The Squeal

How are suppliers involved in biosecurity? PIC's Jason Pooley (PIC Health Programs Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-pooley-bbb8566/ ) and Michael McKinney (PIC Key Account Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mckinney-00569b114/ ) look at feed mill biosecurity and discuss how biosecurity pays big dividends when properly followed. At PIC, our goal is to make our customers the most s...

After the Camborough® Turns 60 living history conversation last week ( listen here https://bit.ly/The-Squeal-0156 ), Dr. Saskia Bloemhof (PIC Genetic Services Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/saskia-bloemhof-abma-6686aa148/) and Malcomb Turley (PIC Gene Transfer Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/malcolm-turley-068b7213/) look at how that Camborough® line has kept up with the times and is posi...

Ground-breaking technology doesn't always arrive with a bang. Sometimes it's the alignment of people, potential, and persistence over time. For the 60th anniversary of the Camborough line at PIC, first-hand historians and special guests Andrew Coates, Dr. James Dick, Bob Dykhuis, and Dr. Gonzalo Castro share how they worked with PIC and provide historical context why the Camborough line works. Lea...

Generational planning requires understanding and engagement. PIC's human resources business partner professionals Ashley Hengen (PIC Human Resources Business Partner https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-hengen-328843146/) and Tiffany Schlomer (PIC Human Resources Business Partner https://www.linkedin.com/in/tschlomer/) look at the process of workforce and generational planning and how to learn diffe...

Working to bring on new employees requires understanding their needs. PIC's human resources business partner professionals Ashley Hengen (PIC Human Resources Business Partner https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-hengen-328843146/) and Tiffany Schlomer (PIC Human Resources Business Partner https://www.linkedin.com/in/tschlomer/) look at the process of bringing different cultures together in the workp...

What are the benefits of a strong veterinarian relationship? Dr. Deanne Hemker (PIC Health Assurance Veterinarian) and Jason Pooley (PIC Health Programs Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-pooley-bbb8566/ ) share information on developing and maximizing your servicing veterinarian as a key biosecurity resource. They address how often your veterinarian should be on site and what you should ex...

Think about movement in to and out of your locations, and what diseases take a ride with the vehicles. Building transportation biosecurity plans and processes is one key area to help reduce disease transmission and keep pigs healthy. Dr. Brian Cerrito (PIC Health Assurance Veterinarian, https://www.linkedin.com/in/cerritobrian/) and Ken Alder (PIC Director of Supply Chain Operations, https://www.l...

The U.S. swine industry runs on a reliable, capable labor pool. In recent decades the source of these valuable workers was outside the U.S. Victor Ochoa (Swineworks Managing Director, https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorochoazaragoza/) and Jamie Hundley (PIC Production General Manager, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-hundley-7928993a/) share their knowledge on visas, sourcing, recruitment, and ret...

We continue our review of winter preparation for wean to finish facilities with special guests Dr. Brett Ramirez (Iowa State University, https://www.abe.iastate.edu/brett-ramirez/), Jason Klein (Dykhuis Farms), and Nat Stas (PIC Technical Service Manager, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-stas-63b78699/). Barn basics, mat use, and ventilation: are these are on your check list? At PIC, our goal...

The coming fall can catch you by surprise even though it is expected. Dr. Brett Ramirez (Iowa State University, https://www.abe.iastate.edu/brett-ramirez/), Jason Klein (Dykhuis Farms), and Nat Stas (PIC Technical Service Manager, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-stas-63b78699/) discuss pre-heating, air flows, and the price of propane as the seasons change. At PIC, our goal is to make our cus...

What does it mean to have biosecurity processes for supplies? Dr. Marisa Rotolo (PIC Health Assurance Veterinarian https://bit.ly/3Cjoxbt) and Jason Pooley (PIC PIC Health Programs Manager https://bit.ly/3rG1WAZ) discuss the best biosecurity practices for incoming supplies, from feed bins to employee lunches. At PIC, our goal is to make our customers the most successful pig producers by providing...

The National Pork Board helps the industry keep in sync with consumer tastes and trends. The Squeal brings on Jennifer Vahalik (General Manager & Chief Research Officer, U&I Collaboration LLC, https://bit.ly/3y96CDk), Dr. Clay Eastwood (PIC Applied Meat Scientist, https://bit.ly/3CoXKf4), and Dr. Rhonda K. Miller (Professor, Meat Science, Texas A&M University, https://bit.ly/3Sxsm3H) to dive into...

The Squeal panel shares thoughts on barn technology innovation and automation with Isaiah Spath (PIC Wean-to-Finish Technical Services) and Dr. Tom Stein (Maximus Systems Senior Strategic Advisor). They talk about how barn technology innovation helps save on labor, identify sick pigs sooner, and automatically collect herd health and nutrition data. The Squeal team also looks at what's working and...

