Hog Production
Lessons forged on a wrestling mat and a ranch serve as a powerful reminder to separate your worth from your work. In the face of life’s hardest hits, it is the courage to share our stories that helps us find the way forward.
Despite facing 35 mph wind gusts and rural water-supply challenges, multiple fire departments worked for hours to contain the blaze and prevent further spread of a major fire near London, Ohio.
House Bill 1118 paves the way for improved operational efficiency and real-world solutions for the region’s pork industry by providing graduate and undergraduate students with increased hands-on learning and “birth-to-market” research opportunities.
Strike the right balance between airflow and heat to maintain air quality without driving unnecessary energy costs during the colder months of the year.
From real-time barn monitoring to solar-powered pickups, Dale Stevermer is proving that what’s good for the planet is also good for the bottom line.
From its humble 1948 beginnings to a thriving modern hog operation in 2026, the Eureka-based family is honored for their generational stewardship, industry leadership and dedication to the future of Illinois pork.
Drawing on a multicultural upbringing, Fine Swine’s Melanie Langley shares how “people care” and an “outsider’s” perspective can transform barn culture and employee retention.
Although rotavirus species A and C are among the most common causes of diarrhea in young pigs, new evidence suggests some strains may also affect the porcine respiratory tract.
Whether challenges arise from lateral breaks or endemic pressure originating at the sow farm, the fundamental question remains: How do we effectively raise and care for compromised pigs? Although no clear answer exists, here are a few ideas from a swine production system in the Midwest facing these same challenges.
It’s a steep learning curve getting used to a new diet, flavors and textures, as well as pans, feeders, waterers and other equipment. Help pigs get excited about these new tools within the first 48 hours weaning off milk, as it gives them a desire for mealtime throughout their lives.
Larger pig wheels support healthier, more predictable systems and drive progress in swine health.
A new strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, PRRS 1-10-4 L1C.5.35, is moving rapidly through barns. National Pork Board CEO David Newman asks, “Is just mitigating or reducing it enough?”
Raising pigs in the winter comes with its fair share of health challenges and 2026 is no different. Four industry experts share strategies to rally your operation now.
The addition of foam-based depopulation methods is a gamechanger for swine producers, says Andrew Bowman, DVM, with The Ohio State University. It’s provides a critical advantage in speed, cost and logistics.
Moving from a “task-oriented” mindset to a “people-oriented” one doesn’t require a massive budget—it requires intentionality. Here are six small adjustments that can make your farm a place where employees truly want to be.
Prevent employee turnover by replacing “chaos” with clear expectations and hands-on mentorship from day one. Three industry leaders share how you can build a confident, engaged workforce that is motivated to stay for the long term.
Supervising isn’t about doing more; it’s about getting results through others. Here are five easy ways to delegate instead of doing it yourself.
Producers are expected to take a more cautious stance on expansion in 2026 despite a favorable feed cost outlook.
Harrison Furlow’s journey is a testament to what happens when curiosity meets a “Shark Tank” level of determination.
To combat the devastating economic impact of domestic diseases like PRRSV, the pork industry is developing a collaborative, producer-led strategy to focus on industry-wide swine health.
Dean Frazer of Conrad, Iowa, opens up about why he’s stepping up to the challenge of leading the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
A new report highlights a strategic vulnerability in U.S. swine industry’s nutrient supply chain.
Brock and Sarah Pillen discuss the trends shaping pork production and the next generation of pig farmers.
How quickly will La Niña exit this year, and when will El Niño enter the picture? Not all meteorologists agree with NOAA or one another, but the timing could have a major impact on weather this spring and summer.
Many dietary strategies focus on supporting the mucosal microbiota through the use of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics to improve pig performance.
Could a “pay-for-play” approach help incentivize excellence in the pork industry? Chet Mogler shares how Pig Hill Farms plans to reward contract growers for prioritizing biosecurity.
Understanding long-term trends in E. coli virulence gene detection is key to interpreting diagnostic results and guiding prevention strategies.
When disease outbreak investigations are conducted systematically with the goal of identifying biosecurity hazards within the production system, they consistently generate insights that make the time and resources invested worthwhile.
If pork producers are not willing to show up for the hard conversations, they’ll be left out of the equation, says Maddie Hokanson. She shares how she took the opportunity to help change the narrative about animal agriculture.
Diffuse alveolar damage is showing up in a growing number of submissions to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.