Inside the Helix

Brazil is the world's fourth largest pork producing country. Recently, Glauber Machado, a Brazilian businessman, veterinarian and DNA Genetics distributor, was in the United States and visited with "Inside the Helix." He discussed reasons behind the industry growth, challenges and opportunities for Brazilian producers. 

For many swine producers, gilts are the future of their farms. Ensuring gilts reach their full potential is key in overall gilt development. In this episode, Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham, veterinarian and director of health with DNA Genetics and Pillen Family Farms, describes DNA's research focused on stocking density. She also explains the impact stocking density has on the timing of estrus an...

While weighing gilts can be a tedious process, it's critical to the reproductive success of a farm. In this episode, Brady McNeil, multiplication business lead with DNA Genetics, explains why weighing gilts is so beneficial, and he describes various ways to complete this process. 

Swine producers want animals that are robust, meaning pigs that are resilient and can perform well no matter the environmental challenges that exist. In this episode, Dr. Tom Rathje, Chief Technical Officer with DNA Genetics, explains why improving robustness matters, and he describes how DNA Genetics is maximizing on this trait through its genetic program. 

Routine walk-thrus can help identify and troubleshoot potential problems producers may be experiencing on their farms. In this episode, Paul Faris, technical services specialist with DNA Genetics, explains why producers might schedule a walk-thru or troubleshooting visit, and he describes the process of these events. 

In the fifth and final part of our miniseries focused on DNA Genetics' "Five Pillars of Reproductive Care," Dr. Jason Schneider, technical consultant, describes sow farrowing care. In the segment, Dr. Schneider discusses recommendations on gestation lengths, feeding rates, farrowing assistance and farrowing room temperatures.

In the fourth segment in a five part series focused on DNA Genetics' "Five Pillars of Reproductive Care," Dr. Amanda Cross, director of genetic program implementation, explains first 48-hour pig care. Dr. Cross says pig survivability is greatly impacted by the first two days of life. She also provides a simple checklist producers can follow to maximize first 48 pig care. 

Feeding for Body Condition Management is the third pillar in DNA Genetics' "Five Pillars of Reproductive Care." Joining the conversation on this topic is Brady McNeil, multiplication business lead with DNA Genetics. In this segment, Brady discusses body condition scoring methods, feeding rates and recommendations on target body condition. 

In part two of our series focused on the "Five Pillars of Reproductive Care," we discuss estrus detection with Dr. Steve Terlouw, director of reproductive physiology with DNA Genetics. Dr. Terlouw describes strategies producers can implement to ensure a smooth gilt breeding process. 

"Gilt Development" kicks off part one of a five part miniseries focused on the "Five Pillars of Reproductive Care." These five pillars, developed by DNA Genetics, were developed to ensure producer success in gilt development, estrus detection, first 48-hour piglet care, sow farrowing care and feeding for body condition management. In this segment, Dr. John Sonderman, technical services director wi...

As temperatures decline, swine producers may be focusing their efforts on winter ventilation. In this episode, Andy Jakubowski, a director with Pillen Family Farms, discusses strategies producers can implement to ensure pigs are healthy and comfortable throughout the winter months.

Swine producers have long strived to optimize growth and reduce input costs. Over the last decade, DNA Genetics has been able to successfully reduce feed costs for producers by a 50 lb. bag of feed per pig in finishing. In this episode, Dr. Tom Rathje, geneticist and chief technical officer with DNA Genetics, describes what this means for producers and how this feat was accomplished through the co...

Creep feeding has long been a strategy for producers to transition piglets from the sow to solid feed. In this episode, Dr. Amanda Cross, director of genetic program implementation with DNA Genetics, discusses new research from DNA Genetics focused on creep feeding and its role in impacting growth. 

The body condition of each female plays a key role in her overall value. Having sows over or under conditioned can eat away at a producer's bottom line. In this episode, Brady McNeil, multiplication business leader with DNA Genetics, explains why it matters to consistently capture an accurate body condition score. He also discusses current research examining how to optimize the overall value of he...

Defects, such as umbilical hernias, scrotal hernias and cryptorchid, can be economically damaging to swine producers. In this episode, Dr. Iara Solar Diaz, geneticist with DNA Genetics, discusses these defects. She also describes what DNA Genetics is doing through its genetic program to significantly reduce the risk of future problems. 

Technology is important to research just as research is vital to the improvement of the swine industry. Dalton Obermier is a graduate research assistant and Ph. D. candidate studying at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). He recently was part of a joint research team between UNL and DNA Genetics focused on using camera systems to monitor genetic growth potential and feed intake. He discusses...

Agalactia is a lactation condition in sows that can impact producers’ bottom lines. In this episode, Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham, a veterinarian and director of health with DNA Genetics and Pillen Family Farms, explains what Agalactia is, and she discusses current research efforts focused on this problem.

The most successful genetic programs are those that understand how their pigs perform in real-world environments. In this episode, Dr. Amanda Cross, Director of Genetic Program Implementation with DNA Genetics, describes commercial production research utilizing DNA Genetics' full genetic program.

Seasonal infertility can be a challenge for the swine industry, especially during the summer and autumn months. In this episode, Dr. Cory Faust, DVM and director of the DNA Genetics' gene centers, discusses how seasonal infertility can impact the swine industry and what producers can do to alleviate the problem. 

Times are tough for pork producers. Inputs are high and prices are low. In this episode of "Inside the Helix," Dr. Steve Kitt, swine nutritionist with DNA Genetics and Pillen Family Farms, describes ways to reduce feed costs while maximizing productivity. 

Increasing wean age can add value to producers, but this isn't a universal recommendation based upon the economics of individual operations. In this episode of "Inside the Helix," Brady McNeil, DNA Genetics multiplication business lead, breaks down wean age and identifies when increasing wean age may make the most sense for producers to implement. 

In this bonus episode of "Inside the Helix," Del Birkhofer discusses the World Pork Expo which takes place June 7-9, 2023 in Des Moines. DNA Genetics will be in attendance at the expo and can be found in Booth V195 in the Varied Industries Building and at the Hospitality Tent G199 on the north end of Grand Avenue. 

Boar exposure is an effective tool for sow farm managers to optimize reproductive performance of both gilts and sows. In this episode, Dr. Steve Terlouw discusses best practices and overall sow farm management strategies.

Ventilation is the primary influencer of heat and moisture levels within a livestock building. In this episode, Andy Jakubowski, director with Pillen Family Farms, explains why ventilation is important for overall herd health. He also describes what producers can do now to ensure their ventilation systems are working before the heat of summer arrives. 

Gene editing can offer countless advantages to the swine industry. Not only can gene editing speed up the traditional breeding process, it has the potential to eliminate or reduce the impact of various pathogens, such as the PRRS virus. While products of gene editing are not yet used in the swine industry, DNA Genetics stands ready to bring this technology to the pork producer when the time is rig...