Meet Lindsey Huntress Britton, our latest addition to Farm Journal’s PORK’s Up & Coming Leaders feature. We are showcasing some of the fresh, new voices of the pork industry who combine innovative thought and work ethic with scientific savvy and a passion to make a difference.
Age: 24
Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, North Carolina State University; Pursuing DVM at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Hometown: Edenton, N.C.
Q. How did you become interested in pursuing a career in the swine industry?
A. My first exposure to the swine industry was in my introduction to animal science class taught by Billy Flowers at North Carolina State University (NCSU). I did not grow up around livestock. Through my first animal science class, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the industry. I pursued a swine production internship working on a large sow farm the following summer and then started working as a student employee at NCSU’s Swine Educational Unit. These initial experiences developed my interest in the industry as I fell in love with not only the pigs, but the people, too. I knew after that I wanted to learn more about the industry and to become more involved however possible.
Q. Describe any undergraduate research experiences you’ve had.
A. I did not directly work in a lab during my undergraduate degree, but through the internships I completed I developed an interest in research and pursuing a master’s degree.
Q. Describe any internship experiences you’ve had.
A. I have completed two veterinary internships with Smithfield Hog Production where I had research projects that focused on rotavirus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHP), swine influenza, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv). These internships formed a deep interest in conducting research to help reduce and eliminate the impact of diseases on the swine industry which led me to pursue my master’s in swine physiology under the direction of Billy Flowers.
Q. Describe any other swine-related experiences you’ve had.
A. I am very grateful for the swine industry and the people in it that are so willing to educate young people and develop our passion for the industry. I have had the opportunity to participate as a Real Pork Scholar through the National Pork Board which has developed my communication skills and built my network within the industry as well as it has provided me with an industry mentor. Programs like this are amazing for students looking to further develop themselves to become better advocates for the industry when they enter the workforce.
Q. Tell us about your current research.
A. My master’s degree research focused on the impact of MHP elimination on reproductive performance and retention within swine herds. MHP is a bacterial pathogen known to cause enzootic pneumonia and leading to reduced growth and feed efficiency. All of the work that has previously been done with MHP has been looking at grow-finish animals and their reduced performance. My master’s degree work looked at the impact of MHP at the breeding herd level to see if there was any impact on reproductive performance and retention of gilts exposed to high and low levels of the pathogen. This research could be very beneficial knowledge to the swine industry to encourage producers to eliminate the pathogen from breeding herds in order to have greater reproductive success with more animals staying in the herd longer with reduced disease loads. I am looking forward to the next step in my education pursuing a DVM where I will be able to impact the swine industry as a veterinarian in the future.
Q. What’s the greatest challenge for your generation?
A. I believe my generation will be facing many challenges within the swine industry which includes the lack of labor on farms, the lack of people turning towards agricultural jobs or returning to the farm, and the transition of the consumer choosing protein sources other than pork for their meals. I’ll focus on the third challenge the industry is facing, which I believe the National Pork Board is making great strides to begin to understand and address this point through their consumer segmentation study. Understanding the consumer and what they are looking for can better help us as an industry market our product.
Read More:
Meet the 2023 Real Pork Scholars
