5 tips for preparing for and managing spring ventilation

Posted on April 14, 2023 in Swine Performance
As temperatures increase, these five tips will help you manage ventilation for optimum pig health and performance.

Gilt management: Practical considerations from pre-breeding to first lactation

Posted on December 9, 2022 in Swine Performance
By Jaron Lewton | Beyond nutrition, proper gilt management leads to greater lifetime performance. Here are a few management considerations that are important pieces in setting up a gilt for success.

4 tips to prepare for and manage winter ventilation

Posted on October 19, 2022 in Swine Performance
As you prepare for the winter months, these four tips can help you create the optimal environment for your pigs and improve energy efficiency.

Sow management: Proper gilt selection criteria

Posted on August 25, 2022 in Swine Performance
By Jaron Lewton Whether you buy gilts to bring into the herd or have an internal breeding program, there are several things to consider when developing a selection checklist.

Support late-finishing gut health for improved performance

Posted on April 5, 2022 in Swine Performance

Research shows us that supporting gut health during the late-finishing period can boost performance and profits.  Vita Plus Forti-Fin supports gut health via a combination of plant extracts and organic acids. 

Managing the microbiome (part 2): Nutrition for a healthy microbiome

Posted on January 6, 2022 in Swine Performance
By Jaron Lewton As discussed in part 1 of this series , while still not completely understood, the composition of the intestinal microbiome has been correlated with growth performance, animal health and even behavior. In this article, we look at nutrition considerations that can positively impact microbiome composition.

Managing the microbiome (part 1): What affects the balance?

Posted on November 30, 2021 in Swine Performance
By Dr. Michaela Trudeau Millions of microbes - including bacteria, protozoa, viruses and fungi - reside in the intestinal tract of pigs and collectively play a role in nutrient digestion, pathogen protection, immune function, and gut health. This large community comprises what is often referred to as the intestinal microbiome. In general, the microbes comprising

Managing the first lactation (part 2): Litter size and lactation length

Posted on October 13, 2021 in Swine Performance
By Dave Chamberlin Replacement gilts are a huge investment required of every farm, and anything that increases the sow longevity/average parity of a farm reduces costs and improves overall return.

Water as a nutrient (part 3): How to clean your water lines

Posted on September 29, 2021 in Swine Performance
By Dr. Michaela Trudeau The first step in maintaining good water quality in the barn is routine maintenance of water lines. Routine descaling and disinfecting of water lines is recommended at least twice a year. Whether a barn has good or poor water quality, cleaning the water lines is an essential piece of regular barn maintenance.

Managing the first lactation: Parity 1 feeding strategies

Posted on August 5, 2021 in Swine Performance

By Jaron Lewton
Replacement gilts are a huge investment required of every farm.  Increasing sow longevity and average parity of a farm can reduce costs and improves overall return. In this article, we'll explore first-parity lactation and subsequent gestation diets to improve sow performance.

Water as a nutrient (part 2): Water quality impacts bottom line

Posted on July 2, 2021 in Swine Performance

By Dr. Michaela Trudeau
Water is consumed at much higher quantities than other nutrients, so ensuring the water is safe and of good quality is critical. Too frequently, as long as we know pigs have access to water, we don’t stop to consider whether the water source is of a quality that will improve - not hinder - pigs’ performance. Let's explore different ways to evaluate water quality, ranging from a simple on-farm evaluation to more in-depth measurements.

Water as a nutrient (part 1): Water intake fuels pig growth

Posted on June 15, 2021 in Swine Performance

By Dr. Michaela Trudeau
There are direct, correlated relationships between water intake, feed intake, and bodyweight in nursery and grow-finish pigs. To maintain high feed efficiency, water availability becomes even more critical as the pig grows and feed intake increases.

Breeding protocols and nutrition

Posted on February 10, 2021 in Swine Performance

By Dave Chamberlin and Jaron Lewton
The productivity of a sow herd is dependent on the success of the farm’s breeding program, and the most successful breeding programs have clear and concise protocols.  While every farm has its own breeding schedule and protocols, pork producers can use the following science-based tools and techniques to fine-tune their breeding program to improve the overall performance of their swine herds.

Pork industry economic outlook for 2021 – Dr. Steve Meyer

Posted on January 25, 2021 in Swine Performance

After initial disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, pork packing plants have recovered and are running at a 96% harvest capacity overall.  During a recent webinar, Dr. Steve Meyer, Partners for Production Agriculture, provided attendees with an update on the current state of the pork industry and an outlook for cost of production and profitability in 2021.

Maintaining a healthy microbiome

Posted on December 8, 2020 in Swine Performance

By Dr. Michaela Trudeau
You’ll find the word “microbiome” throughout swine industry presentations, publications and research.  It is important to understand what a pig’s microbiome is, but it is more important to know how we can translate this concept into actionable items at the farm level to positively impact your bottom line.

Managing microenvironments in the farrowing barn

Posted on November 12, 2020 in Swine Performance

By Dave Chamberlin and Jaron Lewton
Proper management of the farrowing barn environment to mutually benefit the sow and her litter is no easy task.  However, with a couple minor adjustments and regular management, you can create a farrowing barn environment that will allow the sow and her litter to perform at optimal levels without adversely affecting one another.