Hogs Nutrition

Keystone Cooperative Leverages AI to Turn Data into Grower Dividends

Thu, 21 May 2026 18:33:47 GMT

In the pork industry, no one wants to leave money on the table, especially as tight margins and rising input costs squeeze every head. For Keystone Cooperative, the search for unrealized opportunity led to a high-tech solution for a familiar challenge: marketing timing.

By leveraging artificial intelligence to create a custom top-weight prediction model, Keystone discovered that while weight prediction isn’t new, the way you analyze it can change the bottom line.

“Our operations were already performing well, so this wasn’t about fixing a problem,” says Nathan Hedden, vice president of swine and animal nutrition at Keystone Cooperative. “It was about asking, ‘What are we leaving on the table?’ When you market thousands of head each week, even small improvements in timing can add up quickly.”

Optimization Over Repair

Keystone’s move to better harness the power of AI was driven by a desire to discover incremental gains in an already high-performing system, rather than a need to fix existing failures. Tapping into the “cooperative advantage” allows internal efficiencies to directly benefit member-owners.

The project aims to use “top weight” prediction to capture unrealized revenue through better marketing timing.

“While it doesn’t change daily work inside the barn, better marketing decisions improve Keystone’s financial performance,” Hedden says. “That value flows back to member owners through patronage. It’s strengthening the entire system so growers share in the success.”

Data Integration and Collaboration

The project didn’t require a total overhaul of their records. Instead, it required connecting the dots between silos of information that had been growing since 2017.

“We didn’t start from scratch,” Hedden adds. “Keystone already had years of trusted production data going back to 2017, we just hadn’t fully connected it. This included weights, feed consumption, group lifecycle records, and more.”

The project was built through close collaboration between Keystone and a third-party vendor.

“Keystone operations brought the production knowledge, IT brought the AI expertise, and together we focused on one clear use case: predicting the optimal marketing window for top weight,” he says.

The non-negotiable? Clean data. Hedden says there was no need for guessing when they had historical records at their fingertips.

“The model was also built to support, not replace, human judgment,” he says. “It provides earlier, better signals so our team can make confident marketing decisions.”

Uncovering Invisible Patterns

Early results indicate that while the necessary data was always present, AI provides the “connective tissue” required to see patterns that escape manual analysis.

“We’re still early and haven’t fully implemented the model yet, but one thing is clear: the opportunity is real,” Hedden says. “The study showed that while the data existed, it hadn’t been connected in a way that allowed us to pinpoint ideal market timing.”

By combining feed consumption, environmental data and performance flow, Lindsay Sankey, director of public relations at Keystone Cooperative, says the model provides a more granular look at the ideal marketing window. It reveals patterns people can’t see manually. It’s also designed to learn over time, becoming more tailored to Keystone’s system with each new data set.

“The value is in better decisions made earlier,” she says. “Our team still makes the call, but with greater confidence and clarity.”

Tracy Soper, senior director of data excellence at Keystone Cooperative, says that being laser focused on one thing helped.

“We had that one problem we wanted to solve – help me get the right pig on the truck. I want them at this weight. Help me make that better,” Soper says. “Because every percent that we reduce where we’re outside of that boundary is basically margin for us as an organization.”

Soper believes anyone who thinks AI will solve all their problems will likely end up frustrated. But focusing on small projects along the way will add up in the end.

Enhancing Grower Profitability

The ultimate goal of the technology is to drive financial performance that flows back to the growers through patronage, reinforcing the strength of the cooperative, Hedden points out.

“This tool helps our production management team better optimize when pigs are marketed,” he explains. “More precise timing improves the profitability of Keystone’s pig division, and that value flows directly back to growers.”

This custom approach ensures the results are relevant to its specific member base.

“While others may use similar technology, this is built the Keystone way: using our data, our operational knowledge, and strong collaboration between operations and IT,” Sankey says. “Even small improvements create meaningful revenue at scale.”

When Keystone performs better financially, member owners benefit through stronger patronage. Sankey says that’s the cooperative advantage: using technology to strengthen the whole system, not just one part.

Maximize Swine Grow-Finish Performance: Health, Nutrition and Benchmarking

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:55:29 GMT

Pig farming remains a critical component of the global agricultural industry, supplying a reliable source of protein to a growing population. As producers look to capture current margin opportunities and position for long-term success, attention to detail in day-to-day management matters more than ever.

Three areas continue to stand out: grow-finish health, nutrition and benchmarking. Each plays a direct role in driving performance, supporting animal well-being and maintaining economic efficiency.

Grow-Finish Health: Foundation of Performance

The grow-finish phase is one of the most important stages in a pig’s life cycle, representing the period of most rapid growth. Maintaining herd health during this stage is essential to achieving strong performance and avoiding costly disruptions that can quickly erode margins.

A strong biosecurity program remains the first line of defense. This starts with building a culture of consistency across the operation. Clear protocols should guide everything and everyone entering the farm, from access control to sanitation practices to load-in and loadout procedures. Attention to detail in these areas helps reduce the risk of introducing disease and protects overall herd performance.

In addition to biosecurity, proactive herd health management is critical. Communication with your veterinarian and animal health partners can help identify emerging risks and tailor programs to specific regional or operation-level challenges. Common threats such as influenza and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) continue to require close monitoring and a disciplined approach to prevention.

Managing stress throughout the grow-finish phase is equally important. Barn density, environmental conditions and handling practices all influence stress levels, which in turn impact immune response and feed efficiency. Providing adequate space, maintaining proper ventilation and ensuring consistent handling practices can help reduce variability and support more predictable outcomes.

Nutrition: Driving Growth and Efficiency

Nutrition is a primary driver of performance during the grow-finish stage, directly influencing growth rates, feed efficiency and overall herd health. While balanced rations are essential, consistency in feed delivery and access to clean, high-quality water are just as important.

Regularly reviewing performance data and adjusting feeding strategies can help fine-tune results over time. Many producers benefit from working closely with a nutritionist or veterinarian to evaluate ration formulations, assess feed efficiency trends and identify opportunities for improvement. Even small adjustments can have a meaningful impact on overall performance.

Technology is also playing a larger role in nutrition management. Tools such as bin sensors and water monitoring systems provide greater visibility into consumption patterns, helping identify issues earlier. More advanced technologies, including camera-based systems, are being used to monitor growth and variation within groups of pigs.

With more data available than ever, the opportunity lies in turning that information into actionable insights. Timely, data-informed decisions allow producers to respond more quickly, manage performance more precisely and reduce inefficiencies that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Benchmarking: Measuring What Matters

Benchmarking is a valuable tool for evaluating performance and identifying areas for improvement. Key grow-finish metrics such as average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality and market weight should be reviewed consistently to understand how an operation is performing.

Tracking these metrics over time provides insight into trends and helps highlight areas where adjustments may be needed. While comparing against industry benchmarks offers useful context, evaluating performance against your own historical data is equally important. Internal benchmarking allows producers to measure progress, assess the impact of management changes and determine whether those changes are delivering the expected results.

Benchmarking can also support better decision-making across teams. When data is clearly understood and consistently reviewed, it becomes easier to align on priorities and focus efforts where they will have the greatest impact.

In addition, benchmarking across peer groups or production systems can offer valuable perspective. Understanding how others are performing and where differences exist can help identify new strategies or management approaches worth considering.

Strong performance in the grow-finish phase comes down to consistent execution in the areas producers can control. Maintaining herd health, delivering effective nutrition programs and leveraging benchmarking insights all contribute to improved efficiency and profitability.

By staying focused on these fundamentals and making informed, timely adjustments, producers can position their operations for long-term success while remaining responsive to changing market conditions.

Use Benchmarking to Improve Wean-Finish Performance Under Disease Pressure

Tue, 19 May 2026 13:52:33 GMT

By Erin Little, Director of FarmStats for Pipestone Business Services

Swine production systems inherently have variation or deviate from the average. Differences in mortality, growth rate, feed efficiency and market outcomes exist even when pigs are managed under the same general protocols. The goal of performance improvement is not to eliminate variation but to understand it, manage it and use it to improve the overall system.

Individual closeouts provide valuable information about what happened in a single group, but on their own, they lack context to accurately evaluate system performance. A poor‑performing group may be influenced by a short‑term health challenge, while an exceptional group may benefit from favorable conditions that are not repeatable. Benchmarking aggregates many closeouts over time, turning isolated outcomes into patterns. This allows producers to identify repeated successes and what attributes repeat themselves. The same for repeatedly poor health groups – identifying commonalities educates a producer on their system limitations.

Disease rarely presents as a single, uniform event across a system. Its impact is shaped by age of pig, previous health status and day-to-day management. Benchmarking allows producers to evaluate how consistently health pressure affects performance, identify where resilience exists and focus improvement efforts on repeatable weaknesses rather than isolated outcomes.

Internal Vs. External Benchmarking

Internal benchmarking shows differences between barns, caretakers, pig sources, wean ages, health status and many more. This analysis allows producers to identify impactful characteristics. When lower‑performing groups repeatedly align with certain health attributes, those patterns signal real opportunities for intervention. Importantly, internal benchmarks show that top‑performing groups are not anomalies; they demonstrate what is biologically achievable under the system’s existing constraints.

External benchmarking adds another critical layer by setting expectations. Comparing performance against a large population of similar producers helps answer an essential question: are current results being limited by avoidable or unavoidable health challenges and is there unrealized potential for improvement? When producers see that peers with comparable health status are consistently achieving better outcomes in metrics such as percent tops or average daily gain, it reframes animal health from a fixed constraint into a manageable lever. External benchmarks help ensure that health‑related performance targets are both realistic and competitive.

A Strategic Driver

Animal health has a direct economic impact that benchmarking helps quantify. Health challenges influence feed cost per pound of gain through reduced growth rate and feed consumed by pigs that do not reach market. They also affect mortality, uniformity and market timing. Benchmarking translates these biological effects into economic terms, allowing producers to prioritize health interventions based on financial impact rather than perception alone.

Ultimately, benchmarking supports better animal health management by reducing overreaction and improving focus. Rather than making system‑wide changes based on a single bad closeout, producers can rely on aggregated data to identify repeat issues, examine targeted adjustments and measure results over time. Benchmarking does not replace production expertise or on‑farm observation; it complements them by providing the context needed to make confident, data‑driven decisions. When used effectively, benchmarking turns animal health from a source of uncertainty into a strategic driver of improved performance and profitability.

Using Real-Time Data to Drive Optimized Feeding Programs

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:51:39 GMT

The transition from handwritten feed records to integrated digital production systems continues to reshape how pork producers manage nutrition programs. Operations that consistently capture, validate and analyze production and nutrition data are better equipped to identify inefficiencies, reduce variability and improve overall system performance.

Early tools such as spreadsheets improved recordkeeping and cost tracking. Today’s platforms go further by integrating feed delivery, inventory, health events and performance metrics into a single system. These technologies allow producers and nutritionists to align diet formulation with current barn conditions and make in-cycle adjustments that better match nutrient supply with pig requirements.

Real-time visibility into performance enables faster decision-making, tighter control of input costs and improved predictability of market outcomes.

Feed remains the primary cost driver

Feed represents approximately 60 percent of total wean-to-finish production cost, making it the most significant lever for improving profitability. Margin improvement is driven by increasing biological performance, reducing cost per pound of gain or achieving both simultaneously.

Standardized feeding programs across all pig flows often fail to account for variation in genetics, health status, barn environment, facility design and management practices. Precision nutrition requires diets to be formulated and adjusted based on both historical performance data and current production signals. Genetic potential for growth and disease resilience, current health status, barn environment, stocking density, feeding system accuracy and ingredient variability all influence how diets should be structured and managed.

While experience remains valuable, nutrition programs should be guided by measurable data and continuously evaluated against performance benchmarks.

Stage-specific metrics drive targeted adjustments

Effective data analysis depends on focusing on the right metrics at each phase of production.

Within the sow herd, the objective is to maximize throughput and lifetime productivity. Performance indicators such as pigs born alive, pigs weaned per litter, pre-wean mortality and lactation feed intake directly influence system efficiency. Lactation intake remains a critical control point, as inadequate consumption can reduce milk production, increase piglet mortality and negatively impact subsequent reproductive performance, including extended wean-to-estrus intervals. Variation within sow groups is substantial, with only a small percentage of animals representing the statistical average. Identifying and managing that variation creates opportunity for more precise nutritional and management decisions.

In the nursery phase, the focus shifts to feed intake, gut health and immune development. Early post-weaning feed intake, morbidity and mortality rates, treatment frequency and overall pig uniformity all play a role in determining downstream performance. Inconsistent intake or health challenges at this stage often result in reduced average daily gain and increased variability entering the grow-finish phase. Nutrition strategies must support palatability, gut integrity and consistent consumption to maintain performance trajectories.

During the grow-finish phase, feed investment is at its highest and directly tied to cost of gain. Average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, days to market and mortality rates are key performance indicators. Carcass data, including yield and composition, should also be incorporated into post-analysis to evaluate how feeding strategies influenced packer value. Modern data platforms allow these metrics to be benchmarked across groups and time periods, linking biological performance with feed cost and ingredient inputs to identify areas for improvement.

Real-time intake as a leading indicator

Feed intake remains one of the most sensitive real-time indicators of barn performance. Deviations in intake patterns are often the earliest signal that a system is off-track.

Reduced or inconsistent intake may indicate underlying health challenges, environmental stressors such as heat or cold, social competition within pens, mechanical issues with feeders or variability in feed quality and palatability. When intake data is captured continuously and evaluated alongside health and environmental inputs, it allows for faster identification of root causes and more timely corrective action.

Speed of analysis drives opportunity

One of the most common challenges when working with a production system for the first time is not just data availability, but how quickly that data is used. Even with strong recordkeeping, delayed analysis limits the ability to make meaningful adjustments within the same group.

Waiting until a group closes to evaluate performance restricts the opportunity to correct inefficiencies in real time. By contrast, continuous or near real-time analysis allows producers to adjust diets based on current intake and growth trends, identify issues before performance losses compound and improve feed efficiency within the active production cycle.

