PigX

Season 6, Episode 8: National Swine Health Strategy Coming Soon

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 identifying producer priorities. She also explains how producers and the broader industry can align around the strategy to strengthen herd health and profitability. Learn more about the National Swine Health Strategy and its timeline: https://www.porkcheckoff.org/pork-production-management/national-swine-health-strategy/.

Season 6, Episode 7: Takeaways from the Second International Conference on Pig Livability

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. Edison Magalhaes, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Iowa State University. They share key takeaways from the conference, including the importance of integrating data when evaluating whole-herd livability, building a culture of care among employees and adopting new technologies. Above all, the discussion reinforces that this industry remains, at its core, a people business. They also highlight areas of focus for future research. Explore additional research and stay connected through the Pig Livability Resource Library: piglivability.org/resource-library.

Season 6, Episode 6: The Science Behind Sudden Sow Deaths

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 in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. The episode also features Dr. Chris Rademacher, clinical professor and swine extension veterinarian as well as associate director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center, who asks questions of what seasonal factors there were and management strategies that can influence herd health outcomes.

Season 6, Episode 5: Filtration Strategies for Barn Biosecurity

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 troubleshooting common challenges. Dr. Ramirez also emphasizes the importance of building the right team when approaching filtration projects. You can also watch his full presentation from this year’s Iowa Swine Day: https://youtu.be/v8q1so_4jTA?s....

Season 6, Episode 4: Technology in the Swine Industry

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 the complexities of integrating different technologies, opportunities for overlapping data, and how success ultimately comes down to three essentials: air, water, and feed. You can also watch their full presentation from this year’s Iowa Swine Day: https://youtu.be/cQ99YHHB88w?feature=shared.Then, Dr. Suzanne Leonard from North Carolina State University emphasizes the importance of keeping technology adoption simple. She explains what value really means, considerations for budgeting and implementation, and how to avoid overcomplicating the process. Learn more from her presentation: https://youtu.be/gvDZnPE2VhE?feature=shared.