Hog Production
The potential for a successful sow starts well before the sow is first bred. Here are five ways you can improve sow longevity by focusing on the gilt from weaning until the time of first breeding.
U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.
Last week’s rally to new record prices pushed packer and feeder margins in opposite directions. Pork producer margins continue higher with prices now above year ago.
Pork loins should be the market driver but instead they’ve been a price drag for years. Here’s why, and what the industry is doing about it.
Iowa continues to lead the pack as the top producer of hogs in the U.S. But which states round up the top four? USDA ERS releases the latest cash receipts data.
Farm attorney Matt Folz shares the pros and cons of creating a charitable remainder trust.
Cattle feeding margins show improvement with higher prices. Beef packer losses remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producer margins gain on higher prices.
Cattle feeding margins improved as prices advanced. Beef packer margins improved but losses remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producer margins gain on higher prices.
Challenging times in the market offer valuable opportunities to reexamine risk management strategies for feed inputs.
Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information. However, without proper data analysis, you may draw the wrong conclusion.
It’s one thing to know how a disease pathogen affects a pig. It’s another thing to know how multiple disease pathogens affect a pig. A new study sheds light for producers.
“You don’t know what you don’t measure,” says Brad Eckberg with MetaFarms. “Producers need to be able to say, ‘Here is where we’re at, here is where we want to be as a goal for an improvement.’”
When outbreaks of APP15 were detected in Iowa finishers in late 2021, experts agreed they were unusual. In response, SHIC funded research to define the risk and mitigation of this emerging swine disease strain.
Why is the U.S. pork industry living with PRRS? Pipestone’s Cara Haden believes this virus is making it challenging for the U.S. to claim to be the “absolute best in the world.” She says it’s time to do something.
The potential of PLF to transform U.S. pig production is significant, MSU Extension says. Here are the results from a nationwide swine farmer and veterinarian Precision livestock farming (PLF) acceptance survey.
Change starts with you, National Pork Board president Bob Ruth passionately shared with pork producers during the National Pork Industry Forum in Chicago. Here’s why your voice is needed now.
Is the ability to focus on the farm a superpower? It might be, especially in modern pork production systems. Here’s a look at MetaFarm’s preliminary 2023 data and why focus is more important than ever on the farm.
The latest MetaFarms reports show sow death loss in 2023 was at an all-time high at 15.3%. That’s up 1% from a year ago – a trend that continues to move in the wrong direction.
Sow death loss wasn’t the only number to trend in the wrong direction in 2023. Wean-to-finish mortality increased from 6.87% in 2022 to 7.61% in 2023. Brad Eckberg shares his perspective on opportunities to improve.
With all of the data available at a producer’s fingertips, no one can argue it can be overwhelming. With all of that information on hand, what are the key metrics people should look at on a periodic basis?
Cattle feeding margins inched lower last week with rising costs. Packer margins improved but remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producers turn a profit for the first time in 14 months.
Post-weaning scours is a big topic of discussion. For a production system with commingled sow farms, even with like-genetic and epidemic disease status, there is always opportunity for improvement.
Previous studies have shown evidence of porcine astrovirus 4 in respiratory tract lesions of pigs, but the direct contribution of PoAstV4 to clinical disease is poorly understood. Here’s how a new study could help.
Is the U.S. pork industry making progress in the area of biosecurity? Derald Holtkamp, DVM and professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, says it depends on how you measure progress.
Cattle feeding margins improved significantly the past month, crossing into positive territory last week. Beef packers continue to struggle with tight supplies. Pork producers reach breakeven.
The laying hen industry shares similar risks to the pork industry regarding disease prevention. Versova’s Craig Rowles shares practical examples from the egg industry that could work on your farm.
A common question we hear each May is, “What we can do for summer marketed pigs nutritionally to increase or maintain market weight?” Although it’s a valid question, it needs to be asked sooner.
Exports were a shining star for the U.S. pork industry in 2023, says National Pork Board’s Courtney Knupp. And with the market dynamics at play, that means a lot to a U.S. pork producer’s bottom line.
Cattle feeding margins have improved significantly the past month, yet losses remain the norm. Beef packers continue to struggle with tight supplies and range-bound wholesale beef prices. Pork inches toward breakeven.
To be most effective at reducing variation, it’s important to consider its causes. If we can begin to manage these causes before placement in finishing, we’ll increase the positive impact at marketing.