Hog Production
By pairing GPS, geofencing, dedicated truck washes and the use of transfer stations with strict wash protocols, Pillen Family Farms/DNA Genetics slashed transportation compliance errors by nearly 50%.
The real story behind two decades of swine nutrition isn’t just how much diets have changed, but how asking the right questions turned radical ideas into everyday practice.
Market forecasts may signal steep headwinds ahead, but the unrelenting grit of our producers offers the strongest reason for optimism.
Some employees do their jobs and go home, while others look for ways to help the farm run better. Here’s how managers can encourage more of the latter.
No one can predict exactly what 2027 holds for the pork industry – not even the economists. But they do have marketing advice producers should take to heart heading into the new year.
Instead of asking what more caretakers must do for pigs, University of Illinois researcher Courtney Archer asks what pigs could do for themselves if given the right tools.
As rising sow productivity collides with a post-pandemic construction drought, pork producers must find new ways to unlock value across every square foot of barn space.
Understanding why neighbors react strongly to farm smells and why caretakers often develop “nose blindness,” begins with how the human brain processes complex odor mixtures.
Commercial trials and a new Iowa State modeling tool show how strategic soybean meal inclusion protects late-finishing gains and margins.
Understanding why gas detectors fall short—and how sensory metrics evaluate threshold, intensity, and persistence—helps producers and communities assess odor concerns objectively.
With production costs permanently higher, volatile feed markets, and shifting consumer demand, analysts warn that 2027 U.S. pork producer profitability faces a razor-thin margin for error.
After 20 years of regulatory limbo, livestock producers no longer face the looming threat of industrial-style air permits based on obsolete data.
A new sensory study reveals that younger consumers aren’t actively disliking pork—they’re unimpressed by it, and winning them back will require prioritizing flavor over tenderness.
Led by Reps. Kaptur, Finstad and Davis, H.R. 10911 would establish permanent federal authority for the US SHIP program to certify herd health and safeguard the food supply.
When PRRS hit production and tempers ran short, Phillip Steber’s calm leadership kept his team positive and pushed Borgic Farms back to near-record numbers.
Record productivity couldn’t offset softening demand, and patience proved costly. Six industry analysts break down what went wrong in 2026—and how disciplined operations survived.
From the frontline trials of the 1980s Farm Crisis to the helm of national leadership in 2001, Barb Determan proves that solving agriculture’s toughest problems starts with quiet grit, consensus and slat-level common sense.
With feed eating up 70% to 80% of variable costs, Chance Cochran explains how early intake habits shape long-term performance.
K-State researchers test feed, fiber, magnesium, tryptophan and enrichment to curb late-gestation conflict in group housing.
Manure pumping is an operational necessity, but a recent study links manure pumping to a 3.38-times greater risk of disease spread, underscoring the urgent need for advance planning.
Weak demand from younger generations and abundant global supplies drive hog market to historic lows despite tighter U.S. production.
Industry experts living it in the barns every day share practical strategies and innovative ideas to stretch working capital without sacrificing herd health.
As artificial intelligence enters commercial pig barns, experts say proper illumination is the critical bridge connecting camera optics, stockmanship and animal welfare.
Researchers, veterinarians and market analysts tackle top challenges head-on with practical, barn-level data aimed directly at producer profitability.
As soybean meal processing technology continues to change, K-State researchers say having an updated understanding of soybean meal composition will become increasingly important.
A recent study reveals critical windows of PoAstV4 susceptibility in grower gilts and suckling piglets, offering practical management strategies to curb transmission.
From watching his family’s ranch drive away in eight cattle semis to advising the global protein trade, Brett Stuart draws on personal experience to navigate today’s margin squeeze.