The Power of knowledge

Benchmark Magazine Article Archive

Benchmark Magazine is published each spring to highlight the annual results of PigCHAMP's Benchmarking program, and to feature news, commentary and articles of interest written by pork industry experts.

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2026

A Benchmark Welcome

A Benchmark Welcome
We are proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Benchmark magazine. As always, this issue is centered on what matters most— data.

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2026

AI in Animal Protein Production

For larger pork producers, integrators, and retailers, AI is no longer a distant concept or experimental tool; it’s rapidly becoming the difference-maker in terms of operational efficiency, supply chain resilience, and long-term competitiveness.

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2026

20 Years of Benchmarking

For more than 20 years, PigCHAMP benchmarking has provided producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, and industry partners with a trusted, consistent look at sow farm performance across North America.

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2026

Protein Efficiency: The Next Frontier in Feed Efficiency

Over the past six decades, continuous genetic improvements have dramatically enhanced overall feed efficiency.

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2026

Novel Essential Oil Blend for Nursery and Grow-Finish Pigs

These compounds have been widely studied for antibacterial activity and antioxidant effects, in part through membrane disruption and free radical scavenging.

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2026

Revisiting Farrowing Management

Because colostrum intake has a large impact on the lifetime survival of pigs, management practices are being utilized to ensure adequate colostrum intake.

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2026

When Feed Fails

While most producers recognize the importance of avoiding completely empty feeders, the true cost of feed delivery failures extends far beyond any of the obvious “out-of-feed” events.

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2026

Fiber and Stimbiotics Boost Farrowing Performance in Modern Sows

A recent study was conducted at a commercial farm to determine the impact of fiber and stimbiotic supplementation from late gestation through lactation in the farrowing performance, litter outcomes, and pig viability.

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2026

A Novel Way to Measure Modern Sow Efficiency

The modern sow is capable of raising larger, heavier litters than ever before, placing greater demands on lactation performance.

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2026

Next Step in Precision Sow Management

By collecting data throughout the day, PLF systems can detect subtle changes in behavior, body shape, and physiological indicators that are difficult to observe during routine barn checks.

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2026

The Silent Thief

The progression of PEN is a predictable but dangerous process. Understanding this cycle is critical for identifying where “silent” money is being lost.

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2026

How a Simple Idea Reshaped Modern Hog Feeding

What began as a practical solution to a local feeding challenge has become one of the most influential feeder designs in modern hog production worldwide today.

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2026

Understanding Postpartum Dysgalactia in Sows

Sow longevity is a crucial factor in the contribution towards efficiency and profitability of commercial swine operations, as the reproducing females represent the most valuable animals in the herd.

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2026

Synchronizing Sows to Strengthen Throughput

One of the factors for success in the nursery-finish phase is the consistent supply of healthy pigs that are similar in body weight and age.

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2026

The Next Leap in Precision Livestock Farming

Precision livestock farming (PLF) has already transformed dairy and poultry systems, and swine is now entering its own era of data driven management across operations.

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2026

Sow Prolapse Connected to Pre-Farrow Nutrition

Sow prolapses have continued to plague pig farmers for 10-plus years. Yet few management techniques have been reported to mitigate their occurrence with consistency.

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2026

Incineration for Biosecurity

People need to get rid of their waste in a biosecure way based on the world we live in now—diseases, how they can be spread, contamination, the speed at which it spreads.

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