Author: kyramaster
Episode #61: What is SHIC?
In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne interviews Dr. Megan Niederwerder, Executive Director of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). SHIC, established in 2015, focuses on identifying and mitigating emerging disease risks for the U.S. swine herd. SHIC is supported by pork checkoff funds and its mission involves global disease…
Understanding Ileitis in Pigs: Impact, Detection, and Management
Ileitis is a significant concern in pig production, presenting both health challenges for the animals and economic ramifications for producers. This disease, caused by the bacteria Lawsonia intracellularis, affects pigs worldwide and is particularly prevalent during warm weather months when feed intake can fluctuate. Let’s break down what you need to know about ileitis: How…
Taking Advantage of Risk Management
I like to give my dad a hard time that all he had to do was farm the ground and feed the livestock to make a sustainable profit. I say this jokingly, but he recognizes that there is some truth in that statement. He sees the farm faced with more and more business decisions every…
Team Members Exemplify Growth
At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…
Episode #59: Warm Weather Ventilation Checklist
In this episode, Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Erin McCoy to discuss proper barn ventilation as the weather begins to warm up. Erin, a veterinary physician assistant at Pipestone Veterinary Services, shares her warm-weather ventilation checklist and emphasizes the importance of opening soffit doors and ensuring proper ventilation by uncovering fans. She provides…
Team Members Exemplify Commitment
At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…
Three Cheers for Hernan
Meet Hernan Altunar Altunar, Farm Manager at Liberty Livestock, who recently obtained his Permanent Resident Visa from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Achieving this milestone wasn’t easy—Hernan persevered for five years. With the unwavering support of colleagues like Nicole Paulsen, Alexandra Larios, and Joe Hadley, his dream is now a reality. As Hernan continues…
Is your Ventilation Ready for Spring?
As someone who thrives on outdoor adventures, I eagerly anticipate the warmer weather and the lively buzz that spring brings. But it’s also the time when our barn ventilation systems kick into high gear. With temperatures climbing during the day and dipping at night, it’s crucial that our ventilation systems keep pace with the changing…
Team Members Exemplify Caring
At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…
Ep: #58: Using Research and Production Data to Drive Genetics
Join Dr. Spencer Wayne on the latest episode of SwineTime, where he dives deep into swine genetics with experts Erin Little, Director of Research Operations for Pipestone Research, and Carrie Pollard, FarmStats Senior Analyst with Pipestone Business. Erin and Carrie discuss how PIPESTONE is unlocking valuable insights into swine genetics for producers using both…
Navigating the Next Generation: A Roadmap for Swine Industry Transformation
At the recent American Association of Swine Veterinarians conference, attendees were treated to an enlightening presentation by Dr. Joel Nerem, Veterinarian at Pipestone Veterinary Services. Dr. Nerem, delivering the prestigious Howard Dunne Lecture, provided invaluable insights into the future of swine veterinary medicine under the theme, “Next Generation Swine Veterinarians: Who are we and where…
Riding the Wave of Feed Cost Fluctuations
Feed costs make up 60% to 70% of production expenses, making it crucial for producers to monitor market trends as they work to enhance the profitability and sustainability of their pig farms. Recent trends indicate a notable decline in feed prices, particularly in essential ingredients like corn and soybean meal. This decline presents an opportunity…
Unleashing Genetic Potential through Careful Management
In the realm of pig farming, maximizing genetic potential is a constant pursuit. Despite common perceptions that pigs are the “easy part” compared to human challenges, the reality is that ensuring optimal conditions for pigs involves overcoming various hurdles. Among the challenges present at your farm, which has the greatest potential to impede performance? …
Employees Exemplify Integrity
At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together. Join us as we…
Ingris Rivas: A South Dakota Master Pork Producer
Ingris Rivas was recently named a 2023 Master Pork Producer at the 55th Annual South Dakota Pork Congress in January. Ingris’s journey began in August 2017, marking the start of her career in swine production at PIPESTONE. South Dakota Master Pork Producers are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the state’s swine industry. Starting as…
Seth Holmstrom: A South Dakota Master Pork Producer