Data-driven nutrition improves ROI

In a margin-compressed environment, continuous evaluation of the feeding program is essential. Precision nutrition, supported by real-time data, enables producers to better align nutrient density with pig requirements, improve feed efficiency and reduce cost per pound of gain while maintaining consistent performance across groups.

As the largest input cost, feed must be managed with a high level of precision. Clear, complete and timely data provides the foundation for making informed nutritional decisions. When combined with sound management and disciplined execution, real-time data allows producers to respond faster, reduce inefficiencies and capture opportunities that directly impact profitability.

Introducing Feed4Profit: A Smarter Way to Compare Feeding Programs

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:49:40 GMT

A new Iowa State University financial modeling tool helps swine producers analyze the profitability of feeding programs and make data-driven nutrition decisions.

As feed prices fluctuate, policies change, and production challenges arise, swine producers need new digital tools to make informed, cost-effective decisions. The Swine Applied Innovations Laboratory at Iowa State University, led by David Rosero, is developing innovative solutions in the areas of livability, nutrition, and smart farming.

One of those solutions is Feed4Profit, a publicly available online tool designed to help producers and nutritionists analyze ingredient costs and make informed feeding decisions that can help them maximize profit per pig. Users can design feeding programs with different ingredients, model the performance response of pigs, and compare the forecasted income and feed costs over a 12-month period, based on future price estimates.

Typically, feed accounts for up to 75% of the total cost of producing a pig, making flexible ingredient sourcing and feeding program adjustments critical as input prices fluctuate. Feed4Profit can help producers monitor feed costs and maximize profit throughout the growing and finishing phases.

Seasonal changes in pig performance are one example of how nutritional strategies can impact profitability.

“Nutritionists often talk about the summer carcass weight dip as an opportunity to capture dollars when market prices are typically at their highest,” said Rosero. “This tool can help producers analyze the financial impacts of adjusting feeding programs while still meeting minimum nutritional requirements.”

Currently, the tool has two pre-loaded feeding programs available for comparison, with the ability to customize ingredients, nutrient requirements, and weight ranges for different growing phases. Future updates will allow users to create and save custom diets, expanding the tool’s flexibility and usefulness for individual operations.

For more information or questions about this tool, contact David Rosero at dsrosero@iastate.edu .

China, U.S., and Brazil Lead Global Feed Surge Amid Regional Shifts

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:46:37 GMT

A newly released global feed survey estimates world feed production increased in 2025 by 2.9% to 1.44 billion metric tons.

In the 2026 Agri-Food Outlook released by Alltech , data shows most regions and sectors experienced growth.

“The numbers suggest a strong recovery phase for animal agriculture; but the data show that growth was uneven, increasingly regionalized and driven less by herd expansion than by structural change, productivity gains and shifts in how production is measured and recorded,” Alltech reports.

In North America, operational efficiency gains, sustainability pressures, formulation optimization and consolidation among feed mills continue to reshape the feed industry across the region. Feed tonnage contracted modestly, primarily due to a historically tight cattle cycle and declining beef herd dynamics. Alltech says the region still saw some selective, species-driven momentum, with growth concentrated in broilers and dairy. While pork feed stabilized, the egg and turkey sectors remained in recovery following health-related disruptions.

The survey collected data from 142 countries and 38,837 feed mills in late 2025. By analyzing compound feed production and prices, the survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of global feed production. Alltech says these insights serve as a barometer for the overall livestock industry, highlighting key trends across species, along with regional challenges and opportunities for growth.

Top 10 Feed-Producing Countries

The top 10 feed-producing countries produced 65.2% of the world’s feed in 2025. The survey also showed 47.7% of all global feed tonnage was produced in the top three countries: China, U.S. and Brazil.

Global Feed Volume by Species

More Regional Results

Asia: 559.297 million mt

Asia reigns as the global center of feed production, with growth via industrialization and price-conscious consumers increasing the demand for poultry and aquaculture in 2025. The survey shows continued shifts from on-farm mixing to commercial feed, especially in China. In addition, Southeast Asia experienced a recovery of the sow herd which lifted pork output. Poultry feed tonnage also remained strong.

Europe: 274.061 million mt

Europe’s feed sector in 2025 was differentiated, yet broadly resilient, growing by 1.0%, Alltech notes. Lower raw material prices, supported by large global harvests of soybeans, rapeseed, wheat and maize, improved margins and stimulated production in several key markets. The region stabilized overall even with ongoing disease pressure and regulatory constraints. Modest gains in dairy and broilers offset challenges in other segments.

Latin America: 204.446 million mt

Latin America solidified its position as the world’s premier “protein basket” in 2025. Compound feed demand expanded 2.8% year over year, rising by 5.536 million mt, supported by strong export markets and lower grain prices. Growth was broad-based across the poultry, pork and aquaculture sectors. However, local disruptions in parts of the Andean and Caribbean sub-regions tempered overall expansion.

Africa and the Middle East: 102.549 million mt

Africa expanded strongly (+11.5%) on commercialization and rising compound feed penetration as the Middle East entered a structural plateau (+1.1%). Across both sub-regions, Alltech says three forces shaped performance: protein affordability, input vulnerability driven by grain prices and currency volatility, and continued disease disruptions — particularly related to foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza.

Oceania: 11.104 million mt

Oceania experienced broad-based gains last year, with an overall 3.4% increase supported by population growth, resilient livestock sectors and strong export demand. Absolute increases were at their strongest in the broiler, layer, beef and pig sectors, the report says. High feedlot numbers and elevated cattle inventories sustained record beef production, particularly in Australia (+11%), with more moderate growth in New Zealand (+1.6%). Recovery in layer feeds following an avian influenza outbreak, along with steady demand for chicken and pork, led to a balanced regional expansion.

FAQs

Q: What was the total world feed production in 2025?
A: 1.44 billion metric tons.

Q: Why did U.S. feed production decrease?
A: Production fell by 0.8% due to a tight cattle cycle and declining beef herd dynamics.

Q. Which countries are the top producers of animal feed?
A. The top three feed-producing countries are China (330.06 million mt), the United States (267.38 million mt), and Brazil (89.90 million mt). Together, they account for 47.7% of the world’s total feed tonnage.

Q. Which livestock species saw the highest growth in feed demand?
A. Aquaculture experienced the highest growth rate at 4.7%, followed closely by the broiler sector at 3.7%.

Q. What is driving the growth in the global feed industry?
A. According to Alltech, growth is being driven by structural changes, productivity gains, and shifts in production measurement rather than simple herd expansion.

Q. Which global region had the highest percentage of growth in feed production?
A. Africa saw the most significant growth at 11.5%, fueled by increased commercialization and the rising use of compound feed.

The compound feed production totals and prices reported in the 2026 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook were collected in the first quarter of 2026 with assistance from feed mills and industry and government entities around the world. These figures are estimates and are intended to serve as an informative resource for industry stakeholders. To access more data and insights, visit alltech.com/agri-food-outlook .

The PORK Podcast: Mark Knauer on Discipline, Sow Longevity, and Research

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:11:45 GMT

Mark Knauer is no stranger to the “grind culture.” As a Division I wrestler at Iowa State University during the legendary Cael Sanderson era, Knauer knew making it out onto the mat required a daily discipline that could only be achieved through doing hard, repetitive work until it’s perfect. Whether it was a 6 a.m. workout or a 3 a.m. trip to the North Carolina State University swine research farm, the discipline to be successful remains the same.

Walking On to a Legacy

After a heartbreaking loss in his high school state finals by one point, Knauer says he felt like he wasn’t done wrestling. After attending the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for a year, he transferred to Iowa State University with a goal of walking onto the wrestling team.

“Coach Bobby Douglas allowed me to walk on and probably thought I would keep or cull myself over that first semester,” Knauer says. “I remember one of my first practices was a morning practice at 6 a.m. The Iowa State indoor track was maybe 300 meters or something. I gave that first lap everything I had to come in first, but then the next laps after that, I did not come in first. I was just trying so hard to make an impression on the coach.”

His wrestling season went well from there. He walked onto the team and started three years, winning more matches than he lost. Although he admits wrestling was his main focus during his undergrad years, he developed a passion for his animal science classes which led to a graduate student assistantship with Kenneth Stalder at Iowa State for his master’s and Todd See at North Carolina State University for his Ph.D.

The Danger of “Barn Blindness”

Growing up on a 50-sow purebred, commercial-focused, farrow-to-finish operation in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Knauer grew up with a passion for agriculture, but his experience at Iowa State helped guide him specifically to the swine industry.

Early on in his career, he invented the sow caliper , a tool many people use today in the U.S. and across the world. The caliper has moderate correlations with muscle, fat and sow weight, Knauer explains. It measures the angle of a sow’s back. As a sow gets fatter, her top gets wider and more level, and that’s what the sow caliper measures.

Trusting your eyes to measure backfat visually is challenging, he adds.

“You can get barn blind,” Knauer points out. “It happens to the best of us. That’s the nice thing about the sow caliper – it helps you stay on track and takes the argument out of it.”

Knowing a sow’s body condition is critical for maximizing reproductive performance, ensuring herd longevity and reducing feed costs.

Sow Caliper: The Barn Referee

Like wrestling, producers win or lose based on points and performance.

“In wrestling, some people win the same way every time, and some people win different ways,” Knauer says. “Sometimes you get a reversal and win in a defensive match, or sometimes you get back points.”

Similarly, the sow caliper is a useful tool because there are different ways producers can use it to “win.”

“If somebody has a good livestock background, they may just have the sow caliper on hand to settle any arguments,” Knauer says. “If a consultant comes in and says, ‘Your sows are too fat or too thin,’ a good production manager can pull the caliper out and be like, ‘Well, according to this, they’re in ideal sow body condition.’ If you have young stock people who don’t have a lot of background in stockmanship and evaluation, they can use the sow caliper as a tool to get them dialed in for what an ideal sow looks like.”

Just like there are multiple ways to win a wrestling match, Knauer says there are multiple ways to use that sow caliper when it’s being implemented in the field. Ultimately, it’s about changing how pork producers manage the biology of the animal to ensure longevity and profitability.

Pig Livability: The Stakes are High

Unlike wrestling, working harder to help improve sow longevity isn’t enough these days. It requires working smarter through research into sow livability, piglet survival and the intersection of nutrition and health. Knauer says there are a few management levers that producers can pull to improve sow livability.

“Those gilts that have the best pre-weaning average daily gain, or best weaning weights when they are on the sow, are the gilts that go on to be the best when they grow up,” he says. “They grow up to be the best mothers.”

That’s challenging to identify, he says. It requires finding which gilts are the biggest at a very young age and then determining from a cost standpoint, what percentage you will keep.

“That early growth rate of that gilt in the very first 21 days of her life, really sets her up for her lifetime productivity,” he says. “Another piece of the puzzle that’s somewhat related is recent reports saying early puberty is favorable for longevity. That makes me feel good, because the data we ran 20 years ago said the same thing.”

From a management standpoint, that requires more hard questions.

“If you bring in your gilts, are you going to keep the first 80% that come into heat and ship the late ones because they’re not going to have as good a lifetime performance?” Knauer asks.

He’s starting new work now looking at more of these early predictors. Based on some of the work coming out of South Dakota State University on sow hemoglobin, Knauer is doing some of his own work on the impact of raising a gilt’s hemoglobin level at selection on subsequent lifetime retention.

Regaining No. 1 Status in the U.S.

Improving sow livability is not only a good idea from an economic and animal welfare standpoint, but it’s necessary to help the U.S. regain its status as the world’s lowest-cost producer, he says.

“If we look at cost of production for pork across the world, the U.S. is not ranked No. 1,” Knauer says. “Brazil is. It is in our best interest to close that gap in cost of production between Brazil.”

The U.S. is losing too many pigs along the way to disease and other challenges. He believes there are opportunities, especially as genotypes have advanced, to do better.

“On the sow side, we’ve made a lot of progress just in the last year or two, showing that nutritional interventions can help solve livability,” Knauer says. “Improving our pig livability across our system is going to help close the gap with Brazil, but to do that, we need research dollars behind this nutrition by health interaction piece.”

Researchers must listen to the data, the pigs and the producers to do this, he says.

“You learn when you’re listening,” he says. “That’s why it’s so important to move this industry forward.”

Discover more about Knauer’s experiences from the mats to the slats by watching “The PORK Podcast” on YouTube or by listening to it anywhere podcasts are found.

Oregano and Rosemary Essential Oils Outperform Antibiotics in Swine

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:59:57 GMT

In the search to replace antibiotic growth promoters with effective alternatives in modern swine production, plant-based essential oils are showing potential to provide lasting benefits.

In a rare long-term public study that compared the effects of phytochemicals from rosemary and oregano with antibiotic growth promoters, animal scientists with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station found that the natural agents given to weaned pigs supported favorable gut health and growth performance later in their lives by preserving microbial diversity to improve nutrient utilization.

“This study allowed us to look at the lifetime impact from phytochemical exposures,” says Tsungcheng “TC” Tsai, Ph.D., a program associate in the department of animal science for the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “If you just look into the nursery phase — the first 43 days after weaning — and you don’t see any difference, the study is ended, and you don’t really know the true value of those phytochemicals.”

Antimicrobial resistance, and other concerns

While antibiotic medications have their time and place in veterinary medicine, Tsai says extensive use has accelerated the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and led to bans or restrictions in many countries.

Besides antibiotics, high levels of dietary zinc have also been frequently incorporated into swine diets to mitigate postweaning diarrhea. However, there are also environmental concerns associated with overreliance on excessive zinc excretion, including heavy metal accumulation in the environment, Tsai notes. Pig waste is commonly used as a fertilizer, which can lead to levels of zinc that are toxic to plants.

Essential oils from plants like rosemary and oregano have been shown in many studies, Tsai says, to have beneficial effects on animal health, including poultry, fish and swine. However, most of the studies have focused on short-term responses, often limited to the nursery phase.

Long-term consequences

The early post-weaning phase is one of the most physiologically and immunologically challenging periods in swine production, Tsai says. During this transition, abrupt dietary and environmental changes, coupled with maternal separation, disrupt gut development and destabilize the microbial ecosystem. Gut health during this stage has long-term consequences on feed efficiency, growth trajectory and overall production outcomes, he adds.

