Sow Management
Explore the latest news, research and practical resources pork producers need to optimize sow herd health, productivity and longevity. Stay informed on effective management strategies ranging from nutrition and reproductive performance to farrowing care and housing regulations.
New research shows that subtle sow behaviors and the gap between the first two piglets can flag high-risk labor before stillbirth rates climb.
Swine expert Hyatt Frobose says precision feeding and barn automation empower producers to manage by exception—enhancing individual animal care rather than replacing it.
Installing filters is only the starting line, says Phil Hord of Hord Family Farms. Protecting your herd requires an ongoing operational culture, daily maintenance and strict biosecurity discipline.
After watching his team’s morale get “completely destroyed” by a virus they couldn’t control, Phil Hord decided he was done taking punches. He shares his family’s journey with barn filtration in an area where PRRS wasn’t supposed to run rampant.
Discover how targeted, post-farrowing care can protect your 43-week gilt investment and secure long-term herd productivity.
Trial attorney and pork producer Jackie Bowman Ponder shares why passive complacency is the greatest threat facing modern farmers—and how to fight back.
Before you tear down or build new, use this expert-backed checklist to see if your older barns are worth saving.
From undercover videos to legislative battles like Prop 12, the debate over sow housing has evolved into a strategic campaign to control how farmers operate.
Iowa State University’s new predictive model helps pork producers transition from reacting to nursery losses to anticipating them, allowing veterinary and labor resources to be deployed where they are needed most.
Learn how to calculate and compare the true value of your current sows against prospective replacement gilts to make smarter, timely culling decisions.
While feed mitigants offer a vital shield against PRRSv, validating their presence and mixing consistency at the mill is crucial to ensuring true biosecurity on sow farms.
From encouraging daily movement to fine-tuning feed-to-water ratios, simple management tweaks can unlock a lactating sow’s full reproductive potential.
New management strategies go beyond the basics to improve lactation and sow productivity.
While modern sow productivity has skyrocketed, standard nutritional guidelines haven’t kept pace—but new research reveals that targeted prefarrow supplementation can bridge the gap and dramatically improve sow survival rates.
How this farrowing production manager invests himself to grow elite caretakers and high-performance sows at Schwartz Farms.
It takes very little contamination to cause a lot of harm, making mycotoxins an invisible threat to pig health.
Paying attention to early-life hoof integrity can prevent premature culls, boost lifetime pigs weaned, and unlock your herd’s true genetic potential.
Managing temperatures for gestating sows and finishing pigs is critical for preserving lifetime performance, muscle development and long-term industry productivity.
By utilizing the top 1% of genetic performers, artificial insemination allows farmers to increase food production while optimizing resource management and reducing their footprint.
As new PRRS strains challenge even the most remote operations, a landmark 16-year study proves that air filtration is a critical tool to reduce disease risk and protect herd productivity.
Register now for NC State’s Innovation Forum and prepare for a deep dive into health and production at Iowa State’s McKean Swine Disease Conference and Iowa Swine Day.
Sow and piglet mortality are the toughest opponents facing the pork industry today. Mark Knauer applies the same “grind” mentality he used as a Division I wrestler to “takedown” this crisis.
Genetic selection is a viable tool for reducing incidence of pelvic organ prolapse, but research shows body condition score and perineal score need to be part of the solution.
Eight years ago, the pork industry took a hard look at mortality in all phases of production, realizing that 35% of pigs born in the U.S. never enter the human food chain. Here’s a look at how the industry is improving livability today.
Erin Brenneman says there’s something the industry needs to talk about — the critical importance of individualized day-one care during farrowing.
The U.S. pork industry continues to find ways to improve pig livability. The newly released Production Analysis Summary for U.S. Pork Industry: 2020-2024 shows improvements made and progress needed.
Is split suckling worth it if the research doesn’t show a consistent benefit? Abigail Jenkins offers 3 better ways farm staff can invest time to help pigs and sows thrive.