In today’s commercial production facilities, biosecurity is essential for the improvement, maintenance and productivity of our farm animals. Disease outbreaks can have a tremendous negative impact by increasing mortality, increasing production costs, reducing productivity, and decreasing average daily gain which in turn affects the producers’ bottom line. One of the biggest contributors negatively affecting profitability […]

Managing heat stress is crucial in maximizing swine productivity and production. According to Iowa State University, heat stress causes an estimated $330 million in annual losses to the United States swine industry.  During heat stress, the pigs’ body experiences an increase in the blood plasma pH and a decrease in intracellular pH. The pig will […]

As third and fourth generation phytase enzymes started to be used commonly in feeds, we realized that phytate, the major storage form of phosphorus in plants, is much more of an anti-nutrient limiting performance of swine than just an underutilized nutrient. One of the main reasons why phytate depresses performance is because it has a […]

Pork producers use feed budgets to more accurately feed a group of pigs.  Feed budgets should be calculated by pounds per head for each ration whenever possible.  Feeding based off of days does not account for intake fluctuations created on stocking density, health, and environment.  The simplest information can be the most difficult to get […]

Pellet mills and pelleted feeds have been around since the early 1930’s when the company that would eventually become California Pellet Mill (CPM) created their first 30 horsepower mill. While pelleting feed may not be a new concept, pelleted feeds continue to expand into more segments of livestock production. Most swine producers are accustomed to […]