To conduct the study, the researchers randomly assigned 192 piglets to four groups after weaning: a negative control in which the pigs were given no antibiotic or phytochemical treatments; a positive control with the antibiotic growth promoter carbadox and high dietary zinc; and two phytochemical-supplemented diets containing extracts from oregano and rosemary plants.

In the phytochemical groups, one group of pigs received oregano extract at 300 grams per ton of feed, and another received a mixture with oregano extract and rosemary extract with sodium humates at 900 grams per ton of feed. Sodium humate is a water-soluble salt derived from a soft sedimentary rock and acts as an anti-diarrheal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent.

Mimicking typical management practices in commercial swine operations, antibiotic and high-zinc supplementation were restricted to the immediate post-weaning period. This practice reflected their conventional short-term use during the critical early stage of piglet development, Tsai says. Phytochemicals, however, were administered continuously to the separate groups, enabling the researchers to assess their long-term potential as antibiotic alternatives.

Growth performance was monitored throughout the nursery, growing and finishing phases with seven phases in all — three nursery phases, two growing phases and two finishing phases.

Phytochemical patience

Piglets that received antibiotics showed faster growth and higher body weights compared with other groups, but the advantage didn’t persist. Once the researchers removed the antibiotics and zinc from the pigs’ diet, the pigs did not maintain their performance edge.

By day 155, pigs in the phytochemical group with oregano, rosemary and sodium humate achieved the highest final body weight among all groups and had the best gain-to-feed ratio.

“From a production perspective, these patterns may offer complementary or alternative strategies for growth promotion, but their implications should be interpreted cautiously,” the researchers note in their conclusion.

Although not included in the published study, Tsai says pigs fed with phytochemicals appeared to be less aggressive towards each other.

Under the microscope

Microbial analyses reinforced the growth performance findings on phytochemicals, which enhanced long-term productivity and contributed to restoring a healthier gut microbial profile. The phytochemicals did not appear to have the same adverse effects on microbial composition shifts induced by early life antibiotic and high zinc exposure, the study notes.

Animal scientists found that the natural agents given to weaned pigs supported favorable gut health and growth performance later in their lives by preserving microbial diversity to improve nutrient utilization.

(UADA )

For microbiome data, researchers selected one pig from each group for a rectal swab. They sampled the same pig from each group on days zero, 16, 126 and 155, and assessed group differences in microbial features.

In the group that received antibiotics and high dietary zinc after weaning, microbiota profiling revealed reduced diversity and an increased enrichment of potential pathogens. Conversely, bacteria associated with beneficial gut colonization and serotonin-mediated host development significantly increased in the oregano-only phytochemical group relative to the antibiotic and high-zinc group.

“These compounds may not give the instant response producers often see with antibiotics, but over time they appear to help condition the gastrointestinal tract and microbiome, so pigs handle stress better later in life,” Tsai says.

Shaping healthier herds

The long-term study was a long time in the making for Tsai, who as a boy was intrigued by the different growth rates of the pigs on his grandparents’ small farm. His curiosity continued at the University of Georgia, where he earned his graduate degrees in animal nutrition. He then gained more knowledge of immunology and microbiology as a program associate with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“We come to a point where we know some of the basic mechanisms that can result in the advantage of the phenotype response by certain types of treatments, but the challenge we still have nowadays is that we cannot identify a single solution to all types of production systems that is able to be as effective, in the broad spectrum, when compared to antibiotics,” he says. “We have to think about customizing, or conditioning production systems to what kind of treatment would probably be better.”

On the experiment station’s Savoy Research Complex in Fayetteville, where the study was conducted, Tsai says each generation of pigs is slightly different, and some are healthier than others.

Tsungcheng “TC” Tsai tends to a pig at the Savoy Research Complex in Fayetteville, Ark. His research shows that farmers have promising natural options to support healthy animals without relying so much on antibiotics.

(UADA photo by Paden Johnson)

“It’s still a thing that we need to further look into, and see, to learn more,” Tsai says of the phytochemicals. “I think the good thing is that we are in a time that allows us high-end molecular science with techniques we can adapt into the production side, and the nutrition side. We have the people with expertise that we can collaborate with and get the bigger picture or better understanding of what’s going on.”

The research shows that farmers have promising natural options that can support healthy animals without relying so much on antibiotics, according to Looper.

“It’s an encouraging step toward more sustainable and responsible pork production,” Looper says. “Consumers want food that’s raised responsibly, and this study gives swine farmers more natural tools to do just that. It’s exciting to see options that support animal health while helping produce pork that people can feel good about.”

Editor’s Note: Tsai is the corresponding author of the study published in the journal Animal Research and One Health . Analysis of the pig’s microbiome in the study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The first author of the published manuscript was Ziyu Liu, a graduate student in the department of animal science in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. Co-authors of the study in the department of animal science included postdoctoral fellow Samantha Howe, laboratory technician Alisun N. Watson, Associate Professor Yan Huang, Professor Jiangchao Zhao, formerly with the department, and Professor and Department Head Michael Looper. Other co-authors included Yang Tian, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of biological and agricultural engineering, Dr. Jason E. Farrar and research assistant Christopher E. Randolph of the Genetics Core in the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Álvaro José Uribe and Jaime Andrés Ángel Isaza with Promitec Santander S.A.S. in Colombia. Randolph and Farrar applied funding from a grant to use the Genetics Core’s Illumina MiSeq machine in the study. Additional support came from Promitec Santander S.A.S.

Chinese Pigs Fed New Menu as Beijing Weans Farmers Off U.S. Soy

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:07:18 GMT

At the edge of one of the many pig farms spread across the vast, unbroken floodplains of Taizhou, a two-hour drive northwest of Shanghai, a pair of square, four-metre pools of acrid-smelling ochre liquid hold the key to cutting costly soybean use in half.

The pools hold a swill of cheaper, locally sourced ingredients, which can include brans, pumpkin vines and wine lees. But it is fermented - like yogurt - so the proteins are already broken down and easy to digest, lessening the need for the higher-quality proteins in soy, 80% of which China imports.

For the farm’s owner, 47-year-old Gao Qinshan, the motivation is entirely monetary. Feed accounts for 70% of pig rearing costs, and soybean prices have jumped - squeezed by Beijing’s trade stand-off with Washington and compounded by war in the Middle East.

“Soybean prices have become so unstable,” Gao lamented.

With the industry already hobbled by oversupply and weak consumer demand, “pig farming has become unprofitable,” he said. “Everyone is thinking about how to cut costs.”

The grassroots fixation on overheads belies Beijing’s more strategic motivations: long-term food security and increased self-reliance.

The government sharply accelerated a drive to expand protein sources for livestock in March of last year, just as trade tensions ramped up early into President Donald Trump’s second term. Soybeans quickly became a key bargaining chip.

Reuters interviews with dozens of livestock and feed producers, state researchers and industry experts revealed Beijing is moving faster than previously thought to deploy new technologies and promote fermented feed.

It’s the agricultural equivalent of Beijing’s campaign to build domestic capabilities in microchips and artificial intelligence, catalyzed by Washington’s stringent controls on advanced technology exports to China.

In terms of agriculture, “the biggest national policy goal right now is soymeal reduction,” said Fu Zhenzhen, a feed analyst at Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultants.

“The most direct reason for that is the trade war with the United States,” she said. “Fermentation is essential.”

Motivating Farmers to Switch

China is the world’s biggest buyer of soybeans, and imported $52.7 billion of the oilseed in 2024, $12 billion of which came from the U.S., the latest figures from the World Bank show.

Last year, inbound shipments increased 6.5% from 2024 to a record 111.8 million metric tons, according to Chinese customs data.

Fermented feed currently accounts for 8% of industrial feed in China, up from 3% in 2022, and is likely to hit 15% by 2030, industry experts predict. That could help China cut soybean imports by up to 6.3% from last year’s levels, according to Reuters calculations.

Pig farmers are just one piece of Beijing’s food security puzzle, albeit an important one, with pork a traditional staple of the Chinese diet - China is home to half the world’s pigs - and swine more dependent on soymeal than poultry or cattle.

Farms like Gao’s raise a third of livestock in China, the world’s biggest meat producer.

However, the switch to fermented feed requires a heavy commitment, often entailing the overhaul of entire feeding systems. Gao struggled initially, with feed growing mold and going to waste. Many farmers simply give up.

Beijing, characteristically, is leaving nothing to chance, offering incentives to every sector of the industry, and every link in the supply chain.

Targeting the Entire Supply Chain

China’s Muyuan Foods, the world’s biggest pig farmer, has reduced soymeal in its feed from 10% six years ago to 7.3% now using synthetic amino acids produced from fermented corn starch, Zhang Meng, director of the company’s feed division, told Reuters.

Agribusiness giant New Hope Liuhe has developed soymeal-free chicken and duck feeds by fermenting duckweed and other cheap protein sources, according to people familiar with the matter. New Hope did not reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Working with the government, China’s two biggest dairy producers, Yili and Mengniu, have cut the amount of soymeal in cattle feed by 20%, according to sources at the state-backed National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy. Yili declined to comment, and Mengniu did not reply to a request for comment.

All of the figures on soymeal reduction are being reported for the first time.

China has also attracted foreign investment, with Dutch-based trading house Louis Dreyfus planning to build its first fermented feed production line in the northern port city of Tianjin.

“China is standing at the forefront of fermentation technology,” said Shambhu Nath Jha, principal consultant at Fact.MR.

The U.S.-headquartered consultancy estimates that the value of China’s fermented feed market vaulted to $6 billion last year, catching up fast on Europe’s leading but more mature market, worth $7 billion. The U.S. market, by contrast, is worth just $2.5 billion, because soybeans and corn are more readily available.

For poultry, China’s 25% fermented feed adoption rate already surpasses Europe’s 20%, according to Fact.MR.

Costs, Complexity and Taste

Beijing has momentum on its side: Pork prices at 16-year lows make any cost-reduction scheme an easy sell.

Where the fermentation pitch runs into problems is the lack of a standardized approach, analysts said.

Some argue that pigs mature more slowly if farmers simply ferment whatever food sources are available, and can be weaker to disease.

The ultimate test may be taste.

“There is so much demand from consumers for better quality meat, but the industry is just focused on reducing costs and doing what the government wants,” said Ian Lahiffe, an agriculture consultant in Beijing.

“There are a lot of benefits to feeding soybeans,” he said. “They need to think about how to avoid sacrificing animal health and meat flavor.”

(Reporting by Daphne Zhang and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Tony Munroe and Kevin Buckland)

What’s Driving Grow-Finish Profitability in 2026?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:35:51 GMT

Times change quickly. Fifteen years ago, a standard 2,400-head barn that cost $600,000 now requires aninvestment of nearly $1 million, points out Brad Eckberg, account executive at MTech Systems. With much of the U.S. finishing capacity built in the late 1990s and early 2000s reaching the end of its lifespan, the need is growing for expensive mechanical and structural overhauls.

“If you have an aging facility and want to do some remodels, I think there’s definitely a need for good space out there,” Randy Kuker, director of swine production for The Equity, explained during the recent State of the Pork Industry Report. “Where your challenge is going to be is if your facility is in an area where it’s surrounded by other pigs and has a lot of disease pressure, the value you’re going to get from integrators or even independent producers that want to use your facility is not going to be very high.”

With what he’s “hearing in the countryside,” porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) have been major issues brought up by people looking for spaces. Too much disease in an area is just too hard to manage.

“Health is king,” Eckberg agrees. “But ultimately, success in the wean-to-finish barn comes down to feed conversion and feed cost per pound of gain. Feed represents about 55% to 65% of the total cost of the pig, so keeping inputs low matters.”

However, he’s quick to point out that people in the barns at the slat level are key to making sure inputs stay low. For example, making sure no out-of-feed occurrences happen, keeping pens appropriately stocked and reducing stress on pigs that are being marketed can make a big difference.

Eckberg and Kuker joined Adam Annegers, JBS sow farm manager, and Cara Haden, DVM, director of animal welfare and biosecurity with Pipestone, on the April 2026 State of the Pork Industry Report. They share tips for contract hog growers to consider this spring.

1. Focus on the first 48 hours.

The transition from the sow farm to the wean-to-finish barn is the most vulnerable time. Success depends on preventing dehydration and ensuring pigs find water and feed immediately.

For Annegers, spending time in the wean-to-finish barns recently has helped him gain a better perspective of the downstream cycle. He believes communication is key.

“Each group of pigs is going to be a little bit different from the last group whether that’s due to health status, diet change or a treatment plan,” he says. “Review the health document with that grower on the group of pigs that’s coming prior to their arrival.”

Make sure the barn is ready to receive pigs from the temperature to ventilation to having the right diet ready to go, he adds.

“The most important thing to do when the pigs arrive is to make sure the pigs don’t get dehydrated,” Annegers says. “They’re used to having mom’s milk right there available to them, so making sure they find water and get started. Have the mats ready for mat feeding multiple times a day. And don’t just throw feed on the mat; get the pigs up and moving.”

2. Better biosecurity equals better production.

Disease management remains one of the most significant operational risks for all pig farmers, contract growers alike. Kuker says he has heard of three sow farms in the past few weeks that have experienced outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

“From what I’m being told, it’s a pretty bad one,” Kuker says. “High mortality, high abortion rate and then those pigs end up in the finishers. It’s very frustrating for those growers because it doesn’t seem like any antibiotic strategy is doing the pigs much good. It’s rather disheartening.”

He says it’s resulting in the producers and pig owners adding a lot of cost to manage with very few results.

“There’s not much the growers can do,” Kuker says. “The ones who end up getting those pigs just have to deal with it. The veterinarians have a good plan to transition those sows back to healthy pigs, but it’s hard when you know that group of pigs you’re getting is going to be a challenge, take a lot of work and not get anywhere close to the results you want.”

The Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (APP) break from a couple years ago really opened producers’ eyes to ‘Oh, wow. We’re actually moving stuff around in grow-finish on people and equipment,’ Haden says. She believes as the industry moves toward disease elimination with the National Swine Health Strategy, the pressure will increase on grow-finish sites to do the same.

The better biosecurity is in your barn, the better your production will be, Haden adds. In a recent cost of disease project funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and the Swine Health Information Center, they’ve been doing some testing and biosecurity scoring to help determine production impact.

