Swine

The use of antibiotics and development of resistance to medically important antibiotics has emerged as a critical issue in both human and animal health sectors in recent years. With 23,000 deaths in the U.S. each year attributed to infections that are antibiotic resistant, and increasing interest from consumers, food companies and restaurants in the use of antibiotics in livestock production...

Pipestone Veterinary Services is pleased to present "Swine Time" the podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. Podcast #2, continues with the subject of African Swine Fever and the transboundary work needing to be done with Dr. Scott Dee.

Pipestone Veterinary Services is pleased to present "Swine Time" the podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. Our first podcast, deals with the subject of African Swine Fever and what it means to the industry as a whole and more importantly the individual producer with Dr. Gordon Spronk.

By Ann Hess, editor at National Hog Farmer When the new FDA antibiotic guidance rules went into effect Jan. 1, 2017, it was a good reminder to all pig farmers that antibiotic stewardship is very important and to strive for reduction in use when possible. Brad and Peggy Greenway at their pig farm on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, in Mitchell...

There are three drivers influencing cost of production today; facilities, weaned pigs and feed, with feed cost accounting for over 50% of the total cost of production. Thus, producers should be focused on either reducing feed cost or improving whole herd feed efficiency. Feed efficiency is typically measured by feed consumed per unit of gain and has a major effect...

Adapting to a changing industry and adopting new business and management practices has allowed Harold Dekkers and his family to maintain and grow the Hawarden, Iowa, farm that has been in his family for decades. “I’ve lived in the same house my entire life, on the farm that my father bought in 1944,” said Harold. Harold and his wife, Pamela...

“An advantage of the Pipestone System is that everyone — veterinarians, production staff, the research team, maintenance team, transportation team — all work for the same company,” said Dr. Barry Kerkaert, Vice President of Pipestone System.   “As a result, we have more internal accountability and the experts in each of these service groups are focused on shared goals to serve...

By Ann Hess, editor at National Hog Farmer Ever since the Center for Disease Control released their 2013 report, Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, stating that each year at least 2 million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection, and at least 23,000 people die, there has been a concerted effort to track antibiotic resistance. However, while there have been significant...

MEASURE. MONITOR. MOVE.  Three simple steps to pork production records.  Well, maybe not always simple, but certainly valuable.  The 2018 USDA census puts the U.S. at 75 million pigs.  Pork production is a competitive business.  Long gone are the days of measuring success by the balance of the farm account at the end of the year.  In order to compete...

On December 6, 2018, the first large-scale scientifically validated trial to better understand the importance of responsible antibiotic use in clinically sick pigs was published in PLOS ONE, the Public Library of Science. This journal is #1-2 in the world as it pertains to publication of medical science.  The trial sought to compare pigs raised according to one of three...