A standout star at PIPESTONE is Seth Holmstrom, who serves as the Manager for Elm Valley Farms. Starting as a Pipestone Emerging Leader in November 2018, Seth honed his skills at Big Sioux before landing the role of Site Manager at Elm Valley in March 2019. Since then, he’s been leading with passion, dedication, and…
Ep. #57: Pig Pathogens: Understanding Current Diseases
Join Dr. Spencer Wayne and Dr. Cameron Schmitt in discussing the ever-evolving landscape of swine diseases. In this episode, Dr. Schmitt, Executive Vice President of Pipestone Veterinary Services, delves deep into the nuances of various pathogens affecting swine health today. From the notorious PRRS virus to resilient strains of E. coli, they dissect the…
Ep. #56: Impacting Producers through Diagnostics
In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne interviews Dr. Darin Madson, a diagnostician at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University. Dr. Madson shares his background in swine production, veterinary school, and his journey to becoming a diagnostic pathologist. The conversation covers the expansion of the diagnostic lab at…
Ep. #55: Riding the Wave of Feed Cost Fluctuations
In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Kiah Berg, Senior Supervisor of Nutrition with Pipestone Nutrition, to discuss the state of feed costs and her recommendations for proper nutrition strategies. Dr. Berg explains the recent trends in feed costs, highlighting the notable decrease in prices for key ingredients such…
2024 Health Outlook – USA Swine Industry
It’s that time of year again. . . time for 2024 predictions. For the U.S. swine industry (and most of the world), 2023 has been a year most pig farmers would like to forget – not because disease issues were worse than normal, but because market prices have not been favorable. The short-term outlook is…
Dedication, Growth, & Commitment: Mark Uilk Receives Prestigious David Neuberger II Core Values Award
Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork – these are the core values of PIPESTONE. They serve as a road map for all employees in pursuing the company mission of Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow. The David Neuberger II Core Values Award is an honor bestowed upon individuals who exemplify the Core Values…
Turning Data into Information takes both Analysis and Perspective
Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information. However, without proper data analysis, you may draw the wrong conclusion. Without perspective, you may think things are going really poorly, when in reality, they are not; or the reverse may be true. You need both…
Feed Mill Biosecurity
Biosecurity is a word we hear often in swine production but what does it truly mean? When I think about an how to explain this topic to a feed mill, I tend to use the following: Biosecurity is a means to create practical and science-based methods to reduce the likelihood of viruses and bacteria entering…
Episode #54: Life Lessons from Dr. Dee
In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, hosted by Dr. Spencer Wayne, the featured guest is Dr. Scott Dee who shares valuable insights for young veterinarians, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, recalling his journey from being told he couldn’t attend vet school to becoming a prominent figure in the field. The discussion also touches…
Episode #53: Welfare + Sustainability from Farmer to Packer
In this episode of SwineTime, Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare at PIPESTONE, and Dr. Carissa Odland, Director of Sustainability for Wholestone Farms, a producer-owned packer enterprise. The episode explores perspectives on welfare and sustainability in the swine industry. Dr. Haden discusses her role in promoting animal welfare at…
The Importance of a Healthy Gilt Source
A commercial sow farm has two options when it comes to replacement gilts, the first is to raise them internally, and the second is to purchase them from another site or company. Producing replacements internally requires a very broad and intensive management style to effectively run two different populations within one farm. The other challenge…
How Much can you Invest to Prevent Disease?
Ben Franklin is credited with saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The proverb holds true today and is particularly relatable for pork producers. A disease event has the protentional to increase your production costs, reduce your production efficiency and increase your lost opportunity in the wean-to-finish phase of production. At…
Utilizing Products to Improve Wean-to-Finish Biosecurity
Disease does not stop at the sow farm; biosecurity protocols are beneficial in protecting our pigs when implemented in wean-to-finish sites. A helpful strategy to apply biosecurity is to remember the 5 P’s: Pigs, People, Products, Property, and Pests. Dr. Rachel Stika Jensen, Veterinarian at Pipestone Veterinary Services, recommends the following products to enhance your…
How Low should the pH go?