“We’re starting to see some very clear ties between better biosecurity and better production,” she says.

Eckberg says that it’s not hard to see how better biosecurity will also improve key performance indicators.

“Think about it – I’ve got healthy pigs so from a cost standpoint, I’ve got fewer medication costs,” Eckberg says. “I’ve got lower mortality so my labor retainment is higher. I’ve got improved average daily gain because they’re not sick. You name the metric – across the board – production will be better because of better biosecurity and better health.”

3. Look into manure as a strategic asset.

Manure is no longer just a byproduct; it is a significant revenue stream, Kuker says.

“We’re seeing a shift, especially with guys that were looking at expanding their operations or adding another facility, to look into ways to create more revenue from manure,” Kuker says. “Depending on your situation, if you’ve got a neighbor or somebody who wants that manure, we’ve got some people benefiting in the $3 to $5 range per pig space from it. On a 4,000-head site, that could generate $20,000 a year in income for that barn owner.”

Kuker says he is also hearing more and more talk about manure technologies. At a recent grower meeting, he learned about a manure separation process where solids are separated from the liquid. Then, the liquid can be set up to go into a planter for more precise and concentrated manure treatment.

“They are looking at 30 gallons per acre on that application and sometimes seeing an 18-bushel increase in yield by using that specific treatment,” he says. “We also heard about a farmer over in Indiana who was willing to pay $1 a gallon and wanted a million gallons of this stuff. There are definitely opportunities out there on the organic side for this fertilizer. And with the current prices where they are, I think you’re going to see more of this by people looking to branch out in their operations.”

4. Boost truck biosecurity.

“It feels like we control everything at the sow farm, we’re talking about improvements in biosecurity at grow-finish sites, but then we’ve got this black box of transport that’s often not something that we manage,” Haden points out. “A lot of times, it’s a third-party vendor and it’s out of our control.”

Washing and properly drying trucks is not an easy job, she says. In fact, it’s a big ask to get a truck and trailer perfectly clean every time.

“There are a lot of things that have to go right to get that done perfectly,” Haden says. “How do we verify that on a regular basis? How can we make sure every single trailer comes out clean?”

She believes truck audits and verification are a gap in the pork industry that needs to be focused on moving forward to be successful.

Watch the full report here.

Summer Marketing Period is More Than Summer

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:54:47 GMT

For 2026, the terminology around “summer marketing” has a slightly different context. Normally, the crush sheets indicate that those few summer months might be the only months of the calendar year that offer a market profit opportunity. However, for 2026, depending on individual production costs, all months have had and continue to have this potential. While all swine operations implement diets and management strategies with the end in mind, 2026 should bring even a sharper pencil to maximize this opportunity.

Real time decision-making economic tools discussed below for stocking rate influence on growth rate, DDGS inclusion recommendations, ideal net energy and amino acid inclusion (lysine and tryptophan), optimal diet phosphorus levels and feed additives use such as Skycis, among other tools are available here .

Try These Post-Weaning Practices

For the first three to four weeks post-weaning, there is a limited opportunity to accelerate growth rate to have a measurable impact on final market weight. In many cases, more time and investment should be devoted to ensuring pigs are started correctly, with properly sanitized facilities, accurate implementation of SOPs for newly placed pigs, proper ventilation and timely treatment of challenged pigs to ensure they are set up for the remainder of their growth stage to market. However, nursery nutritional programs that include in-feed acids, pharmacological zinc, super-dose phytase and other feed and water additives, with consistent data, can increase final body weight by 0.4 to 1.5 lb. at the end of this period.

Late Nursery to Marketing Tips

Once post-wean pigs are about 28 days post-weaned, they often respond to various nutritional practices to increase growth rates that are sustainable until marketing. These practices include increased dietary energy intake and use of growth promoters (some already mentioned in the post-wean section), such as pharmacological copper, ionophores and other feed additives. Some nutritionists formulate dietary phosphorus and various amino acids, such as tryptophan, at slightly higher concentrations to achieve higher growth rate targets.

A commonly used practice is to reduce or eliminate higher-fiber ingredients, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) or wheat middlings, to increase growth. This also allows for increased dietary soybean meal, which can improve growth rates if currently included at low diet concentrations.

The use of added fat is a decades old practice that always gets discussed, but often the resulting improvements are only in the 1.0-2.0 lb. carcass weight basis, but the added feed cost in many U.S. locations can still be greater than the revenue received.

While nutrition is a piece of maximizing profitability in high market price months, management practices can often override nutrition changes for extra weight gain. Practices to increase days to market could include:

Double stocking nursery pigs longer for fall-marketed pigs to allow for more days on feed of finishing pigs during the summer months.
Utilizing a lower stock rate for targets periods of time as possible as a means to improve daily gain.
Altering marketing strategies to maximize days of feed of an entire barn population.

Feed Cost Surge from Iran War Deepens Pain for China's Pig Farmers

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:34:17 GMT

Rising grain prices fueled by the Iran war are lifting animal feed costs in China, the world’s biggest pig market, piling pressure on producers already hit by weak demand and hog prices at 16-year lows.

Since the start of the war on February 28, futures for soymeal and corn - two key feed ingredients - have climbed to multi-month highs on the Dalian exchange, driven in part by the oil price rally, higher freight rates and rising fertilizer costs, two analysts said.

In March, spot prices for soymeal and corn in China have risen by over 200 yuan per ton and around 100 yuan per ton - 7% and 4% respectively - increasing real-time feed costs.

Prices for other inputs, including lysine and methionine - essential amino acids - as well as fishmeal and vitamins A and E have risen between 6% and 77% this month due to the war, according to Rosa Wang, an analyst at Shanghai JC Intelligence Co.

“Prices for most raw materials used in animal feed have experienced a significant increase in March, partly driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” said Lin Guofa, senior analyst at consultancy Bric Agriculture Group.

Overcapacity and Weak Demand

Chinese hog producers, who account for half of the world’s pigs, are grappling with higher costs even as they contend with falling pork prices due to overcapacity and weak demand.

China’s most-active hog futures contract DLHcv1 fell to a contract low of 9,980 yuan ($1,448.16) per ton on Monday. Cash prices tumbled to 9.69 yuan per kg - the lowest in 16 years, according to JCI.

“Raising a hog that weighs about 60-62.5 kg currently costs 12.2-12.5 yuan per kg. This means farmers lose 280-350 yuan for each pig they sell,” said Lin.

Plunging Hog Prices, Negative Margins

Smaller farmers, who account for less than 30% of China’s pig production, risk being pushed out of business as they are especially vulnerable to price swings, analysts said.

“For small farmers now, either you sell your pigs cheap or you grit your teeth and bear it, get through this price drop, and then wait for the pig price to rebound,” said Fu Zhenzhen, feed analyst at Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultants.

Li, a 600-head pig farmer in northern Hebei province, said he has been losing money since last year.

“We are being roasted by fire now. Pork prices are so low, but feed costs have jumped sharply in March,” Li said.

Since last year, Chinese authorities have intensified efforts to rein in overcapacity, urging breeders to cut sow numbers and manage slaughter rates, while recently buying frozen pork for state reserves to stabilize prices.

China’s sow herd totaled 39.61 million head at the end of December, remaining above the normal holding level of 39 million.

“Going forward, pork prices will mainly depend on how aggressively companies trim their herds,” said Pan Chenjun, senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank in Hong Kong.

($1 = 6.8915 Chinese yuan renminbi)
(Reporting by Ella Cao, Daphne Zhang and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Tony Munroe and Shri Navaratnam)

Sows and Gilts May Need More Calcium and Phosphorus Than Previously Thought

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:59:46 GMT

The needs for calcium and phosphorus by growing pigs have been researched extensively and recommendations for requirements for digestible calcium and digestible phosphorus have been proposed. These recommendations have been validated in performance experiments, and the recommended levels were confirmed to be accurate.

However, there is a need to determine the requirements for calcium and phosphorus for developing gilts and sows, too. Due to the rapid increase in productivity of sows over the last decade, it is believed that requirements for all nutrients including calcium and phosphorus have increased. Still, research to determine the requirements for calcium and phosphorus for reproducing animals is lacking.

What Do Developing Gilts Really Need?

From the extensive work to determine requirements for calcium and phosphorus by weanling and growing-finishing pigs that was conducted over the last two decades, it is possible to estimate the levels of calcium and phosphorus that will maximize bone development. Because developing gilts need to stay in the herd for several years, it is important that they have maximum bone ash and bone strength when they enter the breeding herd.

The requirements for calcium and phosphorus that maximize bone ash should, therefore, be used in diets for developing pigs (Table 1). It appears from these data that the ratio between digestible calcium and digestible phosphorus that is needed during the growing phase increases as pigs get older because less and less phosphorus is needed for soft tissue growth as pigs get older and the optimum ratio in diets for mature gilts is, therefore, close to the ratio in bone ash.

How Are Gestating Sow Needs Different?

The needs for calcium and phosphorus by gestating sows represent the sum of the needs for maintenance, maternal growth, fetal development, and growth of placenta and other reproductive tissues. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of data to demonstrate the needs for calcium and phosphorus for all of these requirements and estimates, therefore, can only be made based on a number of assumptions that may or may not be completely accurate. However, there are a few data for the endogenous losses of calcium and phosphorus by gestating sows and it is likely that these losses are representative of the maintenance requirements for calcium and phosphorus by gestating sows. There are also estimates for requirements for maternal gain, which are believed to be closely associated with the requirements for gain of bone ash from the first to the fourth parity of sows.

Estimates for requirements for fetal growth and growth of reproductive tissues have been published and although these estimates are variable among experiments, these data represent the best possible estimates for these requirements. As expected, requirements for fetuses and reproductive tissues are much greater from day 90 to farrowing than they are before day 90 because of rapid growth of fetuses late in gestation. Based on these estimates it is possible to make estimates for requirements for digestible calcium and digestible phosphorus by gestating sows (Table 2). Because these estimates are based on the daily requirements, the concentration of digestible calcium and phosphorus needed in the diets depends on the daily feed intake and will change with changes in feed intake.

The requirements for digestible calcium and phosphorus can be estimated, but there are considerable difficulties in formulating diets based on digestible calcium and phosphorus because there is a lack of data for the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in feed ingredients fed to gestating sows. The digestibility has been determined in most feed ingredients fed to growing pigs, but gestating sows have digestibility values that are very different from those observed in growing pigs (Figure 1), and as a consequence, it is not possible to use digestibility values obtained in growing pigs when formulating diets for sows.

It may be necessary to formulate diets for sows using values for total calcium and phosphorus rather than digestible calcium and phosphorus, and requirement estimates in Table 2 are indicated both as digestible and as total calcium and phosphorus. In addition, values for total calcium and phosphorus are indicated both for diets without microbial phytase and for diets with microbial phytase, and it needs to be taken into account that the response to microbial phytase is different in sows than in growing pigs.

Lack of Data for Lactating Sow Digestibility of Calcium and Phosphorus

The requirements for calcium and phosphorus by lactating sows represent the sum of the requirement for maintenance and the requirement for milk production. As for gestating sows, the requirement for maintenance can be estimated from the requirement for endogenous losses and the requirement for milk production is largely determined by the amount of milk produced every day, which is strongly influenced by the number of pigs suckling the sow.

Under practical circumstances, most sows will likely have an average milk production of 12 liters per day during lactation and daily feed intake usually vary between 5 and 7 kg per day. It is possible to calculate the needs for digestible calcium and phosphorus in lactating sows producing 12 liters of milk per day and consuming 5, 6 or 7 kg of feed daily (Table 3).

As for gestating sows, there is a lack of data for the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in feed ingredients fed to lactating sows, and it may be necessary to base formulations on total calcium and phosphorus rather than digestible calcium and phosphorus, as is also indicated in Table 3. Responses to microbial phytase by lactating sows are different from growing pigs and also different from gestating sows, and there is also a need to generate data for responses to phytase by lactating sows.

More Work to Be Done

Estimates for requirements for calcium and phosphorus by developing gilts are based on strong scientific data, but for gestating and lactating sows, there is a lack of data for which requirements can be based. The above estimates were based on calculations of requirements and a number of assumptions had to be made and there is therefore a need for these numbers to be validated under practical conditions. Likewise, there is a need for generating values for the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus by gestating and lactating sows in all feed ingredients and the impact of microbial phytase needs to be verified as well.

Don’t Leave the Feed Mill Out of Your Farm’s Biosecurity Plan

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:20:01 GMT

Biosecurity programs in commercial swine production typically focus on animal housing and the immediate farm perimeter. However, upstream inputs — particularly feed and ingredient supply chains — represent critical and sometimes under-recognized pathways for pathogen introduction.

Feed is unique among production inputs because it is delivered directly into animal environments and consumed daily. As veterinarians supporting the Carthage System’s 30-plus sow farms, our collaboration with feed mills extends beyond diet formulation. It also includes verification of ingredient sourcing, mill biosecurity design, and delivery logistics to minimize infectious disease risk.

Making feed safer

Modern swine diets include not only major ingredients such as corn, soybean meal and distillers byproducts, but also a range of micro-ingredients — including amino acids, trace minerals and vitamins — that are frequently sourced through global supply chains. Some originate from regions where foreign animal diseases (FADs) not present in the United States, including foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever and classical swine fever, are endemic.

To mitigate this risk, mills supplying Carthage System farms preferentially source ingredients from FAD-negative regions. When procurement from affected regions is unavoidable, imported micro-ingredients are held in segregated, climate-controlled storage to allow time-temperature inactivation of potential viral contaminants. Inventory planning is structured so incoming ingredients can complete the designated holding period before use.

Feed mitigants are also incorporated during manufacturing, particularly during higher-risk seasons when environmental survivability of enveloped viruses may be extended.

Feed mills themselves operate with internal and external clean-dirty line (CDL) separation, analogous to farm biosecurity zoning. Within the facility, traffic flow and personnel movement are structured to prevent cross-contamination between raw ingredient receiving, processing and finished feed load-out. Externally, physical separation of incoming ingredient trucks and outgoing feed delivery vehicles reduces cross-contact risk. In some mills, traffic lanes and access points are designed so inbound and outbound vehicles never intersect, with only the truck scale shared.

