5 Things People Were Talking About at the Iowa Pork Congress Trade Show

PIC showed off a video demonstrating their new digital phenotyping technology during the 2023 Iowa Pork Congress.
PIC showed off a video demonstrating their new digital phenotyping technology during the 2023 Iowa Pork Congress.
(Jennifer Shike)

From new technology to improved feed products and from cupcakes to phone chargers, the Iowa Pork Congress trade show is always a must-see event. This year was no different and included a celebration “station” recognizing 50 years of the Iowa Pork Congress as well as the Pig Podium, a new opportunity for companies to share about their products. Between excellent educational sessions on the first floor to the eye-catching and informative displays on the second floor, I couldn’t see and do it all. But here are a few new products announced and messages shared in the thriving trade show.

Hog Slat Customers Discuss Retrofitting Facilities for the Future

Remodeling existing production sites requires careful planning. Rob Brenneman of Brenneman Pork, P.J. Corns of JBS Pork and Alex Anderson of Seaboard Foods met on the Pig Podium stage on Wednesday to discuss their experience with large-scale remodeling projects.

The panelists stressed the need to design flexibility into any new project to allow for future unforeseen welfare changes. For example, constructing facilities with total slatted flooring makes it easy to change pen layouts. In addition, they expressed interest in technology that allows for remote monitoring of the building environment, especially that feature environmental controls linked to a cell phone. Anderson noted that this allows him to help inexperienced farm staff troubleshoot a problem even if he has to be several hours away from the site.

Although the panelists had differing opinions on freedom-type farrowing stalls, they believe it’s important consumers know farmers always have their animals’ best interests in mind. Corns said some customer feedback is causing them to look at possible alternatives. Brenneman believes freedom-type farrowing stalls are a “definite step back for the industry and would lead to worst animal welfare for small pigs.”  

All three panelists’ companies are switching from heat lamps to electric heat mats in farrowing. Brenneman estimated a 50% energy savings. They emphasized the importance of accurate, remote-access ventilation controllers and the need to calibrate the controller to avoid wasting electricity and propane. Air filtration was mentioned as well because of its important role in biosecurity. Both positive and negative systems have proven successful for the panelists. Brenneman and Anderson agreed oversizing the filter area is necessary to prevent premature replacement.  

Brenneman also pointed out the importance of building facilities with the comfort of farm staff in mind. For example, install heated floors in the shower area with buildup system to ensure hot showers. Install commercial laundry equipment so the staff knows their clothes are getting clean. Consider adding in amenities in the break areas like a pool or foosball table for the employees.  

PIC Shows Off New Digital Phenotyping Technology

PIC (Pig Improvement Company) showed off a video demonstrating their new digital phenotyping technology during the Iowa Pork Congress. PIC said it is using this new research technique to find ways to improve sow and pig robustness and longevity.

Digital phenotyping uses automated systems to identify patterns in animal movement and behavior. The patterns help geneticists distinguish between heritable traits and behaviors from those caused by outside factors such as nutrition, disease challenges or stress. Separating heritable and non-heritable traits can help quickly and efficiently improve breeding programs. Digital phenotyping allows for more precise evaluation of locomotion and sow lameness, which remains one of the top three reasons a sow is removed from the herd.

The process of digital phenotyping starts with video cameras set up to record animal movement and activity. Researchers analyze the video data to identify patterns or anomalies. The goal is to determine which traits or characteristics related to locomotion are heritable. Then, breeding decisions are made to continue improving feet and leg quality and minimize sow lameness. As the process evolves, PIC said digital phenotyping will not replace the need for human knowledge and interaction with pigs, or the need for people to use skills like body condition or locomotion scoring. Instead, it will strengthen human skills in the same way technologies such as ultrasound supplement the way people assess meat and muscle quality in pigs.

Arm & Hammer Gets Real About Manure and Money

Does fewer solids and greater nitrogen in your manure sound appealing? Bob Lantz, swine account manager with Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production, discussed how producers can capture improved feed efficiency with CERTILLUS Eco, a product that is shown to reduce dry matter content and viscosity of swine manure pit samples all while the nitrogen content was greater than in control samples.

Lantz shared information from new company research on the Pig Podium stage on Wednesday during the Iowa Pork Congress. He said one of the challenges of manure is the crust that can form on the top when it is stored in manure pits, ultimately creating a nice surface for flies to lay eggs. When manure’s viscosity and dry matter is reduced, it has fewer solids so it’s easier to pump out and the wet manure surface is harder for flies to lay eggs, Lantz said. 

CERTILLUS Eco was shown to improve feed conversion resulting in a 3.5% improvement in feed efficiency in the grower-finisher phase. The amount of nitrogen remaining in the manure increases, too, because it isn’t being volatilized as much into the atmosphere. Research has shown a significant increase in manure nitrogen content of 15% when pigs are fed CERTILLUS ECO. Manure with higher nitrogen content means a more valuable product to put on fields. He noted this results in about 15% less manure being applied per acre to achieve the same nitrogen application, so it does require some dry fertilizer to balance it. But even with that, the ability to apply manure on additional acres, results in an overall 14:1 return on investment when CERTILLUS ECO is fed to pigs and the manure is then applied to corn ground, Lantz said. 

Purina Announces Two New Feed Additives

Purina Animal Nutrition announced two new products formulated to support sow performance and reproductive efficiency and piglet respiratory health and immune function during the post-weaning period. 

EnduraSow feed additive is a low-inclusion feed additive that helps optimize sow productivity during a health challenge, as measured by more pigs weaned per sow per year in commercial trials, the company said. The additive also supports optimal sow farm efficiency by reducing the number of days from weaning to first service. 

Meanwhile, EnduraPig feed additive helps prepare pigs’ immune systems to address health challenges and supports pig growth performance throughout a respiratory challenge, the company noted in a release. This is especially important at weaning, when the immune protection from sow’s milk declines before the pig’s immune system fully matures. 

Central Life Sciences Opens Up About Cockroaches in the Barn

The German Cockroach is a bigger problem than the swine industry gives it credit for sometimes, said Kirk Dailey, regional sales manager for swine at Central Life Sciences. Dailey presented on insect challenges on the Pig Podium stage at the trade show. 

He discussed the value of programs designed to control the cockroach problem in hog barns today. Control can be made easier with a whole program Integrated Pest Management approach, he said. 

“A whole program Integrated Pest Management approach works. We use the strategy of using and Adulticide (Lambda 9.7 CS) and an Insect Growth Regulator (Exhalt WDG) as one plank of our complete cockroach program platform for producers to control cockroaches in their facilities,” Dailey said.
 

More from the Iowa Pork Congress:

First Female Takes on Presidency of Iowa Pork Producers Association

IPPA's Master Pork Producers and Partners Awards Announced

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Honors Liljedahl Farms at Iowa Pork Congress

Bettendorf Chef Wins Contest that Kicks Off Iowa Pork Congress

 

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