Swine

How do I look at today’s pigs and tomorrow’s pigs? We’re in the middle of a slow moving train wreck and are faced with doing things we never conceived of doing.  Some economics are worth weighing as we approach drastic actions.  You only have so many spaces.  If pigs must leave your production pipeline, then which pigs? Today’s fat hogs...

The practice of biosecurity has never been more on people’s radar than it is today. With the pandemic of Coronavirus looming across the globe, the world has been put into a constant mode of biosecurity, isolation and quarantine. But the practice of biosecurity is not a foreign concept to livestock producers. Livestock operations are continually threatened with disease pressures for...

Did you know 1 out of 5 kids in America struggle with hunger? Food security is something many of us take for granted every day and as we approach the holiday season, PIPESTONE would like to Give a Helping Ham to families in need through our communities. Through the Give a Helping Ham program, for every pound of ham purchased...

Advancements in swine nutrition have led to strong gains in pig health and productivity over the years, and research is continuing to identify ways to ensure that  nutrition can boost performance from the nursery through the finishing barn.   Pipestone is uniquely positioned to conduct research and share beneficial results with customers, said Jon De Jong, PhD, nutritionist for Pipestone Nutrition...

A passion for supporting small- to medium-sized independent livestock producers and providing a path for future generations interested a group of northwest Iowa livestock producers to the Pipestone System several years ago, and has built a foundation for their success. Kirk Hall lives in LeMars, Iowa, and is the manager of Pork 4 Profit, LLC (P4P), a group of 10...

Listen to Dr. Spencer Wayne as he talks with Dr. Joseph Yaros on Herd Level Disease Elimination. Does it work? Find out.

Written by Marty Rost, Environmental Specialist The last two manure application seasons were the most difficult seasons I’ve dealt with. Excess rains, early snow and cold made the 2018 fall one we’d all like to forget. If that wasn’t enough, the 2019 spring turned out to challenge many nutrient management plans as well. A challenging application season sometimes makes it...

Fall is the time when us pig veterinarians start getting nervous to answer phone calls from our farmers. The shorter days mean different things for veterinarians and farmers, but it’s an equally busy time of year. For farmers, autumn means harvesting the crops and spreading manure. For veterinarians, it’s an awful-tasting pumpkin spice latte full of PRRS virus, PED virus...

Listen to Dr. Spencer Wayne discuss the water quality at your barn with Dr. Todd Williams. 

What is Erysipelas? Swine erysipelas is a disease caused by a bacterial infection named Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. It has been around for well over one hundred years. It is important to remember that this bacterium can cause disease within your breeding herd, as well as your growing pigs. Although the prevalence is low in the industry, it can have significant impact...