Hemolytic Escherichia Coli (E. coli) is a challenging pathogen due to its high morbidity and high mortality in weaned pigs. It causes severe diarrhea and sudden death. Our tools to control and reduce hemolytic E. coli are limited and unfortunately becoming less effective due to antimicrobial resistance. Acidification of drinking water for swine has been…
Biosecurity Solutions for Wean-To-Finish Systems
Unfortunately, summer is over and the fall season is upon us, followed soon by winter. From a disease management perspective, it is also the season when major swine pathogens get a break from the sun and heat. Typically, as barns start to close up and we enter minimum ventilation rates overnight, respiratory disease is not…
Episode #52: Fall Health Update
Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Adam Schelkopf, Health Director for Pipestone Management, for a discussion on the overall health status of PIPESTONE-managed farms. Historically, this time of year brings an increase in illness in barns, especially PRRS infections. Dr. Schelkopf reports less than 10% of PIPESTONE-managed farms breaking with PRRS over the last two…
Episode #51: Nutrient Management
Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Marty Rost, Environmental Specialist with PIPESTONE, to talk about the valuable commodity we have in manure. The pair discuss the importance of understanding its value and making it work for you and your neighbors. Marty talks about the differences in facilities he sees and shares insight on finding opportune times to…
Episode #50 - Celebrating SwineTime!
Dr. Barry Kerkaert, Chairman of the Board, takes the reigns and puts Dr. Spencer Wayne in the hot seat to celebrate our 50th episode of the podcast. The pair discuss the goals of SwineTime and reflect on some of Dr. Wayne’s favorite episodes. He shares behind-the-scenes happenings reflecting on memorable guests and the impactful work…
Episode #49 - Farmers First at PIPESTONE
This month, Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomed Hannah Walkes, President of Pipestone Services, to chat about the recent leadership transitions at PIPESTONE – including the creation of two divisions, Pipestone Services and Pipestone Partnerships. Hannah provides insight into how her upbringing and tenure at PIPESTONE have fueled her passion and made her uniquely qualified to take…
Episode #48: Pigs to People with Dr. Taylor
In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, is joined by Dr. Taylor Spronk to talk about the pig promotion activities happening at PIPESTONE. Dr. Taylor discusses the 9 county and state fairs that PIPESTONE supports with exhibits and live sows across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa. Additionally, she describes the Discovery Barn, championed…
Biosecurity and County Fairs
A fairly biosecure way to enjoy your local fairs: Everyone at the fair has a responsibility to protect pig health. Going to fairs, or anywhere else that has pigs from a different source, creates risk for your farm. There are easy and effective steps you can take to mitigate those risks. As producers, it’s easy…
Episode #47: Pipestone Nutrition with Jon
In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Jon DeJong, President of Pipestone Nutrition to talk about what’s new with his team and all things nutrition. Pipestone Nutrition provides economic-driven, feed ingredient procurement and performance-based diet formulations that fit both your operation and your bottom line. Dr. Wayne and DeJong discuss…
Episode #46: Support & Solutions with FarmTeam
In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Dan Hanson and Giovanna Penuelas to discuss FarmTeam, a service offering of Pipestone Business. FarmTeam utilizes the human resource expertise of PIPESTONE to provide independent pork producers access to qualified farm employees for grow/finish teams. From a producer’s perspective, Hanson, the Director of…
Developing your Business Strategy
What is a “Business Strategy” or a “Strategic Plan” for my business? It may be best to start with what is “not” strategy. Strategy is not operational best practices. Strategy is not a forecast. Strategy is not simply a plan to make more money this year. Business strategy is a long-term plan of action that…
Episode #45: Money with Damon
In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Damon Vander Maten, Director of FarmBooks for Pipestone Business. Dr. Wayne and Damon talk about the accounting demands on producers and define what it means to be financially sustainable. He explains how the FarmBooks program came to be and what value it provides…
Providing Solutions for Independent Pork Producers
Maurer Farms attribute increased performance to FarmTeam. In rural southwestern Minnesota, Preston Maurer works alongside his dad, Rick, on their family farm near Morgan. “We raise corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs – finishing approximately 22,000 head each year, plus we do tiling on the side,” said Preston. With his diversified family farm in mind, Preston…
CVO Comments - April 2023
