December 2023

Greeting industry changes with a mindset toward innovation

Livestock producers may not be big on change, but they are innovators, willing to improve facilities, processes and methods to grow a more efficient pig.

Clayton Johnson DVM Carthage Veterinary Service

November 28, 2023

Facing the need to make significant changes to your swine operation can be exciting and invigorating — or it can be terrifying and daunting. Sometimes it’s all of these at the same time!

It does make a significant difference mentally if you are effecting changes to your farm because it’s your idea to institute some upgrades, or if it is because of a requirement — for instance, the imposition of Prop 12 changes in order to be able to sell pork inside California’s borders. In the case of an external requirement, how can you approach the mandated changes with a positive and productive mindset?

Record pace for U.S. pork variety meat exports lifts per-head value

Variety meat exports have surged to Mexico, with shipments increasing 31% to just under 118,000 mt, while soaring 40% in value to $220.4 million.

U.S. Meat Export Federation Staff

November 29, 2023

The strong momentum U.S. pork exports have established this year has been bolstered by record-large shipments of edible pork variety meat. Demand for these products depends almost entirely on the international marketplace, and while China remains the leading destination for U.S. pork variety meat, several markets have contributed to this year’s export growth.

Keeping an ideal environment inside the barn

Barn heat loss can be minimized by insulating curtains and higher-stage fans, avoiding over ventilation, and reducing heat dissipation.

November 21, 2023

For the upper Midwest, the season has changed, and cold weather is here. Lack of barn preparation can be costly. Are your barns ready?



As we move into colder times of the year, we switch from heat removal in barns to heat conservation. There are multiple things that can be done to reduce heat loss in barns including the addition of bubble-wrap or plastic over curtains, covering higher-stage fans (this can be done at the shutter as well as a sock over the cone to reduce backdraft into the barn). Cool cell curtains should be inspected to ensure curtains can be closed and bubble wrap or plastic can be added to limit draft into the barn.