A fairly biosecure way to enjoy your local fairs:
Everyone at the fair has a responsibility to protect pig health.
Going to fairs, or anywhere else that has pigs from a different source, creates risk for your farm.
There...
In the dynamic and ever-changing world of business, risk management is a critical factor that determines the success or failure of an organization. The ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks is crucial in today's competitive market. In the...
What do you think when you hear the word “mass shooting?” I know I automatically associate mass shooting with large cities. Well, our society has taken a sharp downward trend, and it’s now happening in rural Minnesota.
Yes, you heard...
Quick facts
Regardless of the housing system, sow barn managers and caretakers should work to optimize their barn’s system.
Proper design of facilities is an important start, but does not guarantee a successful operation.
Effective stockmanship is crucial to...
Successful farrowing and pig livability are vital for the overall profitability and sustainability of swine production. However, numerous challenges can impede these goals, such as farrowing difficulties, postpartum disorders, reduced milk production, and piglet mortality. Traditional approaches often fall...
Written collaboratively by Jinsu Hong and Ryan Samuel of South Dakota State University and Paul Cline and David Clizer of Christensen Farms in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.
As the biofuel production industry expands in response to federal biofuel polices to reduce...
When we consider the number of stressors wean pigs face, it’s no surprise that starting pigs in the nursery can be challenging. So, the question becomes, what can we do to help?
There are several practical ways to reduce stress,...
From the anti-trust lawsuits of the early 1900s to the present day, the U.S. meat processing industry has long received scrutiny from policymakers and analysts. This scrutiny intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the initial months of the pandemic,...
My recent work has focused on disease preparedness and pig farm biosecurity, and it always comes to mind when I’m attending livestock shows. Of primary importance is that exhibitors return to their animals at home without bringing along a...
One of my most treasured gifts are my grandchildren. They make me smile and laugh. I have a story to share about a little boy (my grandson, Mr. E), a grain cart and some quarters and dimes. Before I...