Our vet team is frequently asked, “What’s new at PIPESTONE?” This often elicits a casual response of “Oh, not much.” But, as I sat down to write my CVO commentary it occurred to me that there has been a lot happening at PIPESTONE that we’d like to share. Here is a brief list of updates…
Episode 44: Tackling High Feed Costs
In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with PIPESTONE Nutritionists Hayden Kerkaert and Jacob Koepke. They share their perspective on what factors are impacting today’s high feed costs and discuss considerations for producers to remain profitable despite rising costs. PIPESTONE’s mission is “Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow.” The…
Feed Mill Ownership
One distinct memory I have growing up was riding along with my Dad (before car seats) in the feed truck when he worked as a delivery driver and ultimately feed salesman for Wayne Feeds in Ireton, IA. He would stop at a gas station and let me pick out a jelly-filled long john or a…
Springtime Sustainability Tips
Sustainability is a concept that has become increasingly important to large companies and national governments. However, most people don’t realize that sustainable practices can help you conserve resources and reduce waste at home as well. As we enter Spring, there are many activities that fit into sustainable living that would not only be environmentally beneficial…
Risk Management
A profitable pork enterprise is the goal of every pork producer. There are many considerations when thinking of profitability in the pork production sector. One of the most critical is that of Risk Management. The main idea behind risk management is the desire to transfer the risk that a producer has in their hog inventory…
Brentwood Colony | Focusing on Improvement
Brentwood Colony of Faulkton, South Dakota, has placed a specific focus on profitability in business. The pig entity of Brentwood Colony, ProPork, takes a community perspective, with a swine business mentality. This allows the team to track accurate financial information & remain a profitable business. ProPork is a farrow-to-finish operation, raising 3,200 sows in two…
CVO Comments: The Economics of a Pig
What does disease cost? It ultimately depends on what disease (or diseases) your pig farm is challenged with – but disease has a cost and it can be measured in dollars and cents. Dr. Adam Schelkopf described it another way when he talked about the “Health Tax”. Every pig farmer pays this “tax”. Some pay…
Episode 43: Minutes with Minion
In this episode of SwineTime, host Dr. Spencer Wayne and PIPESTONE CEO Dr. Luke Minion answer all your big burning questions: what’s to come in the pork industry next year? What’s new with PIPESTONE? And will Luke ever run for office? Fresh off the campaign trail against a Sioux Falls ballot measure that would have…
Cost of PRRS
Time and time again as veterinarians we are asked what our highest priority need is in swine health today. The answer is simple and unfortunately has not changed for decades now. PRRS, or Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus, continues to be the most detrimental and costly disease that swine producers face in the United…
Internship Highlights
Each summer, PIPESTONE provides the opportunity for college students from all over the nation to gain real-world experience within the swine industry. This year, PIPESTONE welcomed 14 interns from 12 different colleges to work within 7 departments. These departments included production, information technology, nutrition, research, public relations, marketing and veterinary services. Throughout the summer, interns…
Join the Family Farm with Eyes Wide Open
Family businesses are often complex and making the decision to join the family farm is no different. Most young adults are exited to come back to the farm to do the work they love. The following is a list of questions the next generation should consider answering about their family business, themselves and their family…
Episode 42: Feed Risk with Dr. Scott Dee
In this episode of SwineTime, host Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Dr. Scott Dee, who currently serves as the Director of Research for PIPESTONE Veterinary Services. Dive into the viral risks associated with feed, and how to alleviate the risks on your operation. According to Scott, this information is relatively new to the industry…
5 Steps to Ensure Proper Handling and Transport of Pigs to Market
Proper handling and transporting of pigs to market is the final step in raising pigs. Following these basic but necessary steps helps to ensure the farmer can capitalize on the significant dollars they have invested in and worked hard to produce. 1. Proper Choring Throughout the pig’s life, properly walk the pens while choring to…
Pig Care Management: Early, Middle & Late
Early Pig Care Management As hog producers, we strive to provide a safe and healthy environment to raise our animals. It is crucial to take the following steps to start your pigs to ensure you’re providing a strong foundation for the rest of the group. Before placing pigs, barn sanitation, feed, water, and environment…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 40: Factors of a Sow Herd Health Upgrade
