to be delivered from 09/04/2026 to 09/11/2026.

• Group 2 - 36 pigs weaned between 22-24 days of age. Composition is 2 piglets from each of 18 litters to be delivered from 09/09/2026 to 09/16/2026.

• Group 3 - 36 pigs weaned between 27-29 days of age. Composition is 2 piglets from each of 18 litters to be delivered from 09/13/2026 to 09/21/2026.