APRIL 2009:
More Efficient Use of Feed
The volatility of feed prices in recent years has heightened producers' awareness of the need for continual improvement in the efficiency of feed use.

OCTOBER 2008:
Sow & Pig Care
This 47th edition in the Blueprint series focuses on the critical need to train farrowing managers on the proper care and handling of sows and piglets to maximize performance of the breeding herd.

APRIL 2008:
Managing Variation
This 46th edition in the Blueprint series focuses on initiating more effective strategies to manage and minimize the causes of variation in pig production.

OCTOBER 2007:
Focus on Fertility
A closer look at the complex and persistent challenges that pork producers face in dealing with fertility issues.

APRIL 2007:
Improving Disease Diagnostics
The importance of developing a solid working relationship between pork producers/managers and their herd veterinarian.

OCTOBER 2006:
Early Finishing Management
This 43rd in a series of Blueprint issues provides a detailed look at managing, housing, treating and feeding pigs during the early finishing phase of production.

APRIL 2006:
Managing Sows in Gestation

OCTOBER 2005:
Weaning Age Revisited
In the 41st edition of the Blueprint series, swine industry authorities list the various pros and cons of different pig-weaning strategies.

APRIL 2005:
Maximizing Throughput
The challenges of maximizing pig flow and profits are addressed in this 40th edition of the Blueprint series published by National Hog Farmer.

OCTOBER 2004:
Herd Health Strategies
This 39th edition of the Blueprint series from National Hog Farmer provides an in-depth look at the pros and cons of a number of disease avoidance and management programs.

APRIL 2004:
Parity-Based Management
Over the years, various swine production systems have greatly improved productivity and reduced the cost of production. But most have had relatively lesser success in controlling some of the most serious swine diseases affecting the industry today.

OCTOBER 2003:
Enteric Disease Control
Battling swine enteric disease can be a constant and reoccurring challenge for pork producers.

APRIL 2003:
Building Herd Immunity
The ability of the pig to mount and maintain a protective response, through natural or acquired immunity, is a very involved process.

OCTOBER 2002:
Improving Finishing Efficiency
Exploring factors that impact growth rates and efficiency of lean gain in grow-finish production is the subject of this 35th edition of the Blueprint series from National Hog Farmer.

APRIL 2002:
Hog and Pork Production Values

OCTOBER 2001:
Fighting Respiratory Disease
This 33rd edition of the Blueprint series from National Hog Farmer tackles the daunting challenge of fighting swine respiratory disease from farrow-to-finish.

APRIL 2001:
Production & Financial Standards for the Pork Industry
Pork producers charge into the 21st century armed with new capabilities to capture and compile more data and information about the performance of their production systems. With this capability comes the ever-mounting challenge to make more sense of it all.

OCTOBER 2000:
Early Weaned Pigs
Meeting the challenges of early weaned pigs is the focus of this 31st edition of the Blueprint series from National Hog Farmer.

APRIL 2000:
Sow herd management, nutrition and health
Sow productivity ranks high on most pork producers’ priority lists. Sow herd management, nutrition and health have garnered the most effort to increase the number of high-quality pigs per litter. Genetic evaluation data on modern sow lines has been limited, however.