In this 40th episode of SwineTime Podcast, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Dr. Adam Schelkopf. Adam has been with PIPESTONE for 10 years now and holds the title, Director of Health for Pipestone Managed farms. Sow repopulation can be an intimidating idea for pig farmers, but in some cases, is a financially beneficial…
FarmTeam Value
Today’s modern pig farmers have to balance and put focus on countless areas of impact in order to maximize success. In the newly weaned and growing pigs, herd health, feeding strategies, marketing, and risk management are just the beginning to a long list of important details. One additional area of focus that cannot be forgotten…
Feed Management: How to Manage Your Feeders
In the midst of record feed prices paced by $7-8/bu corn, in-barn feeder management should be a top priority for all producers. Spending over $100/pig in feed cost is already painful enough and shouldn’t be exacerbated by improper feeders or feeder settings. I tend to break feeder management into 3 buckets: Selecting the…
Three Foundations of Proper Pig Care: The animal, environment and equipment
Daily observations are not just a Pork Quality Assurance catch phrase, they are a foundational principal of proper pig care. Pig well-being and welfare starts with a daily evaluation of the animal, the environment, and the equipment. The Animal There are the obvious items we should be checking every day. Does the pig have food…
CVO Comments: Animal Welfare- How Does Your Farm Stack Up?
At the recent Pipestone Summit, we had an interesting exchange on pig farm biosecurity and the contrast between biosecurity measures employed at the sow farm and those effectively implemented in the wean to finish (W-F) farms. The takeaway for most was the striking gap found between sow farms and growing pig sites, with the breeding…
Weinkauf Farms | Prioritizing Pig Care
Right outside of Pipestone, Minnesota, surrounded by fields and plenty of green tractors, you will find Weinkauf Farms. At the heart of this farm is third-generation farmer, Ryan Weinkauf, and his 5-year-old son, Jaxson. Starting his operation in high school, Ryan Weinkauf has been a pig farmer for over 20 years. He began his career…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 39: Can We Eliminate Mycoplasma?
In this episode of SwineTime, Dr. Spencer Wayne talks all things Mycoplasma with fellow PIPESTONE Veterinarian, Dr. Emily McDowell. Emily has been with PIPESTONE for 9 years and has a special interest in Mycoplasma. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen that has been an industry concern for over 50 years. It generally originates at the…
PIPESTONE Sustainability: Carbon Footprint
“Climate change” and “climate crisis” are topics that have gained the attention of policymakers and businesses across the globe. The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report released in 2021 noted, “Unless there are immediate, rapid, and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emission, limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C will be beyond reach.” As…
PIPESTONE Sustainability: Safety
⇒ In support of our Core Values of integrity, caring, commitment, growth and teamwork, employee safety is our top priority. Along with the great responsibility we have of caring for our animals, we understand that there are inherent risks to people safety within the swine production industry. Supporting staff personally visit; various support groups personally…
PIPESTONE Antibiotic Use Standards (PORK)
We recognize the growing global concern over Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), its impact for human medicine, veterinary medicine, public and animal health, as well as society and the shared concern of antibiotic use’s influence on AMR. PIPESTONE’s commitment to Responsible Antibiotic Use and reduced AMR serves as the framework for our Pipestone Antibiotic Use Standards (PORK).…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 38: PIPESTONE Transport
SwineTime Podcast host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with PIPESTONE’s President of Transport, Hal Schmidt. Hal is a long-time employee with PIPESTONE and transitioned to transportation 8 years ago. Pipestone Transport falls under the Management business unit and serves to help our Pipestone Management shareholders receive their wean pigs, transport our managed barn’s sows and…
Two Reports to Boost Your Confidence in Decision-Making
How can you use data to drive your decision-making process? Big Stone Marketing, in collaboration with other PIPESTONE business units, would like to share two reports to help you get there: Precision Marketing & Marketing Report. Precision Marketing The precision marketing reports allow producers to more specifically control the impact of day to day…
SwineTime Podcast- Bonus: APP SeroType
Dr. Bryan Myers has gained quite the experience and wisdom from being a veterinarian for the last 34 years. In these years, he has seen the serious effects of various diseases that have infected the swine industry. He is now seeing APP, an old disease that has resurfaced after almost 20 years in some of…