Safety in deliveries

While FAD exclusion remains a top priority, endemic U.S. swine pathogens — particularly porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and porcine deltacoronavirus — continue to drive production losses. Feed delivery vehicles moving among farms represent a recognized mechanical transmission risk.

To reduce this risk, Carthage System mills and farms use a structured delivery sequencing model referred to as a biosecurity pyramid. Farms are categorized by health status, and delivery routes are scheduled from highest-health to highest-risk sites to avoid reverse contamination.

Health status classifications are reviewed at least weekly and adjusted as outbreaks occur or sites recover. If logistical constraints require deviation from sequence — for example, urgent delivery to a lower-status farm — the vehicle undergoes full wash, disinfection and downtime before returning to higher-health routes, in addition to routine sanitation protocols.

Seasonal environmental contamination also requires management. Winter road conditions in the Midwest can accumulate organic debris on truck undercarriages that may harbor pathogens. Mills typically require removal of this material before trucks enter load-out areas or pass over delivery pits. Farms may also increase on-site feed inventory ahead of forecast thaw events (“sludge days”) to reduce delivery frequency during high-contamination periods.

The importance of mill–farm relationships

For independent producers, the primary takeaway is the need for structured communication with feed suppliers. Vertically integrated systems with dedicated mills can implement unified protocols more readily, but toll and cooperative mills serving multiple clients can also operate at high biosecurity standards when expectations are clearly defined.

Producers should work collaboratively with their veterinarians, nutritionists and mill managers to establish and verify feed-related biosecurity measures. Within the Carthage System, veterinary teams conduct mill biosecurity audits every 6-12 months to verify compliance and incorporate emerging science and technologies. At minimum, annual review is recommended.

Another risk-reduction strategy involves eliminating porcine-derived animal byproducts in swine diets. Ingredients such as spray-dried plasma, serum and other blood products provide highly digestible protein and energy, but also present significant pathogen transmission risk within species. Carthage System diets use alternative sources to reduce this exposure pathway.

Feed biosecurity is not solely a mill responsibility or a farm responsibility. It is a shared system that requires alignment across the entire supply chain.

Two Legacies, One Lasting Impact on the Pork Industry

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:29:40 GMT

Mike Tokach, Ph.D., and Lisa Tokach, DVM, have devoted their combined 70-year professional careers to advancing the pork industry. While their career paths differed, both Tokachs’ prolifically contributed to the industry through their professional commitments and successes. Together, they have served at the local, state and national levels of the pork industry, building connections and advancing their fields through education, research and collaboration with pork producers, veterinarians and swine nutritionists worldwide.

Advancing the Science of Swine Nutrition

After completing his doctorate in swine nutrition at the University of Minnesota in 1991, Mike began his career at Kansas State University. Throughout the next three decades, he contributed to the field as a researcher, educator and extension specialist. As part of the K-State Applied Swine Nutrition Team, he authored over a thousand scientific and extension articles, secured research funding and grants and lectured around the world, all to shape the science and practice of swine nutrition.

Throughout his time at the university, Mike mentored a generation of students and visiting professors. Mike’s mentees are now involved in nutrition, marketing, sales and research roles within the pork industry. He also served on several National Pork Board committees, helping guide key initiatives and standards for the industry.

A Trailblazer in Swine Medicine

Lisa earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1990, and began practicing with Abilene Animal Hospital in Abilene, Kansas, after graduation. As one of the early women in her field, she set an example for others by showing that a career in swine medicine could be both rewarding and inclusive.

Lisa was involved in all facets of her clients’ production systems and helped adopt and implement Pork Quality Assurance® Plus and Transport Quality Assurance® training practices. Lisa has been a steady advocate for animal welfare and producer education, taking an active role in training and leadership within the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, where she served as president in 2002.

Leadership, Learning and Industry Collaboration

Lisa’s commitment to ongoing learning led to earning her certification in Swine Health Management and become a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. She served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She was also a founding member of the Kansas Swine Alliance Group and served as its president.

A Lasting Legacy

Mike and Lisa retired in early 2026 and relocated to northern Minnesota, where they spend time with family, raise service dogs, tend their bee hives and trail ride with their two mules. Even in retirement, they remain committed to always learning and maintaining the relationships they’ve built over a lifetime of service to the pork industry.

Listen to Tokach and his colleague, Bob Goodband, on a recent episode of The PORK Podcast.

New Strategies to Combat F18+ E. Coli in Nursery Pigs

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:54:10 GMT

Post-weaning diarrhea caused by F18+ Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a growing health and economic challenge in swine production. Not only does it lead to significant morbidity, mortality and growth performance losses in nursery pigs, but emerging evidence indicates that some E. coli strains exhibit resistance to commonly used antibiotics, further complicating treatment strategies and underscoring the need for alternative approaches.

“We need to find new ways to disrupt mechanisms by which ETEC is exerting high toxicity and mortality,” said Joel Spencer with United Animal Health during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Annual Meeting. “If we can knock down some of these mechanisms, we have the opportunity to increase the efficacy of technologies that can improve pig survivability.”

A recent United Animal Health study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of one of their products, ProVent ECL, a direct-fed microbial (DFM) positioned for use in sow and nursery diets. This DFM was launched in 2016 to support health and performance through multiple mechanisms of protection against complex pathogen challenges.

Previous ProVent ECL field evaluations and internal research have been presented at AASV annual meetings showing improved health outcomes in commercial environments. The United Animal Health team wanted to further understand how ProVent ECL could influence intestinal health and mortality, so they set up a controlled nursery challenge study.

How Did the Study Work?

A total of 140 barrows were weaned, transported to a BSL-2 research facility, and randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments by bodyweight in a randomized complete block design:

F18+ ETEC challenge only
F18+ ETEC challenge + 0.05% DFM in the nursery diet
F18+ ETEC challenge + 0.15% DFM in the nursery diet
F18+ ETEC challenge + 2500 ppm Zn from Zinc Oxide

All pigs were from sows consuming 181 g/ton tilmicosin in lactation, and all pigs were injected with tulathromycin at processing and weaning, respectively. Pigs were placed in elevated solid-sided pens containing five pigs/pen with eight or four replicate pens per treatment.

During the study, the pigs received a two-phase nursery diet and were placed on dietary treatments at weaning, and for the entire 28 day experimental period. On day 14, all pigs received a single oral gavage of F18+ ETEC that was positive for EAST1, LT, and Stx2 toxin genes.

Mortality and health were monitored by a consulting veterinarian, and these metrics were the focus in this controlled challenge study. Serial rectal swabs from one pig per pen were tested via qPCR to quantify inoculum F18 adhesin gene on days 2, 14, 17, 21 and 28. Each pig was euthanized on day 28 and ileum intestinal segments were collected to measure villous height, crypt depth and F18 adhesin gene quantities adhered to the intestinal mucosa. The data was then analyzed with pen or pig as the experimental unit and treatment was used as the fixed effect.

ProVent ECL Reduces Mortality

The model proved highly effective in evaluating the impact of a health-focused direct-fed microbial during a controlled E. coli infection, Spencer says. There were no differences in animal growth among treatments; however, there were significant impacts on infection and mortality.

“This model proved effective to separate out differences among treatments when dietary treatments were fed for 14 days prior to challenge and continued for 14 days post challenge,” he says. “The higher dietary inclusion of direct-fed microbial significantly reduced mortality and frequency of F18 adhesin gene adhered to the ileal mucosa of challenged pigs.”

Spencer says this higher level appeared to reduce infection of pigs and also improve intestinal recovery post challenge due to reduced adhesion and colonization of F18+ ETEC in the intestine.

“While this specific health-focused direct-fed microbial, ProVent ECL, did significantly reduce mortality under controlled conditions, other therapies will likely be required alongside the direct-fed microbial to optimize pig health under commercial conditions where co-infections and additional stressors must be considered,” Spencer says.

A Stockman’s Mind in an AI World: Dan Hamilton on the Future of Swine Genetics

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:28:47 GMT

Even as technology and artificial intelligence (AI) transform the pork industry, Dan Hamilton, senior director for product performance in the Americas for PIC, argues that a curious human mind is more important than ever.

“As an industry, we must be open-minded, especially toward new technologies and new ways of doing things,” Hamilton says. “To remain competitive, we must have the curiosity and willingness to try things so we can stay on the cutting edge and be right where we want to be.”

At the forefront of significant advancements in swine genetics, Hamilton has witnessed how cameras, sensors, and AI are revolutionizing the barn. While these tools collect and process massive amounts of data at lightning speed, Hamilton warns against blind reliance on the “black box” of technology.

“I always tell people when you create an algorithm, it always gives you an answer,” Hamilton says. “But stay curious. Ask yourself if it’s the right answer and if we should be making a decision based on it.”

Validating the Algorithm

Nothing replaces an inquisitive mind that constantly asks how to make things better. For Hamilton, the power of a company like PIC lies in its access to large, commercially relevant data sets. While PIC has always relied on nucleus farms for precise data, Hamilton notes they have expanded their reach into the commercial sector.

“As we use these new technologies, we’ve got more data points in differing environments,” Hamilton explains. “We must continually validate these technologies to ensure they are bringing value, and we must continue to retool the algorithms to make them more accurate and refined for their specific locations.”

Taking the Subjectivity Out of Selection

Digital phenotyping—the use of automated technologies like cameras and sensors—allows producers to measure behavioral, structural, and production traits objectively and non-invasively. Hamilton has focused specifically on how this technology evaluates the feet and legs of swine.

“Feet and leg quality are vital to a sound breeding program,” he notes. “For generations, good stockmen have selected for better feet and legs, but there has always been a level of subjectivity. What I think is ideal, you might see as slightly different.”

By training AI algorithms using images from expert selectors, researchers can now evaluate structural soundness in real-time.

“This is a huge step forward,” Hamilton says. “We’ve found that algorithms are often more accurate and consistent than humans. Even the best selector doesn’t always score the same animal the same way every time. It could be because it’s Monday morning versus Wednesday afternoon, or they caught the pig at the wrong moment. The cameras, however, are three times more accurate, allowing us to make faster genetic progress.”

The ultimate goal? Predicting longevity.

“We are now using that data to predict which gilts or boars will have the greatest longevity in the sow herd,” he says. “Moving from what we thought were the best feet and legs to actual data based on herd retention is a major shift toward better outcomes.”

Decoding the “Social Network” of Pigs

The modern pig is not the animal your grandparents raised. Today’s pigs are raised in large, indoor pens, meaning selection traits must evolve alongside the environment. While profitability remains a driver, Hamilton says welfare and behavior are becoming equally critical.

“When I was in graduate school, we used to sit pen-side and manually record pig behavior on a tablet,” he recalls. “We could never get large enough data sets to really move the needle. Today, with AI, we can obtain behavior recordings on thousands of pigs simultaneously.”

By measuring “normal” behaviors—time spent eating, lying, sitting, or drinking—PIC is identifying highly heritable traits that can be improved through selection. This has led to the study of “social networking” within the pen.

“Pigs develop behaviors for a reason,” Hamilton says. “Understanding how they live together—which ones are dominant, which are subordinate, and what ‘cliques’ they form—creates opportunities. We want higher-performing, more profitable pigs, but we also want pigs with behaviors that are better for their pen-mates and their caregivers.”

Precision at the Feeder

Beyond health alerts and activity monitoring, Hamilton sees a future where cameras count pigs and predict weights with near-perfect accuracy, ensuring pigs go to market at the optimal size according to their growth curve.

He is particularly excited about the potential for AI to improve sow livability through automated body condition scoring.

“If you can take caliper or body condition readings and have them ‘talk’ to an automatic feeding system, you manage daily intake based on the sow’s specific condition and weight,” Hamilton says. “That brings us to a level of precision we’ve never seen on the farm.”

The Challenge of the System

Despite the high-tech tools, Hamilton reminds producers that they are still managing biological beings within a complex production system. Challenges like health breaks and “flow constraints” remain the industry’s biggest hurdles.

“Producers often have to put X number of pigs into X number of spaces. If they have a few extra pigs, they still go into that same space,” he says. “What is profitable in the short term may not allow for maximum genetic performance.”

Hamilton also applies his “curious mind” philosophy to the ongoing debate over pork quality. He suggests the industry needs to stop looking only at the loin and start looking at the consumer.

“We have great tools to improve pH, color, and marbling in the loin, but the loin is only one part of the carcass,” he says. “If we improve loin quality at the expense of ham quality, are we really winning? We need to understand why the U.S. consumer isn’t paying for higher quality before we can truly decide how fast to move. The technology is here, but the questions, and the curiosity, must come first.”

You can listen to more of Hamilton’s personal story of resilience on “The PORK Podcast” on YouTube or follow The PORK Podcast anywhere podcasts are found.

Anything That Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong in the Winter

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:29:02 GMT

Winter weather requires constant vigilance to maintain pig health and barn infrastructure. After all, Murphy’s Law that “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong,” is almost always true in the dead of winter.

“During the first real cold of the year, there is always a heater that doesn’t kick on or a water line that freezes up,” said Adam Annegers, sow production manager at JBS, during the recent State of the Pork Industry Report . “Things just happen during that first cold snap.”

Freezing Failures

For Randy Kuker, director of swine production for The Equity, the biggest challenge his team faced during the recent snowstorm occurred on an empty site as it started to fill with pigs.

“You try to take all the precautions and do the right things,” Kuker says. “We were starting up a feed line that had some frozen ice in it, then the PVC snapped. Now we had to try to repair a PVC line in the cold temperatures – that’s not fun.”

When the snow starts to fall, Kuker encourages producers to make sure they clear snow away from tunnel curtains to prevent gaps and check pit fans for drifts to ensure proper airflow. Additionally, monitoring snow load on roofs is essential to prevent structural collapse.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

“Winter brings a lot of challenges and keeps you on your toes, and that’s just outside the barn,” Kuker says. “That doesn’t even take into account inside the barn.”

Production Priorities

Inside the barn, ventilation is key to managing humidity and preventing disease, he says. Producers should monitor probe temperatures to ensure they are not in front of inlets, which causes heaters to run longer than necessary. Minimum fan speeds must be set correctly to balance heat retention with air quality.

