PigX

Data can provide a clear picture of trends and performance across a swine farm, but its greatest value comes from putting those insights into action. In this episode, Dr. Edison Magalhães, assistant professor in the department of animal science at Iowa State University, discusses how producers can leverage data to make informed decisions that improve herd performance from birth to market. He highl...

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, h...

Identifying challenges in swine production and turning them into solutions through research and team development is the focus of this episode. Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham of Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics shares insights on herd health, biosecurity and trial work to improve pig performance. She also discusses her team’s research philosophy, how they evaluate rate of investment and how th...

Regulations like Proposition 12 and evolving technologies continue to impact swine production. In this episode, Hyatt Frobose, North America commercial director of JYGA Technologies Inc., discusses what success looks like in open gestation systems and shares producer insights on swine health, management and adoption of new technologies by farm teams. Fred Kuhr, in his 48th year of swine production...

Genetic research and new technologies continue to influence the future of swine health and production efficiency. In this episode, we explore how research and technology are being used to support stronger, more resilient pigs, while also improving overall production outcomes. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, to discuss both routine and eme...

This episode dives into swine mortality trends, sharing both U.S. and international data to understand the scope of pig survivability challenges. Rachel Johnson, technical account and production support lead at MetaFarms and Dr. Derald Holtkamp, professor at Iowa State University, join the podcast highlighting factors influencing mortality, including market pig prices, feed, productivity, and dise...

Pork producers say herd health is essential to the long-term success of the industry, and that message is driving the National Swine Health Strategy, a comprehensive plan set to be finalized this spring. Dr. Meredith Behr Petersen, director of swine health at the National Pork Board, outlines the timeline leading up to the plan’s final approval set for this spring and the steps involved in identif...

This year’s conference fostered open, engaging conversations around current research in the swine industry, bringing together hundreds of attendees from 31 states and six countries. Two leaders who helped organize the event joined today’s episode: Dr. Joel DeRouchey, professor and swine extension specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University, and Dr. Ediso...

Recent necropsies have revealed new insights into unexplained sow deaths, helping producers better understand the causes behind these losses. A recent study led by Laura Solis, a graduate student at Iowa State University, examined why these deaths occur, many around farrowing. In some cases, animals were sent to the lab for further analysis, as discussed by Dr. Marcelo Almeida, assistant professor...

How do pressure barn systems work, and is negative or positive pressure the right choice? In this episode, Dr. Brett Ramirez, associate professor at Iowa State University, breaks down the essentials of barn filtration and its role in biosecurity. He shares how the industry has evolved, practical ways barns can be modified to improve filtration without sacrificing efficiency and tips for troublesho...

New equipment alone won’t solve every challenge in swine production. The real value comes when technologies and systems work together to improve efficiency. In this episode, three guests share their perspectives on how to make technology work smarter, not harder, and what producers should consider when making future decisions. First, Erin Brenneman and Jeremy Robertson of Brenneman Pork discuss th...

Biosecurity is vital to any swine operation, and manure handling can pose serious potential risks. Research from Ana Paula Serafini Poeta Silva, a research scientist from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, studied the association between manure management practices and disease outbreaks, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) and Porcine Epidemic Diar...

Abigail Jenkins noticed a challenge in the swine industry and researched it — more piglets are being born than there are functional teats to support them. As a graduate research assistant at Kansas State University, she studied how litter size, relative to functional teat count, impacts lactating sows and litter performance. In this July episode of the PigX Podcast, Abigail Jenkins is joined by Dr...

We are kicking off a new season of the PigX Podcast discussing the history of the Pig Livability Project, the current efforts and resources used to share information with the swine industry and how the project is continuing in the months ahead. Joining us on this episode are Dr. David Rosero, assistant professor at Iowa State University, and Dr. Joel DeRouchey, professor and state extension leader...

A recent research collaboration between a university and a commercial farm studied 1,500 sows and 22,000 piglets and discovered unexpected findings about the common practice of split suckling. Their research found that this long-standing practice might not be benefiting piglets on day one as much as producers previously thought. Discussing the research are Mikayla Spinler, a graduate research assi...

The final episode of this month’s special niche production series on the PigX Podcast explores how small-scale producers can take advantage of direct marketing opportunities. Dr. Colt Knight, state livestock specialist at the University of Maine, shares how producers can successfully market and sell their meat directly to consumers. These strategies are not only helpful for pork producers, but the...

This week’s third episode of this month’s special mini-series focused on niche production, we are focusing on the importance of protein in swine nutrition. This week, we hear from Dr. Laura Greiner, director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center and an associate professor of animal science at Iowa State University. Dr. Greiner shares insights from her research, discusses the reasons behind variations i...

Episode two of our four-part special series this month features a thoughtful conversation on whether form matters when comparing energy and fiber. We also explore alternative swine production systems, including what our guest believes to be the only certified organic swine facility in the nation. Dr. Lee Johnston, professor of swine nutrition and management at the University of Minnesota, dives in...

Kicking off our four-part special series this month, we delve into the results of a recent survey and focus group from the World Pork Expo, highlighting opportunities to expand education for pork producers and veterinarians. Joining us is Casey Zangaro, a Swine Production Extension Educator from Michigan State University. Tune in to learn where the biggest educational gaps are, what resources are...

This month on the PigX Podcast, we explore the research and insights from two producers on the advantages of maintaining clean market hauling equipment, including the financial considerations. Beyond the overall benefits to swine health, we discuss best practices implemented by these companies and the country of Denmark, strategies for introducing the proposition and methods for measuring the retu...

In this month’s PigX episode, we look into research to identify the health status of pigs - especially for PRRS – utilizing key performance indicators. Researchers have developed a formula to help detect diseases earlier, offering a tool that facilitates faster and potentially more cost-effective data analysis compared to investing in additional farm technologies. Joining us from Iowa State Univer...

This month on the PigX Podcast, we dive into key considerations for adopting technology in managing livestock. From research insights to practical applications, we explore how technology can enhance farm operations. Our guest, Dr. Isabella Condotta, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, shares her expertise on the intersection of technology and livestock managem...

In this episode of the PigX Podcast, we hear the specifics of POP and discuss actionable ways breeders and producers can take to mitigate the condition. The conversation dives into how nutrition, management and other contributing factors can play part of the solution in addition to research contributions. Joining us are Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, a geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, and Dr. Jack Dekke...

NBAF, located in Manhattan, Kansas, succeeds the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York, which has been a cornerstone in protecting American agriculture. In this episode, we explore how the facility is set to enhance the nation’s biosecurity and unique additions to make a positive impact on the swine industry. We’ll hear from key stakeholders who played a role in bringing NBAF to the Midwes...

The U.S. is on track for its second-highest pork production ever and has recently become the largest exporter of pork. There's growing optimism for American pork producers, and Jessica Spreitzer, Director of Trade Analysis at the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), explains the reasons behind this continued growth. Currently, a record 31% of U.S. pork and variety production is being exported. Spr...