Chief Veterinary Comments- Data Driven Decisions
We live in the so-called “Information Age”. Data is being collected all around us. Today, the power of computing and digital technology have made collecting, analyzing and transferring data easier than ever. As a result, we have more information than ever at our fingertips. Good information for making business decisions can be invaluable; however, it…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 37: Safety
Safety is the number one priority at PIPESTONE. On this episode of SwineTime Podcast, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, chats with Josh Pawson, PIPESTONE’s safety director. Josh takes us through his personal journey to being a safety director and explains what a day in his role looks like. Prepare your farm for an OSHA inspection, take…
Performance Impact of an Older Weaned Pig
The process of using data to make strategic production decisions is not new for PIPESTONE. It’s a process that usually starts with a concept, sometimes born of intuition, but more often born of necessity. It also requires a collaborative effort by PIPESTONE business units to bring the concept full circle. In 2016, Pipestone Applied Research…
County Line Livestock and Feedmill
Nestled on the outskirts of Independence, Iowa, are nationally recognized livestock and feed mill operations known as County Line Livestock and County Line Feed Mill. Established in 2002, County Line Livestock started as a feeder pig operation and has strategically developed into how it stands today. County Line Feed Mill is a more recent addition,…
Communicating Your Story to Consumers
Today, consumers are asking more questions than ever about where their food comes from and how animals are cared for. As a farmer and agriculturalist, it is our responsibility to share our story. To earn trust, communicating shared values is 3-5x more important than just sharing information. Consumers want to find shared values, such as…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 36: Gilt Multiplication
Raising a healthy group of pigs starts long before they reach the finishing barn. In this episode of SwineTime Podcast, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, is joined by Dr. Evan Koep, PIPESTONE’s resource in gilt multiplication. Throughout the episode, listeners gain an understanding of what gilt multiplication is, and how it benefits piglets for the long…
Balancing Act: Biological Performance & Feed Cost
There are several ways to evaluate feed cost and feed performance in wean-to-market pigs. Each method can provide a very different answer for the producer on what is the “BEST” way to feed a pig. In a perfect world we find the ideal marriage between biological performance and feed cost. However, the equation isn’t so…
A New Health Paradigm: How to Reduce the Health Tax
As swine producers, you all pay a health tax at the end of the year, whether you know it or not. This tax is paid on every pig and reflects the cost of less-than-perfect health in an operation. The health tax is often far larger than producers recognize and is consistently evident year after year…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 35: Risk Management
Managing risks is the safest way for pig farmers to protect their operations and ensure they can withstand tough times in the market. Hear from Brian Stevens, President of Big Stone Marketing, in this episode of SwineTime Podcast. This episode is all about risks in the pig market, how to prepare for them and what…
Mexico: PIPESTONE's Experience in Mexico
PIPESTONE’s relationship with the Mexican swine industry is not new. Multiple interactions between our technical team and local players have occurred over the past few decades. However, it was not until 2015, when PIPESTONE had the opportunity to participate in a start-up project of 10,000 sows, that this relationship got more formally established. This successful…
China: Top 10 Learnings from Boots on the Ground Experience
The #1 key to preventing African Swine Fever virus (ASF) breaks is improving biosecurity. Be flexible. Use the sites and infrastructure around you to optimize health and production in ways you may not have attempted thus far. Use feed mitigants. Depopulating continuous flow sites with viral health challenges is key to recovering performance. Grow/Finish biosecurity…
Q&A with Mexico's Production Director, Ezequiel Guardado Valdez
Personal Background: I come from a very humble family that had to immigrate from Zacatecas to Jalisco in search of opportunities. I am the fourth of seven siblings. I have always been involved in agriculture. From my childhood I was forced to leave school and start working at age of 13 to help my parents…
Q&A with China's Production Director, Duan Lian Mao
20 years ago, PIPESTONE started consulting in China. Consultation then turned into management, and later, ownership. Today, PIPESTONE is a minority owner in Riverstone, the operations group in Shandong Province. PIPESTONE oversees day-to-day operation for Riverstone, and Dr. Luke Minion serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. In China, Riverstone is managing…
