Low crop yields and limited carryover stocks have pork producers scrambling to find alternative feed ingredients. When evaluating alternatives, consider freight, storage, quality and short-term vs. long-term availability.
Without a doubt, the process of filtering a sow farm is a costly and time-consuming process, according to Jeff Feder, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, MN.
A four-year University of Minnesota research trial found that air filtration was 100% effective in blocking porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus from entering a model of a swine production region.
Great care must be taken whenever swine manure is handled, transported and applied, not only for the safety of the pigs and people, but also to minimize odor and gas emissions.
As it pertains to manure handling and management, pork producers and their advisors must be well equipped with the scientific principles of biology, chemistry and physics to provide a healthy environment inside the production complex as well as...
As pork producers keep a closer eye on feed costs, sow body condition will be scrutinized more closely. In doing so, the feed drops (box or cylinder) used to feed gestating and lactating sows are good candidates for a closer look.
Often, producers and nutritionists are left with requirements to make the feeding program fit the constraints in the existing system, whether they are space shortages, small feed bins, small feed lines, old feeders that are difficult to adjust or...