National Hog Farmer
Summerizing Hog Barns.

National Hog Farmer March 2013

While most pork producers are in tune with preparing facilities for cold weather, equal attention should be paid to preparing for the hot, humid spells in the summer that can curb feed intake, reduce growth rates and lower reproductive performance.

From My Perspective

  • Mar. 6, 2013
    Commentary
    National Hog Farmer

    So God Made a (Hog) Farmer 11

    In a narrative dubbed over a video track of 35 images depicting America’s farmers and ranchers, the late Paul Harvey, in his trademark cadence, delivered the thoughtful message — “So God Made a Farmer” — captured from his keynote address at the 1978 Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention....More

Preparing for Hot Weather

  • Mar. 6, 2013
    Article
    National Hog Farmer

    Summerizing Hog Barns

    While the time and effort placed on winterizing hog facilities is well spent, from an economic standpoint, there are probably more reasons to prepare barns for the summer’s heat. An estimate of the economic loss from heat stress for various U.S. livestock industries, conducted by Norm R. St-Pierre and associates at Ohio State University in 2003, showed the average annual loss due to heat stress was costing the pork industry about $300 million....More
  • Mar. 6, 2013
    Article

    Reduce Summer Slump In Grow-Finish Barns

    Proper ventilation, sprinklers, and other efforts to maintain pig comfort are important to minimize the negative impact of summer heat on feed intake and growth rate of finishing pigs. However, even with these changes, market weights tend to decline in the summer months....More
  • Mar. 7, 2013
    Article

    Keep’em Cool

    Transporting hogs to packing plants can produce casualties: 0.27% of groups arriving at packing plants were classified as “subject,” based on an earlier study by Cate Dewey, DVM, University of Guelph in Ontario....More

Swine Transport

  • Mar. 7, 2013
    Article

    Iowa Resolutions Address Hog Transport Issues

    At the annual meeting of the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) in Des Moines in late January, delegates passed two resolutions dealing with hog transportation issues....More

Swine Health

  • Mar. 7, 2013
    Article

    Tightening PRRS Controls

    If you are serious about staying ahead of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, then it’s time to tighten biosecurity measures and take aggressive steps to protect your operation from the virus. That’s the message from Cameron Schmitt, DVM, Pipestone Vet Clinic of Iowa, based at Independence....More

Swine Research

  • Mar. 7, 2013
    Article

    Spray-Dried Egg Improves Pig Heath

    The use of dried whey and spray-dried plasma has been widely adopted in the swine industry. These products contain immunoglobulins (antibodies) and other physiologically active components. Eggs, rich in high-quality protein and fat, also contain immunoglobulins and other active components that may be useful in nursery diets....More
  • Mar. 7, 2013
    Article

    Evaluating Fiber Digestibility of Corn Co-Products

    Studies at Iowa State University (ISU) evaluated the best ways to characterize fiber from corn co-products in order to determine the site of digestion in the pig and better understand its potential contribution to energy. The trials also evaluated the impact of including fiber from corn on growth performance and on the digestion and utilization of energy and nutrients in the diet....More

Tech Watch

  • Mar. 6, 2013
    Article

    Infrared Heat Sensor Provides Cozy Comfort for Newborns

    The Intelligence Surveillance System (ISS) from Conception Ro-Main, Inc., was recently awarded the F.X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production at the 2013 Banff Pork Seminar in Banff, Alberta, Canada. This new technology is designed to significantly reduce energy costs while providing optimal ambient temperature for piglets in a micro-zone area under a specially designed creep cover....More

Swine Nutrition

  • Mar. 7, 2013
    Article

    Finer Corn Grinding Improves Efficiency

    Conventional wisdom recommends that corn be milled to an average particle size of approximately 650 microns. Finer grind has been avoided due to concerns over pigs developing ulcers....More

Veterinarians on Call

  • Mar. 6, 2013
    Commentary

    Battling an Old Mycoplasma Bug

    As I think about conversations with swine producers the last few years, incidence of swollen joints and lameness in mid- to late finishing is certainly on the rise. In several cases, Mycoplasma hyosynoviae, a bacterial pathogen we’ve known about for years but didn’t see much, is commonly diagnosed as a contributor to arthritis and lameness in growing pigs....More
Upcoming Events
RSS
View All Events
All Past Issues
The May 2013 issue of National Hog Farmer features Masters of the Pork Industry.
National Hog Farmer May 2013
The Masters of the Pork Industry are a very...
view all issues
NationalHogFarmer.com
Related Penton Websites
Copyright © 2013 Penton Media, Inc