Hog Management
Batch farrowing used to be a common practice, but as farms got bigger, continuous-flow production became the norm. Now it appears batch farrowing is making a comeback, according to John Deen.
Price risk has become more volatile and is a critical management function in the pig business. Managing both revenue and feed cost risks are vital to success. In the end, it comes down to a strong risk management plan.
Cara Haden, associate swine veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, offers three key questions to ask yourself as you consider the role of antibiotics in your operation in 2021.
Water is often the forgotten nutrient in swine programs. Iowa State University assistant professor Laura Greiner shares six ways to make sure pigs are getting the best start possible in the nursery.
From feral swine damage prevention to foot-and-mouth disease vaccine purchases, USDA APHIS has been focused on critical work for animal agriculture amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are five noteworthy achievements.
Ventilation systems need regular check-ups to prevent environmental issues that can compromise pig health. Winter audits are especially important, with ventilation running at low levels with little room for error.
No matter if you’ve just graduated, or have been out of school for thirty years, education continues throughout your lifespan. Truly learning, versus just being trained, makes the difference.
Getting pigs off to a good start is both an art and science, and even under the best of circumstances it can be challenging. Here are five key areas to for producers to focus on this year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the pork industry many lessons that National Pork Producers Council president-elect Jen Sorenson believes will help pork producers mitigate future challenges.
No matter how many times you think you know all the diseases, new diseases pop up and remind you, ‘Oh, there’s stuff out there you’ve never seen before,’ says Daniel Gascho, DVM.
The bill has provisions that will lift an underwriting limit on revenue insurance products for livestock and reduce the cost of the Margin Protection Program for dairy producers.
One of the biggest challenges for farmers today is finding and keeping good help. Farms need sophisticated, engaged, dedicated and hard-working employees.
Tiny particles fuel powerful storms and influence weather much more than has been appreciated, according to a study in the Jan. 26 issue of the journal, Science.
Iowa State University researchers have shown that carbon-rich biochar could be used to mitigate many odors and potentially toxic volatile organic compounds emitted from swine manure.
A mineral commonly used to help maintain newborn pig health and growth may not be available in the future. Because of this, Kansas State University researchers are searching for alternatives.
A field trial evaluating iron supplementation for baby pigs found the typical 200 mg iron shot at birth is not enough. Here’s what Brittney Scales, DVM, learned when a client wanted to compare different methods.
New research has yielded several key findings on what farmers know about water-related issues, their concern around water resources, and conservation actions they take.
Paul Neiffer provides the key tax changes that apply to farmers.
No one says managing weaned pig startups is easy. A newly weaned pig has its share of challenges: maternal separation, transportation, commingling, transitioning diet, vaccination and environmental changes.
The Allen D. Leman Swine Conference is only days away.
North Carolina pork producers are battening down the hatches in preparation for Dorian.
It is vital to learn about the signs and effects of enteric diseases in your swine herd.
Here are six emergency preparedness recommendations from North Carolina state officials.
Although antigens are well understood, there’s far less understanding of the vital role adjuvants play in a vaccine.
Prenuptial agreements are far from romantic. But they can prevent a farm from facing a devastating asset loss or long-term hard feelings.
Quality and effective feedback is critical in team management.
Do you sweat the small stuff? Do you aim to be above average in marketing, production and management? If you don’t, you’re leaving money on the table.
Developing and implementing an on-farm pig handling training program.
With 6.3 million wild pigs rampaging across 39 states and causing up to $2.5 billion in damages each year, researchers are hopeful a new oral toxicant will help curb wild pig populations.