Chief Veterinary Officer Comments- Spring 2022
Pork is the most consumed meat in the world. As a result, pig farming is a global pursuit. While the USA exports a significant portion of the pork we raise (nearly 30%), most pork is consumed within the country where the pigs were raised. As PIPESTONE has grown and evolved over the last 25 years,…
Driving Force: Four Tips for Turning Swine Industry Passion Into a Career
Growing up, I was involved in the swine industry by showing pigs, helping vaccinate weaned pigs for local farms, and working for PIPESTONE in the wean-to-finish records department. As the time came close for me to think about college and my future career, I knew I wanted to work in the swine industry and help…
8 Winter Ventilation Concepts
There are many items to remember as winter ventilation is upon us of how we want barns to operate. Here are a few to think of as you are braving the cold. 1. Set Points This is what you are telling the barn to maintain temperature at. Typically, barns will be 1-2 degrees…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 34: Basics in Nutrition
SwineTime Podcast Host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Hayden Kerkaert, a nutritionist with Pipestone Nutrition, to start back at the basics of pig nutrition. Throughout the episode, Hayden drills down on the importance of a nursery diet and how critical a piglet’s first three weeks of life are. Grow-finish farmers will gain tips on…
Risk Management
Having a risk management plan is critical for all hog producers, especially today with the extreme volatility of our hog and pork markets and with the increased risk of African Swine Fever making it into the United States. Hog producers really should protect their revenue and profit opportunities when they arise. Through Big Stone Marketing,…
Global Supply Chain Traffic Jam: Feed
There has been a lot of chatter regarding the global supply chain as of late. Whether it’s referencing store shelves being empty, truck driver shortages or national ports being clogged, there has been an increased awareness of disruptions. If we are truly going to solve the issues, we need to understand how we got in…
Supply Chain Crisis: Products
The 2021 supply chain issues are well known. Various news publications speak to the challenge of logistics via air, ocean, road and rail, as well as the lack of labor and materials. From an animal health perspective, the availability of raw ingredients that make up many of the products we use, or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients…
Our Experience with Fighting African Swine Fever Transmission Through Feed
African Swine Fever (ASF) is an inevitable topic as we talk about the global swine industry, especially after August 2018 when ASF was reported for the first time in China, the world’s largest pig producer and consumer. As a highly fatal disease with no effective treatment or commercial vaccine, ASF resulted in a nearly 40%…
PIPESTONE Risk Assessment on African Swine Fever Reaching the United States
African swine fever (ASF) was diagnosed on Hispaniola in the Caribbean this summer, the Dominican Republic in July 2021, and in Haiti in September 2021. This is the first time since the 1980s that the virus has been found in the Western Hemisphere. It has never been diagnosed in the United States. There is a…
SwineTime Podcast Ep. 32: Getting Started in Pig Farming
Passion, commitment and networking; words used to describe the lifestyle of a pig farmer throughout this episode of SwineTime. Are you or someone you know interested in pig farming? In the 32nd episode, Dr. Spencer Wayne visits with Dr. Barry Kerkaert, President of Pipestone Management, and Justin Roelofs, Chief Financial Officer for Pipestone Management. Together,…
Driving Force: Three 'Non-Negotiables' for Vaccinating Young Pigs
When it comes to raising and investing in show pigs, our goal is to keep them healthy and productive in preparation for the show ring. The first few weeks of a piglet’s life are critical for setting them up with a strong foundation to help them develop immunity and protect them throughout their show career.…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 31- PIPESTONE Construction
On the 31st episode of SwineTime, Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with the Head of Construction for Pipestone Management, Tad Woelber. Tad and his team strive to build pig barns that not only maximize production, but efficiency as well. Keeping barns cost effective while building them to last has always been the objective of building…
U.S. Pork Exports Continue to Surge, Overcoming COVID and Other Challenges
Despite COVID-19 and what seemed like a dozen other challenges, the United States pork industry in 2020 exported a record amount of pork, and it’s poised to set a new record this year. In fact, through August 2021, America’s pork producers already had shipped to foreign destinations $5.8 billion worth of product compared with about…