Meet Julia Holen, one of the newest additions to Farm Journal’s PORK’s Up & Coming Leaders feature that showcases 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: 26
Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degree, University of Minnesota; pursuing PhD at Kansas State University
Hometown: Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Q: How did you become interested in pursuing a career in the swine industry?
A: I grew up on a small, diversified farm raising egg production hens, beef cattle and swine. I quickly became heavily involved in my county and state 4-H program showing livestock. From my experiences at home and the assistance of mentors in 4-H, I developed a strong interest for animal agriculture and the swine industry specifically that ultimately guided my decision to pursue degrees in animal science and a career in the swine industry.
Q: Describe any internship experiences you’ve had.
A: I completed two summer internships with the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center as an undergraduate research assistant. In this position, I assisted graduate students with their research experiments on farm and gained practical experience with all phases of commercial swine operations. Additionally, I served as the swine nutrition research and innovation intern with United Animal Health where I observed, conducted and assisted with nutrition research trials in the nursery and finishing phases of production.
Q: Describe any undergraduate research experiences you’ve had.
A: While interning with the University of Minnesota, I was fortunate to conduct a grow-finish experiment that evaluated the effects of dietary zinc sources and concentrations on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality for pigs with reduced floor space allowance. The experiences I obtained from this project and the opportunity to be involved in a collaborative effort with industry nutritionists and university professors were fundamental in my decision to pursue advanced degrees in swine nutrition.
Q: Describe any other swine-related experiences you’ve had as a young person.
A: During my time at Kansas State University, I have served as a research coordinator with the Swine Veterinary Center. In this position, I am responsible for coordinating research activities, managing data, completing statistical analysis and assembling final reports for various commercial swine industry research projects.
Q: Describe what type of research you are working on and how it could impact the swine industry.
A: My dissertation research primarily focuses on nutrition for the lactating sow through evaluation of essential fatty acids on reproductive performance, colostrum and milk composition, and piglet survivability. Additionally, I completed a literature review and conducted a meta-regression analysis to investigate the effects of branched-chain amino acids on sow and litter performance during lactation. From these research projects, my goal is to provide information that will directly assist commercial producers with practical strategies for optimizing both sow performance and piglet survival. I have also completed experiments to evaluate the effects of increasing soybean meal in corn-based diets on the growth performance of late-finishing pigs, which can influence diet cost and profitability.
Q: What do you think will be the greatest challenge for your generation going into the swine industry today?
A: I believe some of our greatest challenges in the swine industry will stem from meeting consumer demands for safe and nutritious pork products. Today, most consumers are not familiar with production agriculture and have a growing curiosity about where their food comes from. We work in an industry that is constantly evolving and we must be prepared to adapt to consumer demands by using environmentally sustainable farming practices and providing opportunities for consumers to easily access truthful and reliable information about how their food was raised.
Read More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
Welch Pushes Innovation in Disease Diagnosis and Prevention
Research Explores Nutritional Strategies to Boost Profitability
Research Could Help Identify Infertility in Breeding Hogs Earlier
Technology Can Improve Farrowing Rates, Offset Labor Shortage
