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.
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.
Early intervention with opportunity sows can help your operation wean more full-value pigs.
The industry has experienced quite an evolution in how sows are fed, says Mike Tokach. Now isn’t the time to stop finding ways to make that process better.
With so many uncontrollable costs in the swine industry, everyone wants to find ways to do more with less. A recent study shows how to get more energy out of high-fiber ingredients.
Protecting sow herds begins long before anyone walks through the barn door. The feed mill, and the trucks that deliver your feed, can either serve as a strong first line of defense or as a major source of risk.
When activists are again successful at persuading a state to adopt anything different than Prop 12’s housing requirements, the wholesale revision of farm practices and contracts will start all over again.
APHIS awarded a contract to Merck Animal Health to supply up to $20 million in tags to sow and exhibition swine industry segments, over the next five years.
She’s arguably one of the most valuable investments on your farm, driving performance from farrowing to finish. How do we keep it that way?
The legs and the feet create the interaction between the animal and the environment, allowing the animal to go to feed, look for water and reproduce.
Research shows a new way to improve piglet performance, move more pigs out the door, and potentially reduce the economic burden of health challenges.
Sows get sick despite our best efforts. But how does this impact the piglet — especially as it relates to muscle development, feed efficiency and meat yield and quality?
A new year provides an opportunity to reflect upon the previous year. In business, it’s also a great time to strategize. Here are a few opportunities to consider.
Although profitability has returned, now is not the time to assume we are in for a good couple of years within our industry. It is time to focus on incremental improvement and positioning our industry for long-term success.
Registration for SowBridge, the distance educational series for those who work with sows, boars and piglets, and with genetic and reproductive issues, is now underway.
Although there were no earth-shattering surprises in the Dec. 1 USDA Hogs and Pigs Report, economist Lee Schulz says there are several important takeaways for pork producers as the year comes to a close.
A collection of five studies from 2024 publications can help improve farrowing and wean outcomes, ensuring the health and survivability of wean pigs for transport.
During a time when many people were cutting back and trying to minimize expenses, Joel Huber decided it was time to invest in facility improvements to help their operation be more competitive.
Walk onto a modern hog farm and it is typical to find climate-controlled farrowing houses filled with hardworking sows nursing litters of 12 or more piglets. But it hasn’t always been this way.
When Savannah Thomson set out to discover preventative measures for sow organ prolapse, she quickly realized more tools were needed. This is how she invented the Pig-O-Meter.
How much does a sow really eat? Or, more specifically, how much does each sow eat? We’ve been thinking about this question by looking at variation in sow herds, and identifying gaps and opportunities to feed differently.
The breathtaking views of Guanajuato, Mexico, weren’t easy to leave behind, but she knew her children deserved better than what she could provide them there. So, she took a chance on a new life. This happened next.
Summer Doty hasn’t saved anyone from a burning building or led an army into battle. She hasn’t jumped into the path of an oncoming train. Still, the work she does at Islercrest Farms is proof not all heroes wear capes.
Not only does the Q1 2024 sow and grow-finish data compiled by MetaFarms indicate improved mortality rates, but this past quarter marks the highest quarterly average daily gain (ADG) in the history of MetaFarms data.
Seasonal infertility is a major swine industry issue, resulting in substantial economic loss due to decreased farrowing rates, reduced litter sizes and increased non-productive days. Here are five tips to consider.
Attention to sow longevity is so important because of the multiple ways it can affect a producer’s economics.
Keeping sows in ideal body condition can be a balancing act. New research from North Carolina State University outlines sow condition targets to minimize body lesions and maximize productivity.
Is the ability to focus on the farm a superpower? It might be, especially in modern pork production systems. Here’s a look at MetaFarm’s preliminary 2023 data and why focus is more important than ever on the farm.
The latest MetaFarms reports show sow death loss in 2023 was at an all-time high at 15.3%. That’s up 1% from a year ago – a trend that continues to move in the wrong direction.
What are the health impacts of piglets choosing a teat from their mother sow?
Here’s a look at the 2024 line-up for SowBridge, the distance educational series for those who work with sows, boars and piglets, and with genetic and reproductive issues.