The Squeal brings insights on technology innovation and transfer into packing plants. Drew Cashman (Fresh Pork Research, Development, and Commercialization Manager, Clemens Food Group) and Brandon Fields (Global Director, Applied Meat Science, PIC) come together to highlight how technology has been applied to reduce labor hours per pound and to create a more uniform and consistent product. At PIC,...

The Squeal wraps up the discussion of nutrition and negative behaviors in pigs with Dr. Irena Czycholl (PIC Research Scientist on Animal Welfare and Applied Animal Behavior), Dr. Ning Lu (PIC Nutrition Specialist), and Dr. Simon Turner (Scotland's Rural College Senior Researcher). The group outlines the types of research needed to better understand nutrition impacts on animal behavior. At PIC, our...

The Squeal continues the discussion of nutrition and negative behaviors in pigs with Dr. Irena Czycholl (PIC Research Scientist on Animal Welfare and Applied Animal Behavior), Dr. Ning Lu (PIC Nutrition Specialist), and Dr. Simon Turner (Scotland's Rural College Senior Researcher). The group talks about evolution, genetics, and nutrtion, and asks the question "Why don't we breed a more docile pig?...

We know feeder spacing and overcrowding affect animal behavior. But did you know nutrition also plays a part in animal behavior? Dr. Irena Czycholl (PIC Research Scientist on Animal Welfare and Applied Animal Behavior), Dr. Ning Lu (PIC Nutrition Specialist), and Dr. Simon Turner (Scotland's Rural College Senior Researcher) share insights on how nutrition plays a part in animal behavior, in this f...

Benchmarking provides much data, which can be useful data if its turned into actionable items that inform and impact operations. The Squeal brings in Dr. Carlos Roudergue (Country View Family Farms), Dr. Juan Carlos Pinilla (PIC Director Global Technical Services Reproduction), and Greg Bilbrey (PIC Account Manager) to discuss how sow farm benchmarking can benefit your operation, today and into th...

Is it time to review your mortality protocols? Every livestock enterprise deals with deaths a bit differently but there should be common considerations. Dr. Deanne Hemker (PIC Health Assurance Veterinarian) and Jason Pooley (PIC Health Operations Programs Manager) walk through key points on setting up and managing mortality. At PIC, our goal is to make our customers the most successful pig produce...

In this episode on boar lameness factors and management, Dr. Michael Kleve-Feld (PIC Director for Applied Male Reproduction), Dr. Tom Riek (PIC Health Assurance Veterinarian), and Mike Luyks (Kaslo Bay Artificial Breeders) share their findings on reducing problems in the stud. At PIC, our goal is to make our customers the most successful pig producers by providing them with the best genetics. We k...

Maximum Lifetime Productivity is a result of the right genetics in the right animals at the right time, keeping those animals in the best reproductive condition possible during that period. Dr. Michael Kleve-Feld (PIC Director for Applied Male Reproduction), Dr. Tom Riek (PIC Health Assurance Veterinarian), and Mike Luyks (Kaslo Bay Artificial Breeders) look at factors impacting boar lameness and...

How are suppliers involved in biosecurity? PIC's Jason Pooley (PIC Supply Chain Manager) and Michael McKinney (PIC Account Manager) look at feed mill biosecurity and discuss how biosecurity pays big dividends when properly followed. At PIC, our goal is to make our customers the most successful pig producers by providing them with the best genetics. We know our business success depends on yours. Th...

This is the final episode of a three part series looking at sow feeding. The group on the Squeal talk about timing tips and tools. We're joined by PIC's Ning Lu (PIC Nutrition Specialist) and Juan Orozco (PIC Technical Services Manager). At PIC, our goal is to make our customers the most successful pig producers by providing them with the best genetics. We know our business success depends on your...

This is part two of a three part series looking at sow feeding. Jerry Purvis (NG Purvis Farms Nutrition Manager), Dr. Sergio Canavates (PIC Technical Service Director Applied Female Reproduction), and Dr. Uislei Orlando (PIC Global Nutrition Programs Director) help address how sow feeding program implementations contribute to the overall efficiency of a system. At PIC, our goal is to make our cust...

This is part one of a three part series looking at sow feeding. Fred Kuhr (Production Supervisor, Dykhuis Farms Inc.), Dr. Sergio Canavates (Technical Service Director Applied Female Reproduction, PIC), and Carine Vier (Global Nutrition Specialist, PIC) focus on sow body condition management, keeping people engaged, and feeding programs. At PIC, our goal is to make our customers the most successfu...