The Squeal, by PIC.com

What is needed to start a community involvement and development program? In part 2 of this 3 series, Jen Sorenson (Iowa Selects Farms Communications Director, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-sorenson-a824558/), 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.co...

Why is community involvement and development important and what are the benefits to doing it right? In this 3 part series, The Squeal talks with Jen Sorenson (Iowa Selects Farms Communications Director, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-sorenson-a824558/), Ashley Hengen (PIC Human Resources Business Partner https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-hengen-328843146/), and Tiffany Schlomer (PIC Human Resour...

Walking the barns is an activity that many seem like second nature to most of the people doing it. But why do we need to walk the barns? How should it be done? And how often? Stacey Voight (PIC Technical Services https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-voight-3268aa150/) and Isaiah Spath (PIC Technical Services) share the purpose and intent of walking the barns, providing a checklist for this time well...

The pre-weaning management discussion continues in this second of two episodes. The Squeal team talks about practical considerations on identifying areas for potential improvement, training, and implementation tips, with special guests Jesus Melendez (Carthage System Production Manager), Dr. Sergio Canavate (PIC Technical Service Director), and Brie Quick (PIC Technical Services Manager). For more...

Pre-weaning management is an important part of raising pigs. In this episode (part 1 of 2) The Squeal team talks about piglet management and mortality. Questions they review include: What do you do? How often? Which pigs? Where to? All these questions and more are discussed with our special guests Jesus Melendez (Carthage System Production Manager), Dr. Sergio Canavate (PIC Technical Service Direc...

Is your staff doing all the little things right in your swine breeding program? How do you know if they are? PICs Dr. Lori Thomas Kociemba (PIC Technical Services Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-thomas-kociemba-38a4155b) and Kendall Weger (PIC Reproduction Team https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-weger-033272139/) talk thru the keys to successful breeding outcomes. More information on bre...

Understanding sow ventilation can help your operation in the long run. Nathan Schleman (Belstra Milling Company Assistant Director Of Sow Production https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-schleman-57219314b/) joins Nat Stas (PIC Technical Services Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-stas-63b78699/) and Brad Schimmer (PIC Technical Services Specialist) to discuss mistakes they've seen and som...

Ventilation at weather extremes is challenging. By breaking ventilation down to monitoring and management then ventilation can be a winner this winter. Nathan Schleman (Belstra Milling Company Assistant Director Of Sow Production https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-schleman-57219314b/) joins Nat Stas (PIC Technical Services Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-stas-63b78699/) and Brad Schi...

What is the weakest link in your biosecurity program? What is your strongest? People are an integral part of any biosecurity program. On The Squeal sharing tips and learnings are Megan Mitchell (PIC Health Operations Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-mitchell-235569ab/) and Jason Pooley (PIC Health Programs Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-pooley-bbb8566/). At PIC, our goal is to...

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?...