Videos

Publish Date: 01/27/2020

Biosecurity is critical to keep pigs healthy, and the implementation of biosecurity practices, no matter the production type, can help to reduce risk. In this video we will describe useful intervention strategies including clean/dirty lines, hand sanitation and perimeter exclusion ideas to minimize the risk of pathogens tracking in and around the farm.

Publish Date: 01/27/2020

Biosecurity is critical to keep pigs healthy, and the implementation of biosecurity practices, no matter the production type, can help to reduce risk. Alternative pork production presents unique challenges for biosecurity. This video, the first in a short series, will help explain how to avoid the introduction and spread of disease on the farm.

Publish Date: 01/27/2020

One of the most important considerations for alternative (niche) swine production systems is where to source ingredients and feed. A consistent, quality supply should be the first goal. Since feed represents one of the highest production costs for pork producers, options to reduce feed costs should also be considered. This video will explain several option to consider.

Publish Date: 06/24/2019

This video gives you a behind the scenes tour of a commercial swine farm and the daily operations that take place. As a young swine producer, it is important to understand the correct terminology and practices that occur out in the industry so that you can be a credible advocate for the industry.

Publish Date: 06/20/2018

This video highlights the importance of applying biosecurity principles on the farm and illustrates these principles for the public, new employees, for review by current employees and anyone else entering a swine farm.

Publish Date: 06/20/2018

Pork quality is important to consumers and the meat and grocery markets. In this video, you will see exactly what are the pork quality attributes and the industry's stride to improve quality to meet consumers demand. This video includes and overview of the numerous factors that attribute to pork quality and how to measure the attributes.

Publish Date: 06/20/2018

Lameness is one of the most significant reasons for involuntary sow culling, but good feet and leg structure may be overlooked or tolerated during gilt selection to achieve progress in other traits. however, structural conformation is highly heritable and producers may inadvertently create or intensify lameness issues in their herd by ignoring this trait. Lameness reduces sow productivity and longevity, and in the growing her is associated with reduced feed intake, decreased average daily gain, and may lead to a greater number of downer pigs at market. In addition to the economic consequences, high incidences of lameness is also a sign of poor animal welfare, and show be addressed on every farm. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable feet and leg soundness are featured in this video.

Publish Date: 06/20/2018

Manual feed drops and automated feeding systems are commonly used on modern production farms to conserve labor and provide accurate feed allowance relative to an individual animal's metabolic demands and target body condition score. However, dust accumulation and daily wear on the machinery may cause the system to lose accuracy over time, and differences in diet type or composition, such as changes in pellet quality or adjustments in the nutrient content of the diet, will create inaccuracy and skew the amount of feed actually provided to the animals. This in turn may cause over- or under-feeding of sows during gestation and lactation, and can distort the accuracy of feed efficiency and usage records. For these reasons, producers are recommended to re-calibrate their feeding systems on a regular basis and every time changes to the diet are made. Re-calibrating feed systems is a quickly and easily preformed chore that will improve pig performance and the efficiency of feed usage on the farm.

Publish Date: 06/20/2018

The closure of aged livestock lagoons and earthen manure storage basins needs to be conducted in a manner that controls potential environmental risk and makes economical use of accumulated nutrients in the biosolids. In this video, learn how to prepare for the closure of a lagoon by estimating the volume and nutrient content of liquid effluent and accumulated sludge, sampling effluent and sludge, quantifying the value of these products based upon fertilizer nutrient availability and prospective soil fertility impacts, and planning land application activities to utilize these nutrients in crop production systems.

Publish Date: 06/20/2018

This video demonstrates the technology advances over the last several decades that has allowed the pork industry to produce a consistently, safe, wholesome food product.