Hog Management
Smithfield Foods aims to go beyond carbon neutrality and remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits and will achieve this goal without purchasing carbon credits to offset emissions.
The pivotal moment in the journey to more sustainable livestock production is now, says Brett Kaysen of the National Pork Board. Here’s a look at how the pork and poultry industries are driving progress.
Maintaining continuity of nutrient intake after weaning begins with people, says Madie Wensley, doctoral student at Kansas State University. Wensley recently released two short videos to help improve pig survivability.
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Some producers say the sow caliper is an example of a technology solution that has brought great value to their business.
Growing up in southern Wisconsin, Mark Knauer was heavily involved in livestock judging and meats judging. He still remembers lessons he learned from his livestock judging coach and county Extension agent Bob Ziegler.
Feed prices have risen dramatically, exports are at record levels, cold storage is as empty as it gets, and hog prices are rising. But how do you put all of these pieces together to predict profitability?
How do we grow pork consumption? Mohan Sawhney, a professor at Northwestern University, shares a lesson he learned from Facebook and Google: Build a toothbrush.
Soy in livestock diets is traditionally evaluated on one metric: crude protein. Recent research shows that may not be the best indicator for meeting nutritional needs of livestock. How can you discern those differences?
Everyone likes a deal! Who doesn’t? But sometimes the deal isn’t as good as what we thought and we don’t figure that out until after the fact. The same thing can happen with nutrition or diet formulation.
Despite the rumor mill surrounding the virulent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) Lineage 1C strain 1-4-4, Paul Sundberg, DVM, says it’s not time to sound the alarms yet.
As the pork industry looks for opportunities to decrease its carbon footprint, could formulating diets based on net energy help? Some experts say net energy formulation can provide a better path to sustainability.
Of all the porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRS) viruses that Paul Yeske, DVM, has seen, the PRRS strain 1-4-4 is the most dramatic.
A summary of Compeer Financial benchmark and comparison to Iowa State University, estimated livestock returns.
Change is hard, especially when you are comfortable. And let’s face it, most pig production systems aren’t looking for more to do. However, high feed costs are causing people to think twice about diet formulation.
Focus on what you can control. K-State nutritionists say this should be the same whether you are in good or bad economic times in the pork industry. Here are a few nutrition tips for pigs to be marketed starting in May.
Pork producers constantly have to make tough decisions about what moves are worth the money, and if there is a type of contract that is worth the money to have your lawyer review, it’s your packer contracts.
The extreme winter weather conditions pose challenges for livestock producers across the country. Although it’s more apparent in its effect on livestock outdoors, it also poses challenges for hogs in confinement.
As winter weather conditions rage across the country, USDA reminds livestock farmers affected by the winter storms that assistance is available.
A winter storm and the coldest temperatures in decades has created another crisis for cattle feeders and beef packers. Rolling power outages and natural gas shortages at feedyards has hampered efforts to feed cattle.
As producers explore ways to decrease feed costs and improve efficiencies, it’s important to review health protocols to see if interventions are warranted, says Elise Toohill, DVM, of Carthage Veterinary Service Ltd.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced what pork producers have known for some time. Disease outbreaks can cause severe economic impacts. Here’s a look at how this guided delegates at the IPPA annual meeting.
Cash traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 40,500 head being reported which is 103 percent of the 52-week average. Feeder pig reported volume was below average for the week, with 7,705 head reported.
During the month of February, the Illinois Pork Producers Association is launching a 4-week video series to fill the void of no in-person pork expo this month.
The basics of managing gilts for optimum pig production and longevity are well known. But successfully applying them requires meticulous attention to details, according to Jake Schwartz, DVM, Swine Vet Center.
Water doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it is abundant, easy to access and inexpensive, but that will change in the future, said John Patience, PhD, professor of animal science at Iowa State University.
Research points to the benefit of attended farrowing, but sometimes labor challenges stand in the way. If you could cut your stillborn rate in half, what is that worth?
President Biden took executive action on Jan. 27 to tackle the climate crisis both at home and abroad. The National Pork Producers Council responds.
Markets for pork produced without antibiotics continue to grow. But this method of production is not for every farm, cautions Michael Pierdon, VMD, veterinarian with Four Star Veterinary Service.
Swine producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will soon automatically receive a “top-up” payment of $17 per head increasing the total CFAP1 inventory payment to $34 per head.
Sow mortality has been making the headlines as producers grapple with rising sow death loss in the U.S. pork industry. Although the topic deserves discussion, some experts believe it is time to focus on gilt retention.