Volatile hog markets and stubborn health challenges like PRRS make a pork producer’s job more challenging than ever. At the 10th annual South Dakota State University Swine Day, researchers, veterinarians and market analysts tackled those challenges head-on with practical, barn-level data aimed directly at producer profitability.
1. Grow-Finish Biosecurity: Protecting the Margin
Keynote speaker Dr. Joel Nerem, veterinarian with Pipestone, urged producers to rethink how they approach health in wean-to-market barns. He focused on the economics of infectious diseases in wean-to-market pigs and the impact biosecurity in wean-to-market farms has on reducing those infections.
“Health has a major impact on the profitability of pig farmers, and it has a major impact on pig welfare, right? So, our goal is always to try and maximize pig health and maximize our customers’ profitability,” Nerem said.
2. Nutrition That Fights Disease: Student Research Highlights
SDSU graduate and undergraduate students showcased research focused on lowering feed costs and buffering pigs against health breaks:
- Feeding Through a PRRS 1-4-4 Outbreak: Darcy Pamulaklakin took top honors in the Ph.D. division, showing how nutrient-enriched gilt development diets helped maintain growth efficiency and body composition during a confirmed PRRS 1-4-4 L1C outbreak.
- Feed Intake and Protein Sources: Master’s winner Kynna Crawford presented screening tools to drive early nursery feed intake, while Courtney Pohlen evaluated the performance tradeoffs of synthetic amino acids versus intact protein in early growers.
- Micronutrients in Grow-Finish: Jessica Lira da Silva demonstrated how specific dietary copper sources influence performance from nursery through finish.
- Dialing in Nursery Protein Costs: Undergraduate winner Karin Sweeter discussed the digestible histidine-to-lysine ratio requirements for 18- to 50-lb nursery pigs.
The afternoon session also included swine research update presentations from Ph.D. students Katlyn McClellan, Foreman Atoo and Jessica Lira.
3. Risk Management in Uncertain Markets
With margin volatility top of mind, Mike Minor and Jordan Reker of Professional Ag Marketing shared an industry update from economists’ perspectives.
“I think Swine Day has been a fantastic opportunity to be able to get that interaction between our staff and our students here and the industry,” said Rafe Royall, assistant professor and SDSU Extension swine specialist. “It’s an awesome opportunity for us to present the best of ourselves to the folks that we’re really here to serve as research and extension personnel.”