Ventilation, feed and water quality are important every day to keep pigs performing well, emphasizes Brad Eckberg, account executive at MTech Systems.

To maximize profits, consider increasing breed targets by 5% to 10% during the fourth quarter to ensure full-crate utilization for high-value summer markets, Eckberg adds. Focus on body condition and parity distribution to maintain high farrowing rates.

Stress and Survival

Eckberg reminds producers that cold stress is a potential trigger for disease. During transport, cold stress increases mortality. What can producers do to protect pigs from cold stress during transport?

Start by making sure that trailers have adequate bedding and closed sides.

“We need to make sure that we’ve got the sides closed up enough that the route is safe,” says Cara Haden, DVM, director of animal welfare and biosecurity with Pipestone. “We need to make sure we’re not going to get stuck en route, that we’re moving loads if we need to off of these days that are so cold, or where there’s a chance that we’re going to get stuck in a snowstorm and not make it to the barn.”

Cold stress creates significant implications.

“If pigs get cold stress and then things like drafting or heater issues arise, that can trigger more issues,” Haden says. “If you get the pigs to the barn and your heater goes out for a couple hours in this type of cold, we need to make sure we’re responding quickly, because that can impact the health of a pig, too.”

“If pigs get cold stress and then things like drafting or heater issues arise, that can trigger more issues.”

Cara Haden, DVM

What’s Your Backup Plan?

She says it’s also important to note Scott Dee’s snowball experiment proved that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) love blowing snow.

“They can move in blowing snow. They can move on vehicles that are covered in snow,” Haden says. “This time of year, we need to be super diligent.”

But ice makes diligence more challenging, she adds.

“When we go to disinfect a chute, trailer or a truck, disinfectants need to dry in order to function appropriately,” Haden says. “We need to make sure we’re either getting those in a warm enough environment that we can dry, that we’re adding propylene glycol along with our disinfectants, and ultimately are getting things as clean as they need to be.”

Create a backup plan, she advises.

“If your lines freeze and you’re supposed to be disinfecting a chute or a trailer, what will you do?” Haden asks. “There are products like ChloroSorb, which is a dry powder that we can use. We’ve got to have those plans in place so that we don’t end up having dirty trucks or dirty trailers going down the road because of some sort of freezing issue.”

Watch or listen to their entire discussion that delves into the impact of winter on your operation, wean pig health and nutrition tips, and conversations taking place at trade shows and more in the Farm Journal’s PORK State of the Pork Industry Report .

Strategies to Help Raise PRRS-Positive Pigs

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:19:07 GMT

By Kayla Miller, The Maschhoffs

Rasing pigs under disease pressure, particularly from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), is an all-too-common reality for the swine industry, especially in the pig-dense Midwest. Whether challenges arise from lateral breaks or endemic pressure originating at the sow farm, the fundamental question remains: How do we effectively raise and care for compromised pigs?

Though we as an industry do not have the clear answer, here are a few ideas for consideration from a swine production system in the Midwest facing these same challenges, ranging from people to management to nutrition and health.

Driving Engagement of Caretakers

Many producers rely on the contract grower model to raise and care for growing pigs. Managing PRRS-positive pigs introduces challenges and demands beyond routine daily responsibilities, making caretaker engagement and buy-in essential.

Supporting caretakers through a PRRS break, whether through increased site visits, hands-on assistance or ensuring adequate resources, demonstrates empathy, sustains motivation and helps strengthen the long-term partnership. Ultimately, successful execution of protocols depends on clear communication, realistic expectations and outcomes, and strong alignment among the management staff, the herd veterinarian and the caretakers.

Without this alignment, the following strategies and practices are unlikely to be implemented consistently and effectively.

Management and Environmental Strategies

Successful management of PRRS-positive pigs begins with execution of the basics of animal husbandry, including focusing on individual pig care, frequent pen walking to encourage pigs to eat and drink, and execution of work protocols. Having caretaker eyes on the pigs multiple times each day provides the best chance for success in identifying unthrifty pigs early, allowing for timely intervention and additional care.

Creating a low-stress environment is equally critical to helping pigs cope with viral disease challenge. Work out of Iowa State University demonstrated that pigs experiencing a PRRS challenge often exhibit elevated body temperatures for at least 14 days.

During this period of peak viral load and clinical symptoms, management strategies that deviate from optimal production efficiency may provide meaningful benefits. Adjustments such as increasing barn set points and reducing stocking density can be practical and easily implemented tools to support thermoregulation and promote pig comfort.

Nutrition and Health

Ensuring adequate nutrient intake is critical to improving livability and performance of health challenged pigs, whether delivered through feed or water. Practical strategies, such as mat feeding and careful feeder management, may help promote feed intake during periods of appetite suppression.

Additionally, there are a range of nutritional strategies, feed additives and nutrient-dense liquids geared toward driving feed and nutrient intake that may be beneficial under the specific circumstances of the challenge. However, the principle is imperative and simple: providing palatable, high-quality nutrients to the animal during a period of low appetite.

Equally important is the execution of health protocols directed at aiding pigs through the viral load and inflammation response. Strategic and timely use of herd-level treatment programs, either water-based medications or individual injectable treatment, combined with increased diagnostic testing and surveillance, can allow for earlier detection of circulating PRRS strains and more informed decision-making.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As noted, the swine industry does not yet have all the answers for PRRS and how to manage PRRS-positive pigs. Academic research and field evaluations have provided valuable learnings on management, environmental, health, and nutritional strategies, but each PRRS challenge is unique in viral strain and severity, making every outbreak a distinct hurdle.

Success relies on consistent execution of protocols, strong engagement from caretakers and production staff and the integration of strategies across all areas of pig production. Focusing on these fundamentals gives pigs the best chance to thrive.

Kayla Miller is the manager of nutrition and quality assurance for The Maschhoffs.

Understanding Wean Stress is How to Minimize It

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:54:42 GMT

Swapping the only diet they’ve known for a different one, and learning a new eating system, puts a great deal of stress on piglets making the transition from sow’s milk to solid food and water. Producers can lean on a few solid strategies to make newly weaned pigs comfortable enough to thrive in the nursery.

Those working with nursery pigs observe firsthand the learning curve that comes with getting used to their new diet, flavors and textures, as well as pans, feeders, waterers and other equipment they have to learn to navigate. It’s important to help them start wanting to use these new tools to eat within the first 48 hours weaning off milk, as it gives them a desire for mealtime throughout their lives.

The Science of Stress

The stress response of pigs, like other livestock, is influenced by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis — glands that trigger adrenaline and cortisol when the animal is in a stressful situation. This is great in danger, such as escaping a predator, as the hormones can help the body override physical limitations or injury to get away. The problem is that the stress felt in less deadly situations also trips the HPA, and sustained stress keeps cortisol levels elevated.

In a wean pig, sustained cortisol release suppresses its immune system, which can lead to damaged gut microbiome integrity and leakiness. Successful stress management in the nursery goes back to trying to prevent too much cortisol-spiking.

One good way to gauge the pig’s stress level is if it is eating and drinking adequately. Monitor your pigs’ interest level as well as consumption. Are they interested in the waterers? Are they going to the feeders on their own and interacting with the equipment well? Group huddling and zero interest in getting up to eat at feeding time should be of concern.

I am in favor of using electrolytes or other additives in water for freshly weaned pigs — this helps them want to hydrate frequently, and some additives also stabilize their gut microbiome and may help immunocompromised piglets get started. Producers shouldn’t use these for long, since too much could lead to diarrhea — but for those critical first few days in the nursery, it can be an effective tool to help establish good habits.

Multiple Sources of Stress

Going from the farrowing space to nursery is one of the more stressful events in a pig’s life, not just because of a new diet. Everything is changing — separation from sow and littermates, living in a new pen or barn, increased socialization, a new schedule and things to learn. Even if you’re a veteran producer, reviewing practices from time to time isn’t a bad idea.

Before your influx of new pigs, make sure the barn is set up correctly. This includes preheating the space, making sure brooders work correctly and comfort mats are placed correctly.. This helps lessen the shock of temperature change from the farrowing space and being close to the sow. Check the ventilation — do the fans work? Are the controls set appropriately for the season and environment? Manage humidity to make sure the pigs get plenty of fresh air.

Use proper handling techniques when picking up and moving young pigs. You can learn more about the correct manner of handling through Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus guidelines from the Pork Checkoff. Rough handling increases cortisol levels and the chance of injury, as well as contributing to the pig’s fear of people; proper handling ensures that pigs remain fear free of humans.

Stocking density is also important in managing young pigs’ stress levels. Ensure they have adequate square footage per pig according to their age and proper feeder spaced and water station access per head. Also, make sure the space is sturdy — you don’t want them breaking through pens as they get bigger, since some aggression is normal as they socialize.

Good preparation of the living space and supplies goes a long way toward reducing stress and promoting pig health and welfare. Genetics companies can often provide specific recommendations about ideal stocking density, feeder space and other metrics for animals from their lines. If you have access to such a source, I encourage you to review their guidelines.

Don’t Forget Transport Stress

One other source of potential stress for new nursery pigs is in transport. Be sure your hauler maintains clean, dry trucks that are disinfected thoroughly between runs — producers are encouraged to run empty trailers through a “bake” to reduce the possibility of infection between groups.

Drivers should use the safest routes possible, to minimize animals’ time on the road, especially in extreme temperatures. In hot weather, pigs rely on evaporative cooling since they can’t sweat, so spraying with water when appropriate is critical to survival and welfare.

Of course, also make certain you have plenty of feed and water ready for incoming wean pigs, including medications or other additives — discuss these with your veterinarian. If you don’t already, I highly recommend having both a veterinarian and nutritionist to help develop a plan with maximum benefit for your nursery pigs. This should address gradual diet changes as they age, use of any functional additives and probiotics, a vaccination program tailored to health status and geared for the prevention of disease and more to aid in proactive stress management.

Claire Mtezankuni, DVM, MVS is an associate swine veterinarian with Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd.

Better, Not Bigger: How Pork Producers are Navigating 2026’s Toughest Hurdles

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:43:37 GMT

Health, labor and high input costs are high on pork producers’ list of challenges heading into 2026.

For Bethany Heitkamp, a veterinarian at Cooper Farms, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is causing a lot of problems and continues to get worse and worse over the years.

“We’ve worked on PRRSV for 40 years, trying to implement vaccines and different strategies,” Heitkamp says. “It always seems to find a work around for us and really plagues the health of our pigs.”

Health is always a big challenge, says Jarred Black, director of transportation for Hancock Pork LLC.

“One thing we are focusing on now, in light of the severity of the PRRSV circulating in this part of the country, is to go back and reevaluate our biosecurity protocols,” Black says. “We break them all down to ensure we’ve got the basics covered.”

Winter conditions complicate some processes such as disinfecting and drying facilities, he adds. When labor is limited, that just compounds the issues.

Labor is one of Brad Heimerl’s top concerns. He serves as senior manager for procurement with Bob Evans Farms.

“Our No. 1 goal is to take care of the pig, and to do that effectively, we need good people who understand our business and show up every day to do the best job they possibly can,” Heimerl says. “We’re definitely seeing support to find ways to make get people on the farm. We try to educate and show off opportunities when they are young in hopes of getting people to come back from college to be a part of an operation.”

As a contract grower in Ohio, Nathan Schroeder says profitability and weathering high input costs is difficult now.

“We are on a fixed payment schedule,” Schroeder points out. “One thing that we can’t really control is the input costs. Between propane and rising utilities, just the normal day-to-day usage of materials in the barn has skyrocketed. We sell and supply some motors and hog barn supplies to local farmers, and the price is just a crazy number. It makes everything very tight.”

One of the best ways to tackle these challenges on your swine operation is to borrow ideas and strategies from others. Four industry leaders and producers share some of their best practices and lessons learned at the Ohio Pork Congress.

What is one way you are growing your operation to be better – not necessarily bigger?

Black: Our company is really focusing on the farm level and growing in areas where it makes sense – where there’s not a super dense population of other hogs. However, keeping that community aspect and focus alive is important to us. Farmers are part of the community, and we want to do what’s right for both the environment while supporting local communities in rural America.

Heimerl: When it comes to sustainable growth, we look toward ways of becoming more transparent to our consumer base. Obviously, we listen to the consumers and want to be transparent. We talk about that word a lot, but many are trying to do that and be more present in the conversations.

Heitkamp: We’ve worked on growth in a couple of different areas. The first one is sustainability. Cooper Farms is approximately 95% landfill free. We also have some alternative energy sources that our contract growers work with such as solar panels. We also put in wind turbines at our cooked meats plant. We are finding ways to use alternative energy sources to try to grow sustainably.

Schroeder: We’re in some tight times, especially on the row crop farming side of things. The hog side has been improving. Being a contracted grower, I am set in my price structures, but we still try to look to every little thing we can do. In our hog barns, instead of hiring people to fix some things, we are looking at how can we figure this out on our own? on the farming, on the row crop side of things, you know, you got to find ways to pinch pennies right now. It’s so hard to, I mean, you know, a new finishing barn, you’ll probably have eight to $900,000 into it’s hard to build right now. So finding unique ways to maintain what you have, and we’re looking at that on our farm as a way of growing.

Have you found any success in reducing costs in the barns lately?

Black: It’s wintertime. It’s cold. Barns are burning a lot of propane, depending on the size of the pig that you mght have in the barn. Evaluate your ventilation systems. Make sure everything’s running at its optimal level. Don’t burn your fans too much or run your fans too hard. It’s a good time to get out and look at the new technology and equipment out there to see if it might be time for an upgrade to a more efficient system.

Heimerl: One of the things I focus on is feed. Sometimes we overlook that, but being more efficient in our feed and making sure we have it rationed properly is important. We want them to be as healthy as possible. To do that, make sure they’re eating the best. Pigs get a perception of being fed garbage, but that perception is quite the opposite. We want to make sure the pigs are in the best health they possibly can to be the most efficient for us. Focusing on your nutrition program is huge. There are a lot of inputs that are very volatile in the price point market, and being able to make sure that you’re focused on that helps a lot.

