What Happens When Soybean Meal Levels are Increased in Swine Diets?
Meet Caitlyn Wileman, 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: 25
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Iowa State University; master’s degree, Oklahoma State University; pursuing Ph.D. at Iowa State University
Hometown: Janesville, Wisconsin
Q. How did you become interested in pursuing a career in the swine industry?
A. I became interested in the swine industry while showing pigs through 4-H and FFA initially. Then, working at the UW-Platteville and Iowa State Swine Teaching Farms opened my eyes to the commercial side of the industry.
Q. How have internships provided you with direction?
A. I’ve had a lot of great internships experiences, including internships at Indiana Pork where I learned more about the pork industry in a different state and how state associations work; Iowa Pork Industry Center where I worked on videos and graphics for the Pig Survivability Grant-funded projects; show internships at Oklahoma Youth Expo and Sioux Empire Livestock Show; Maschhoffs Leadership Experience where I had a week-long experience learning about the company; National Pork Board where I learned more about the research side, compiling previous data funded by the National Pork Board and creating a gap analysis; Seaboard Foods where I had a week-long experience learning about the company and Merck Animal Health where I served as a veterinary and consumer affairs intern.
Q. Describe any undergraduate research experiences you’ve had.
A. I participated in Iowa State’s Science with Practice program, an agricultural communications project with the Iowa Pork Industry Center.
Q. Describe any other swine-related experiences you’ve had.
A. Wisconsin Pork Association offers a mentorship program targeted towards freshmen and sophomores in college. It allows you to take on a special project and complete three job shadows in the pork industry. This helped me narrow down my career focus after completing these job shadows, changing my pre-vet track to animal science. The Indiana Pork and National Pork Boards internships opened my eyes to pursuing a graduate degree to be more marketable in the industry.
Q. Tell us about your current research.
A. My research centers on increasing the level of soybean meal in the diets of growing and finishing pigs, primarily focusing on assessing factors such as digestibility, greenhouse gas emissions and the pig's microbiome. This research is driven by the potential growing demand for soybean oil used in biodiesel production and a surplus in soybean meal. A recent study at Iowa State University suggests soybean meal has the same net energy value of corn and producers might consider replacing corn with soybean meal if prices align. Implementing soybean meal can reduce the need of some synthetic amino acids, but excess protein can lead to higher greenhouse gas outputs. My research aim is to find feed additives to improve nitrogen utilization within the pig and understand what is changing in the microbiome of the pig and the manure when fed different levels of soybean meal.
Q. What is your generation’s greatest challenge?
A. I believe the greatest challenge for our generation is facing stricter regulatory compliance and environmental regulations. Individuals who plan to enter the swine industry will need to be adaptable, well-informed and open to alternative ideas when it comes to local, state and federal regulations like Proposition 12. Consumers are pushing for more sustainable practices and production systems are adapting to this by implementing and tracking nutrient lifecycle assessments, but livestock production is still portrayed negatively for sustainable practices and greenhouse gas emissions.
Read More:
Cameras Forge New Paths in Swine Research
How Can Feed Flavor Spur Feed Intake in Sows and Piglets?
