A late 2019 article from The Pig Site noted that one of the most significant lessons to emerge from the world of farming biosecurity during the past year was that learning, modifying and adapting to new threats is a must. As one expert explained, “We need to understand that biosecurity is dynamic,” and mentioning such […]
A late 2019 report on boar fertility indicated that “Boars, like sows, must be treated with compassion and dignity, to maintain a positive and economic well-being for the animal and producer.” This is something many UK pig farmers are well aware of, and yet it pays to lean in and listen to a bit more […]
Are you familiar with the acronym IoT? It means the Internet of Things and talks about the ways that technology has spilled over into our homes. We have “smart” televisions, phones and even smart lightbulbs. As we add more and more of these devices into our homes, they are actually “learning.” This is called machine […]
According to Pig World, at the end of December 2019, “latest figures published by HMRC show a 20% year-on-year increase in UK pork exports in October… [when] pork exports were at a record high of 25,100 tonnes.” Clearly, this is good news for farmers, but even more so is the fact that in addition to […]
As reported in a 2019 article, weaning “represents one of the most critical stages in pig production, which is reflected in the high piglet morbidity and mortality for this period.” Experienced pig farmers know that production initiated with the healthiest piglets is best and supporting their adaptation throughout different phases is also crucial. Yet, what […]
Lameness is a phrase that seems a bit outdated as it describes a symptom of something else and is not as clear or concise as it could be. After all, a lame pig may be one that refuses or hesitates to stand or get up from the laying area. It could be a pig that […]
Recent discoveries at the University of Pennsylvania, in the U.S., focused on modernizing pig farming. An article about it explained, the department tasked with the work has “spent years crafting and refining their swine unit at Penn with the aim of making pig farms more sustainable nationwide. Their ‘farm of the future,’ with humane conditions […]
Pig farming is hardly a glamorous lifestyle, and yet it gets even less glamorous when the issue of slurry emerges. As a recent article about comprehensive slurry management explained, though, a “comprehensive management plan for slurry transforms a perceived problem into an opportunity and a valued resource.” After all, many UK pig farmers view slurry […]
An article from Zoetis in early 2019 asked a question with its title: Do your pigs need blankets? It then went on to say that temperature can affect any pig’s productivity. Whimsically pointing out that your pigs walk around naked without much hair or fat to keep them warm, the article also explained that it […]
The latest news out of Pork Business magazine indicates that there will be a few “game-changers,” for the year 2020. They indicated that ASF was at the top of most producers’ minds when polled at the end of the year and that biosecurity rates highly in all corners of the industry and parts of the […]