Heitkamp: In addition to finding ways to reduce costs on the farm, we’re looking for the healthiest animal that we can produce and the most efficient animal that we can produce so they use less water per pound of bacon and require less feed per pound of bacon.

Schroeder: The biggest thing we have found to reduce energy costs is taking time to go through the barn and looking at your ventilation. Make sure your fans are cleaned off. That extra dust and that extra weight on it is astronomical how much more usage of utilities that uses. Take some time and look at your maintenance on your barns, and that can help you out, probably tenfold more you’d ever thought.

What is one thing you wish you had done differently in the first 24 hours after a PRRS outbreak?

Black: In the first 24 hours after a disease break occurs, it’s critical to get on-farm care started and get aggressive with treatments on the individual pig level. Use the access to the amazing veterinary services that we have here in the state, and the information that we get from the pork industry as a whole to be able to aggressively try and get ahead of a PRRS outbreak as best we can. I think it’s important to look after your workers as well because it’s a very difficult time that they’re going through. Obviously, animal care and health is top of mind, but we have to always keep our farmers in that equation as well.

Heimerl: When it comes to a PRRS break, or any outbreak for that matter, communication is huge in the first 24 hours. We’re always thinking about our operation and how are we going to mitigate this? What does our future look like? We’re also worried about our neighbors – pigs that are close by and where that could spread to in the area. Don’t forget transportation and your trucks, as they are just as compromised. Being able to have conversations with your neighbors and being transparent as a collective organization is important. We try to do our best at communicating those issues, but there’s always room to improve.

Heitkamp: In the first 24 hours after a PRRS break, you need to get your team together on farm and explain what’s happening and what their expectations are going forward. It’s going to take a while for the virus to work through the farm, so just having an expectation of what will happen over the next few days, the next weeks, the next months, is important in order to get the team prepared for what they’re going to see on farm. I think another important thing to do in the first 24 hours is getting your outbreak investigation prepared. Basically that is getting all your touch points on the farm organized and all the information about visitors and transportation recorded before that information disappears.

Schroeder: One thing I wish we would have done after an outbreak is be a little more proactive as soon as we heard that information to make sure neighboring barns got that information, too. We always make an attempt to tell everybody, and through the integrators, they do a pretty good job of informing others. We need to make a better effort of letting everybody know that, ‘Hey, we’re sick right now. Let’s watch where we’re all driving so we’re not driving by this barn.’ Every little bit counts as this PRRS virus moves around the

The ‘Lift and Shift’: Managing Pigs and People Through Winter Disease Pressure

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:20:07 GMT

It’s that time of the year where you brace yourself for the worst when the phone rings, says Adam Annegers, sow production manager at JBS, during the recent State of the Pork Industry Report.

“I call it the lift and shift,” Annegers says. “You can have your schedule all lined out, and then the phone rings and redirects you. Winter means being flexible because diseases thrive in this weather.”

Raising pigs in southeast Iowa comes with its fair share of health challenges and 2026 is no different. Now is a critically important time to make sure you provide needed support to your team, he says.

“At the onset of a health challenge in the sow barn, there’s not always a lot we can do to have a better outcome for the piglets,” Annegers points out. “It’s difficult on the teams. Focus on keeping your team motivated to get through difficult times knowing that at some point, disease pressure will lessen. Then, they can get back to raising a lot of good, healthy pigs again.”

This time of the year is always challenging, but he’s optimistic about what’s ahead.

“Pig prices are through the roof right now,” Annegers says. “Saving every pig and raising every pig that we can is important right now. Working with your teams to control what they can control helps. It’s time to be a big cheerleader.”

When PRRS Doesn’t Look Like PRRS

Randy Kuker, director of swine production for The Equity, had a strange incident occur in a barn recently.

“We had a group showing some clinical signs – it actually looked like a strep was going on,” Kuker explains. “We’re about 12 weeks on feed, which is rather late for us to be seeing signs of strep, but I had pigs down, kind of paddling, red, puffy eyes, all the classic symptoms. It also looked like maybe a late myco lameness issue.”

His team saw enough issues going on that they took some tissue samples and those samples came back positive for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

“This was surprising to me, considering most of the pigs (if we got to them soon enough and treated them) responded to antibiotics fairly well,” Kuker says. “We had minimal death loss, but it came back as PRRS 1-12-2, a strain which I hadn’t seen in our area at all.”

They ran some antibiotics in the water and administered some antibiotics by injection. Over the course of a few weeks, they lost 0.75% to 1% of their pigs.

“It really wasn’t terrible, but it keeps us humble, knowing this virus can change and do different things than we least expect,” he says.

They also experienced an outbreak late last fall where they saw pigs with purple ears, Kuker adds. The mortalities had purple bellies which automatically made their team think it looked like Actinobacillus suis (A. suis). But it came back PRRS positive.

“I’m glad we’ve got a lot of good veterinarians out there who can give us some recommendations on what to do,” he says “I just wish we could find a way to eliminate it. But don’t see that coming anytime soon.”

PRRS Isn’t Going to Let Up

Cara Haden, DVM, director of animal welfare and biosecurity with Pipestone, says the Bob Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project has been a super helpful tool to see where the industry is at as a whole.

“Right now, cumulative incidence of PRRS as of January 21, is 8.2% which is actually pretty low,” Haden says “But I think it’s important to note that we often see two peaks every year. It looks like we’re maybe through that fall-winter peak, but there is the expectation that we will see a spring-summer peak again in 2026. If we follow the pattern of the last couple years, we’re going to see more PRRS this year than what we’ve seen so far.”

The number of PRRS strains continues to cause heartache across the pork industry.

“We’re getting more information about PRRS Lineage 1C strains being incredibly devastating and very virulent, seeing significant clinical signs with this particular virus family,” she says. “We’re also getting more information about increased shedding times and this virus being more difficult to eliminate from sow farms. These viruses are sticking around in the pig longer, which I think is super frustrating.”

Control What You Can Control

Fortunately the U.S. pork industry is entering a time where it may be possible to spend a little more money to help prevent disease breaks.

“We can’t always control the fact that pigs might break with a lateral PRRS introduction at some point during the growing period, but we can make sure that they don’t break with ileitis,” Haden says. “We can make sure they don’t break with salmonella or that they don’t break with circovirus.”

Trying to pinch pennies on vaccines by partial dosing or foregoing them all together is a dangerous game.

“I’m seeing a lot more freedom from producers to do the things that veterinarians would love to see them do all the time,” Haden says.

Be sure to record it and keep 12 months of documentation of vaccination treatments as required for PQA site assessments, says Brad Eckberg, account executive at MTech Systems.

“Then use that information to ultimately determine how it is working for you,” Eckberg says. “I’m a big fan of learning from successes and failures. Use the data you are keeping to help with decision making, maybe even for future changes in the protocols.”

Watch or listen to their entire discussion that delves into the impact of winter on your operation, wean pig health and nutrition tips, and conversations taking place at trade shows and more in the Farm Journal’s PORK State of the Pork Industry Report.

ADM and Alltech Launch Akralos Animal Nutrition Joint Venture

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:56:55 GMT

A new animal feed and nutrition company, Akralos Animal Nutrition, launched on Feb. 1. This company, formed through a joint venture between global agriculture leaders ADM and Alltech, combines Alltech’s U.S.-based Hubbard Feeds and Canada-based Masterfeeds businesses with ADM’s U.S. feed operations.

“Akralos brings together proven scale, innovation and infrastructure with a deep commitment to service and results,” Akralos chief executive officer Brian Gier says in a release. “From day one, our focus is on delivering nutrition our customers can rely on, support they can count on and partnerships that help their animals and businesses thrive.”

Through an extensive network of more than 40 feed mills across North America and more than 1,400 team members, Akralos plans to deliver reliable, high-quality feeds, minerals and supplements through its trusted brands, backed by advanced nutrition expertise, leading-edge science and personalized service, the company says.

“Akralos is dedicated to helping customers gain a measurable advantage, bringing together passionate teams, proven products and shared values. Its experienced team works closely with customers to deliver tailored solutions, consistent performance and actionable insights, supported by leading-edge research and development, broad logistical capabilities and strong connections across the agri-food value chain,” Akralos says.

ADM and Alltech’s longstanding relationship goes back to 1980 when ADM was Alltech’s first customer. Akralos brings together both company’s complementary strengths to form a unified organization with a mission to serve as an advanced nutrition partnership committed to delivering a competitive edge for producers, retailers and animal owners across North America.

“With the unique strengths and shared values of Alltech and ADM, we can deliver deeper expertise, broader support and a stronger portfolio of nutrition solutions and services, all designed to help our customers build more profitable and resilient operations,” said Akralos chief operating officer Brad Dalke, an animal feed industry veteran who has served in numerous leadership roles at ADM over the past 27 years.

Akralos will be headquartered in Lexington, Ky., with a footprint including feed manufacturing, research and laboratory facilities.

Hubbard and Masterfeeds remain Akralos’ core customer-facing brands, preserving continuity for customers across North America, the company says.

“Our vision is to become the most trusted name in animal nutrition by delivering high-performance feeds and partnerships that drive results,” Gier says. “We’re here to listen, collaborate and use science to solve real-world challenges — nourishing advantage for all of our customers and partners.”

How Will Vitamin and Amino Acid Supply Chain Disruptions Impact U.S. Market Hogs and Sows?

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:05:57 GMT

The U.S. swine industry relies heavily on the consistent availability of vitamins and amino acids to sustain production efficiency. A new report confirms the absence of supplemental amino acids would result in significantly less efficient pork production, meaning supply chain vulnerabilities would have profound implications.

In a December letter to President Donald Trump , 16 members of Congress warned the administration about the country’s overreliance on China for “critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture.” Read the full story here.

In response to rising tensions and global supply chain vulnerabilities of these critical nutrients, the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) , along with Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS) and Lobo Consulting Solutions (LCS), initiated a study to quantify the potential impacts of vitamin and amino acid supply chain disruptions on U.S. food animal production.

“The lack of supplemental amino acids and vitamins significantly increases diet cost, but the true implications will be realized in the longer term as diet modifications will impact the availability of alternative ingredients and animal productivity,” the report says.

The environmental impacts of restricting supplemental vitamins and amino acids should also be recognized. For example, the amount of water required to raise a pig could increase by 30% and ammonia concentration could rise by 80% when no supplemental amino acids are available.

A Vulnerability in U.S. Swine Production

Because about 78% of the U.S. vitamin supply is imported from China, it’s clear that dependence leaves the swine feed sector vulnerable.

“China’s growing dominance in amino acid production parallels the trajectory seen with vitamins,” the report says. “Shortages in these key nutrients can reduce growth rate, impair health and lower pork output per unit of feed, ultimately increasing production costs and threatening food security.”

Industry experts noted uncertainty about how other vitamin-producing countries would respond if there was a supply chain disruption. They would likely rely on China for some intermediate chemicals, and might prioritize their own needs before supplying the U.S.

“On average, unit prices of imported vitamins and amino acids from China are generally lower than those from other major suppliers,” the report explains. “Industry members have also noted that most vitamin prices are currently at or near historic lows, reflecting China’s continued expansion of production capacity and its growing dominance in the global vitamin supply.”

Restricted Vitamins and Amino Acids Adversely Affect Swine

To assess the impacts of vitamin and amino acid supply chain disruptions, representative industry diets (RIDs) were formulated for market hogs and sows in this study. Nutrient supply of the RID indicates market hogs are highly dependent on supplemental lysine, vitamin A, cobalamin (B12) and vitamin D to meet the nutrient specification. Sows are reliant on vitamin A, several B vitamins, vitamin D and vitamin E supplementation for optimal health and productivity. Supplemental tryptophan is sometimes used to support growth and production, but it was not included in the RIDs.

“Limitations in vitamin and amino acid availability can negatively impact swine performance, health and productivity,” IFEEDER reports. “While this report highlights B vitamins and lysine as representative examples of how limiting vitamin and amino acid supplementation can negatively affect market hog KPIs, limiting in other vitamins and essential amino acids would also be expected to negatively affect market hog KPIs.”

As with market hogs, limiting vitamin and amino acid supplementation would also be expected to negatively affect sow KPIs, the study reveals.

Here’s a look at the eight major vitamins used in animal feed.

• Vitamin A
Global vitamin A production capacity in 2023 was estimated at approximately 27,500 metric tons (MT), with China accounting for 53% and the EU accounting for 47% of total capacity. U.S. imports of vitamin A have largely originated from China, with volumes ranging from 821 MT in 2023 to 1,418 MT in 2021. In 2024, the U.S. imported 1,260 MT of vitamin A from China.

• Riboflavin (B2)
Global B2 production capacity in 2023 was approximately 15,900 MT, with China, the EU and South Korea accounting for 64%, 22% and 14% of total capacity, respectively. In 2024, the U.S. imported a record volume of 1,936 MT of B2, with China providing about 56% of the total.

• Pantothenic acid (B5)
Over the past decade, 77% of U.S. B5 imports have originated from China.

• Biotin (B7)
China accounted for 100% of global B7 production capacity in 2023.

• Folic acid (B9)
Because of insufficient data, DIS and LCS were unable to estimate production capacity, supply and demand of B9 for 2023.

• Cobalamin (B12)
China accounted for 100% of global B12 production capacity in 2023, with an estimated global supply of 83 MT, corresponding to a capacity utilization rate of 31%. Over the past decade, China has had a share of about 77.6%, on average, of U.S. total B12 imports.

• Vitamin D3
Global vitamin D3 production capacity in 2023 was estimated at 19,000 MT, with China accounting for 93%, followed by India at 5% and the EU at 3% of total capacity. Over the past decade, U.S. imports under this code have steadily increased, with China as the leading supplier followed by Switzerland and India.

• Vitamin E
Global vitamin E production capacity in 2023 was estimated at 90,000 MT, with China and the EU accounting for 65% and 35%, respectively, of total capacity. Trade data indicates China has been the dominant supplier of vitamin E to the U.S., with an average of 65% of total imports.

Amino acids lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan were also evaluated.

