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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

By Dave Chamberlin and Jaron Lewton
Most sow management programs have two goals: to optimize sow productivity and longevity.  However, in pursuit of these two goals, producers often leave costs on the table, which impacts the bottomline and overall profitability.  By implementing these four sow management strategies into your swine business, you could save up to $5 per sow.

During a recent Vita Plus Swine Team Webinar, Dr. Steve Meyer, Kerns and Associates, provided attendees with an update on what pork producers can expect from the corn, soybean and hog markets for the rest of the year.

Vita Plus recently launched the Serving Customers & Rural Communities Project.  Through this project, Vita Plus has committed $100,000 to support rural food security initiatives throughout the Upper Midwest.  The purposes of the project are to assist those in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic while also showing support for dairy, swine, and beef producers by purchasing their products.  Click the link below to see the growing list of projects happening in communities across the Midwest.  We sincerely thank all the dairy and livestock farmers who work hard to provide nutritious, safe food for our families.  It's an honor to work with you.

Vita Plus will be offering a virtual Swine Summit focused on the global pork market outlook on Thursday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST.  We hope you can join us!

By Dr. Jose Soto
Sorting through the marketing "smoke and mirrors" is important to make daily decisions on your swine operation.  Peer-reviewed research is the most credible form of research and helps ensure you are making sound nutrition and management decisions.

By the Vita Plus swine team
The Vita Plus swine nutrition team understands the challenges you are facing, and we are dedicated to helping you be successful, regardless of market conditions.  The "Navigating the Storm" series is intended to help you identify some of the areas where the Vita Plus team can help you improve your operation’s profitability.  In part two, we will look at sow and pre-weaned pig management to improve profitability.

By Dr. Leah Kellesvig
African Swine Fever (ASF) was recently found in China a little more than a month ago.  As affected nations do what they can to stop the disease from spreading, Vita Plus is taking every precaution necessary to continue to provide our customers the highest quality products.

By Dr. Jose Soto
Pigs have a difficult time dissipating body heat, especially during warmer weather, and heat stress can negatively influence pig performance.  To avoid heat stress-related economic losses, considering implementing some of these strategies this summer.