In the past couple of months the pork industry has realized the important role exports plays in our long term profitability. Exports are down both due to trade issues (ractopamine ‘free’ pork to Russia and China) and currency exchange rates (the devaluation of the Japanese yen). The decline in exports means more pork consumption per capita in the US as freezers can only hold so much inventory. Read More...
In the past few weeks I’ve put on quite a few miles as I’ve worked with producers and production systems across the upper Midwest. With so much road time I’ve had a chance to think about the importance of pork production as an opportunity for youth to return to the farm. At the same time I’ve remembered all of the controversy that has been associated with pork production in many states. Read More...
It’s Monday morning and I’m in the office of one the SVC Research swine research facilities. We’re currently looking to fill 2 research technician positions. In the meantime – I’m getting to spend time with our current employee crew doing lots of research related activities. Read More...
I spent a couple of days this week at one of the SVC Research wean-finish sites helping to individually weigh, ultrasound scan and tattoo pigs as we end a research trial. As I was swinging the tattoo hammer yesterday I realized I have been using this technology for 50 years. Read More...
Last week’s grain stocks report shock wave is still rumbling through the swine industry. One of the first responses several production systems have made to the lowered feed grain price has been to make plans to increase sales weight as rapidly as possible in anticipation of a summer drop in weight. Read More...
This week I participated in a University of Minnesota workshop on worker safety issues related to the design and operation of animal agricultural facilities. One of the topics that arose in the discussion groups was the issue of severe weather at remote livestock sites. Read More...
With high feed ingredient prices there is renewed interest in pelleting swine diets to capture feed efficiency improvements. Historic data in the literature suggests upwards of a 7% improvement in feed conversion and 5-6% improvement in daily gain when corn-soybean meal based diets were pelleted. Read More...
Last Thursday and Friday I attended the Minnkota Agri Builders Conference in Sioux Falls. This multi-state group has been meeting for over 20 years under the guidance of Dr Larry Jacobson from the University of Minnesota and Dr Steve Pohl from South Dakota State University. Once a year this group of ag builders meets to discuss issues associated with livestock housing and to occasionally tour selected livestock facilities. Read More...
As I write this blog this week I’m sitting at the fairgrounds in Sioux Center, Iowa with approximately 225 pork producers doing PQA+ certification to be followed by my presentation on summer heat management and emergency ventilation issues. These producers are both contract growers and owners of pigs. The very large attendance at this meeting sponsored by the Farmers Coop Society demonstrates the importance of pork production to the region’s economy. Read More...
I’m writing this delayed blog sitting in the airport at San Diego where I just finished attending the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting. This morning Dr Howard Hill, former COO for Iowa Select and currently vice president of the National Pork Producers Council gave a presentation on the challenges to the US Pork industry as viewed from the NPPC perspective. Read More...