• Global lysine production capacity in 2023 was estimated at 4.7 million MT, with East Asia accounting for 74%, North America for 12%, Southeast Asia for 5%, South America for 4%, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central Asia totaling 3% and the EU at 1% of total capacity. The research shows total U.S. lysine imports have fluctuated between 2020 and 2024, but imports increased by 39% in 2024 compared with 2020. Since 2020, over 90% of lysine imports have originated from China.

• Global methionine production capacity in 2023 was estimated at 2.3 million MT, with East Asia accounting for 37%, the EU for 26%, Southeast Asia for 19%, North America for 17% and CIS and Central Asia reaching 1% of total capacity combined. U.S. methionine imports varied both in total volume and source country between 2020 and 2024. According to the study, total imports declined from 32,560 MT in 2020 to 5,624 MT in 2024, but China still supplied about 87% of total U.S. imports in 2024.

• Global threonine production capacity in 2023 was estimated at 1.3 million MT, with East Asia accounting for 90%, followed by North America at a distant 7%, CIS and Central Asia at 2% combined and South America at 1% of total capacity. Over the past five years, China has been the main supplier of U.S.-imported threonine, accounting for between 96% in 2020 and 89% in 2024. In 2021, a large quantity of threonine imports came from Singapore. This was likely driven by increased shipments from Singapore, which are believed to reflect temporary transshipments of Chinese-origin product related to COVID-associated trade disruptions rather than a structural shift in sourcing, the report says.

Vitamin and Amino Acid Shortage Equals Less Pork

The availability of supplemental vitamins and amino acids significantly influences the amount of pork produced in the U.S., experts say.

“A reduction in pigs weaned due to the absence of supplemental vitamins and amino acids in sow feed could reduce the number of weaned pigs entering the nursery,” the report says. “Without supplemental amino acids, reformulated diets would require higher levels of dietary protein, which could be detrimental to post-weaning pigs with enteric issues, leading to poor performance, increased diarrhea and higher mortality and morbidity. This reduces the number of pigs entering the grow-finish phase and further decreases pork production.”

To read the full report, visit www.ifeeder.org .

How to Provide Nutritional Support for Weaned Pigs

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:03:01 GMT

By Alexa Gormley and Sung Woo Kim

Weaning is widely regarded as the most difficult period in the life of a growing pig. In commercial production, pigs are typically weaned between 3 to 4 weeks of age, when the small intestine is physiologically immature, with insufficient digestive enzyme production and a naive intestinal immune system.

A major challenge associated with weaning is the abrupt dietary transition from sow milk to solid feed.

Sow milk is nutrient-dense and easily digested by suckling pigs, whereas nursery diets rely on feedstuffs like corn and soybean meal that are less digestible for newly weaned pigs due to antinutritional compounds, including allergenic proteins, trypsin inhibitors and nonstarch polysaccharides. These factors can impair nutrient digestibility and compromise the integrity of the small intestine.

Weaning also drives significant changes in the mucosal microbiota, from populations adapted to milk components to those capable of fermenting plant-derived nutrients. Reduced digestive efficiency postweaning period allows nutrients to remain available to microbes, promoting excessive fermentation, intestinal inflammation, diarrhea, reduced growth performance and increased disease susceptibility.

The 3 P’s of Dietary Intervention

To mitigate these challenges, numerous dietary interventions have been investigated to support the small intestine postweaning.

Given its central role, many strategies focus on supporting the mucosal microbiota, such as through the use of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. A series of research projects conducted by the Kim Lab of Monogastric Nutrition and Digestive Physiology at North Carolina State University has investigated the effects of these interventions on intestinal health in nursery pigs.

Prebiotics are substrates selectively utilized by beneficial bacteria to support their activity.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can establish a more favorable microbial balance.
Postbiotics include inactivated microbial cells or metabolites that can interact with the intestinal epithelium and immune system to exert beneficial effects.

Providing prebiotics, probiotics or postbiotics during the postweaning period may help stabilize the mucosal microbiota during dietary transition.

The Kim Lab’s work is unique in its focus on the mucosa-associated microbiota of the small intestine, which directly interacts with the small intestinal epithelium. This is particularly relevant as the small intestine is the primary site of nutrient digestion and absorption, as well as immune activity. Beneficial microbes interact with pattern recognition receptions to promote anti-inflammatory signaling, mitigating intestinal inflammation and diarrhea and improving growth performance, whereas harmful microbes induce pro-inflammatory responses that damage intestinal tissue and impair performance.

Strategic application of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics offers an opportunity to improve intestinal health postweaning. By supporting the mucosal microbiota and associated immune interactions, these interventions may reduce performance losses in the postweaning period. As the nursery period is the time with the greatest potential for growth efficiency, maximizing health and performance during this time is of significant interest to pig producers. Therefore, nutritional strategies targeting the mucosal microbiota could serve as an important nutritional intervention for nursery pigs.

Alexa Gormley is a graduate research assistant, and Sung Woo Kim is the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University.

How An Iowa Pork Producer Is Growing His Operation From the Inside Out

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:40:15 GMT

A new idea has been brewing in Chet Mogler’s mind at Pig Hill Farms in northwest Iowa.

“2023 was a really rough year,” Mogler says. “It made us do a gut check. What are we in this business for? Where do we need to trim things up? What can we do to get better?”

He’s quick to point out that bigger wasn’t better in 2023. It just meant bigger losses.

“Growth does not always mean getting bigger – it might mean diversification, it might mean professionalizing or doing things better,” Mogler says.

One of the areas Pig Hill Farm is seeking to improve right now is biosecurity.

“Biosecurity is always top of mind around here,” Mogler says. “Disease can take you out. To not be focused on it is foolish.”

Mogler thinks about biosecurity in three buckets: local disease risk, whatever he’s putting up with on his own farm and foreign animal disease. After participating in a foreign animal disease tabletop exercise last summer, he walked away more scared than ever – but also more motivated than ever to make biosecurity protocols even stronger in their operation.

Don’t Ignore Reality

“What I learned at that tabletop blew my mind,” Mogler says. “If you have a 2,400 head finisher that’s market ready, and you have to euthanize and compost those animals on site, it will take about 30 semi loads of carbon to properly compost that to USDA specs for qualification for indemnity.”

That number stunned Mogler.

“Around here, where we have 2,400s all over the place,” Mogler says. “When they say carbon source, it has to be a good, dense carbon. Tree chips are best.”

Depopulating a hog barn is very different than depopulating a barn of birds. Unlike pig manure, bird litter can be composted with the carcasses.

“What are we going to do with a half a million to a million gallons of contaminated manure?” Mogler asks. “How do we decontaminate the sites afterwards?”

Even though African swine fever (ASF) is not in the U.S. now, the risks are all around. For example, Mogler says a couple growers vacationed in the Dominican Republic - where ASF is actively present - last year.

“I don’t know that everyone truly appreciates the risk at times. I’m sure it didn’t even cross their mind. However, if there’s an option to avoid those risks, let’s do it.,” he says.“Someone vacations in the Dominican, comes back, goes into their barn too soon or to a county fair where there’s pigs, and well that’s it.”

It’s Time to Reward Doing Things Right

Another area of growth happening at Pig Hill Farm is incentivizing good work.

Ten years ago at a national pig industry conference, Mogler heard a producer present on the bell-shaped curve of their contract growers, noting the difference between top 10% and bottom 10% growers.

“It was a $15-per-head difference in cost of production between those growers,” he says. “If you turn that barn three times a year or two and a half times a year, that’s $40 a pig space. That’s about what we pay for rent in the industry. So, you can take your worst guys and pay them zero, and you can take your best guys and you can’t pay them enough yet. Everybody gets paid a couple bucks either side of $40.”

That has bothered Mogler ever since.

“It’s not fair to the people who are doing what they should do and busting their butt and doing what’s right,” he adds. “And it’s not fair to the people who are not. What they do every day, the time investment they put in and the detail and attention they pay as they’re out there every day is what affects the bottom line of our business.”

For 10 years, Mogler has been stewing on this. And recently, he’s developed an incentive-based program for their growers.

“It’s very much in its infancy, but it’s like a pay-for-play. We are incentivizing them and adjusting their compensation – with the goal not to pay people less, but to pay people more for doing better,” he says.

They have set up comprehensive biosecurity assessments and pre-fill assessments that all factor into a score, along with their closeout score and supervisor visits that factor into a score that puts a baseline pay together for them.

“Where the rubber meets the road is growers can look at this matrix and see what happens when they take action to improve biosecurity on their farm,” Mogler explains. “For example, they may see if they put in a shower and a laundry area in their barn, they will get paid $2 a pig space more because $1.50 of it is from just taking the action and the chances of increasing performance because of lower biosecurity risk.”

All of a sudden, growers have very actionable items in front of them to change their compensation rate.

“The challenge to this is you’ve got to do this for every site. There’s a lot of infrastructure between the scoreboarding process and calculating monthly rents or however often you want to adjust it, that there has to be foundational data management in place,” Mogler says.

That’s been the biggest thing to tackle. Everything from what the supervisors do to what the barn operators know will require great transparency.

“It’s fair. It makes sense,” Mogler says. “The level of engagement I’ve had because of it, has been a really big deal. We are excited to roll it out, but recognize we are in the infancy of this program.”

More Than One Path

Through initiatives like these grower incentives, Mogler is committed to finding unique ways to grow his operation other than just in size.

“I believe professionalizing and improving is key to keeping this operation together,” he says.

As he looks to the next generation of pork producers in their own operation and beyond, he encourages them to adopt a growth mindset.

“I’ve learned one of the best ways you can improve your own farm is to learn from others,” Mogler says. “Sit down with other pork producers, get to know them, hear their story. You will learn something from them and they might learn something from you.”

You can listen to more of Mogler’s story on The PORK Podcast on YouTube or follow The PORK Podcast anywhere podcasts are found.

K-State Duo Goodband and Tokach Reflect on 30 Years of Swine Industry Impact

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:20:22 GMT

For 30 years, Bob Goodband and Mike Tokach have been in neighboring offices at Kansas State University .

“We had been across the hall from each other for about 20 years, and then Bob tried to move away from me,” Tokach laughs. “He moved to a new office down the hall. When the office opened up across from him, I moved to that office so I could bug him again.”

As the pair approach retirement in January 2026 from legendary careers serving the pork industry through research, teaching and outreach on the K-State swine team, they admit it’s going to be difficult to say goodbye to their hallway conversations and discussions.

“I definitely am going to miss being able to interact with Bob and ask him questions,” Tokach says. “Now who will I yell at about how he’s handling a particular situation?”

In all seriousness, Goodband and Tokach have compiled incredible results during their tenure. It would be easy for them to boast about the thousands of research reports, scientific journal articles, book chapters and Extension articles they’ve written. They could brag about all the money they’ve received from research grants and gifts, the patents they hold, the invited lectures they’ve led, and more.

But that’s not who they are.

In their eyes, it’s always been about one thing: the people, especially the students. The research was not just about solving problems for producers, though it did; it was about building students and the next generation of swine industry leaders.

Elevating Excellence in the Pork Industry

“My personal satisfaction has been watching the students develop,” Goodband says. “When they come in as a green masters or Ph.D. student, what they’re able to do and how they evolve in their specific areas have really moved the program forward. It’s been through them that the great research projects have been developed and have taken off.”

Tokach agrees and says it’s hard to pinpoint one research project or advancement that stands out the most. Every project and each student helped move the industry forward in some way.

“For every student, the research they were involved in was extremely pivotal and important in their careers,” Tokach says. “When I think about some of the major themes or areas that we had a big play in, early in our career, it was in nursery pig nutrition. We helped develop some of the first trials with plasma and blood cells and those technologies.”

He’s amazed by how many aspects of the industry have evolved over 30 years.

“Rodger Main’s work was one that was very fun to watch, because you could see how it moved in the industry,” Tokach says. “I won’t forget watching the average wean age, off of Pig Champ or MetaFarm records at the time, and seeing how wean age moved after that research became public and hit the industry.”

He points out that the most recent work Abigail Jenkins published on the number of pigs that a sow can actually handle based on her number of functional teats as a great example of how research can be implemented quickly on farms to start making a difference.

Secret to the Swine Team’s Success

“We’ve been so fortunate to work with high-quality people — producers, colleagues and students,” Goodband says. “We remember how it was when we were young and starting grad school. You try to keep that in the back of your mind — the people who helped you along the way. We want to be that for the students we are training.”

They admit they each play a different role in their students’ development.

“Sometimes my role is to be the taskmaster, if you want to call it that, holding people accountable,” Tokach explains. “Bob is more of the patient teacher. He has taught hundreds of students swine science and how to write scientific papers.”

In all situations, they operate as a team because they enjoy working together and see students, pork producers and industry as part of the team that makes valuable contributions to the industry.

“We fully understand that any success our team has had is because of the success our students have had going out and their impact on the industry,” Tokach says. “That’s obviously fed back very positively on what our team has been able to accomplish because of the impact that each of those team members, when they’ve went on into their own careers, have been able to do.”

Though it sounds sentimental, Goodband says cultivating a culture of family has been key.

“When the students graduate and take jobs, they’re not going to work in a vacuum,” Goodband says. “It’s important for them to rely on others for help when they have questions that they don’t know the answer to, to call up former grad students to bounce ideas by. That’s been fun to watch and see the camaraderie they have amongst each other that I hope we’ve had some kind of role in fostering.”

What’s Next for Goodband and Tokach?

Tokach doesn’t think anyone will be too surprised that his wife pulls him into “their hobbies.” After retirement, they will move to Minnesota to be closer to family where they have plans to do a lot of trail riding on their mules, bike riding and traveling.

Goodband is hopeful retirement will allow him to get caught up on things around the house and outside of the house that he’s neglected for the past 10 years. He expects that the outside of the house will be immaculate in a year, he says with a laugh.

Both agree that it won’t be the same when they can’t banter across the hallway at each other. Tokach says he’ll miss the tailgates at football games and all the fun they had outside of the office, too.

“Mike holds me accountable in a lot of different things,” Goodband says. “But most importantly, Mike’s my best friend, and I’m going to miss him immensely.”

Goodband and Tokach share about changes in education, research advancements that have left a mark on swine production, and how they built an iconic culture at K-State on “The PORK Podcast.” You can watch it above and on YouTube or listen anywhere podcasts are found.

Watch more episodes here.