Benchmark Magazine Article Archive

Through the Looking Glass: Past~Present~Future. We know that knowledge of the past helps us today and leads us to be better in the future. Today, the swine industry is fighting a global battle after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the prevention or rebuilding after African Swine Fever (ASF) and other swine diseases.

Over the years, there have been many changes on how swine operations obtain knowledge of their herd’s performance, as well as the resources used for production management. In the past, sow data was saved on input tablets, small pocket notebooks, and large devices that were carried in the barn.

In ancient times, the first marketing pieces were very likely to have been food related and painted on a wall, directing where travelers could go to get a good meal. In days gone by, marketing was by one-way communication and targeted, getting a specific message out to the audience. Today, more than ever, marketing includes two-way communication on multiple media platforms, exposing messages to a large variety of global consumers.

It’s a new scenario for pig production because of two major factors, African Swine Fever (ASF) and Covid-19. Market prices are volatile, knowing how global prices will evolve will not be easy to predict.

Most rural acreages were single-family farms that raised multiple grain crops and different livestock species. Feed manufacturing consisted of local feed mills where a farmer would purchase crop and livestock needs, as well as a hub (coffee shop) for discussions concerning crops, weather and markets. Many different types of feed were bagged, allowing the farmer to purchase products to be further manufactured on their farm. Bulk ingredient needs, such as protein supplements were delivered by the mill’s feed truck to the farm. A typical livestock ration consisted of whole or ground corn mixed with a protein supplement supplied by the mill.

Raising pigs for food began over 9,000 years ago, yet the biological fundamentals have not dramatically changed.

The landscape of genetic suppliers has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. There are many reasons behind these changes, but perhaps those that come to the top are:

Total number of farms: 365

The use of artificial insemination (AI) in livestock has been utilized for nearly a thousand years. Records suggest that Arab Chieftains experimented with AI on horses as early as 1322.

Having started in the swine industry at a very young age, I have seen many changes over the years. Growing up on a mid-sized diversified farm, in southwest Iowa in the 1970s, I was exposed to the “traditional ways” of utilizing farm animals to provide for our family.

It is interesting when we stop and look back how dramatically practices have changed in pork production management. This is also true in how we house and feed gestation sows. Many issues play a role in this “evolution” of production practices, including nutritional and genetic technology and improvements in equipment and facility designs.

For many of us, technology plays an active role in our daily lives much like the modern swine producer. While technology hasn’t always been in our swine barns, as our industry has developed over the years, producers have learned to use technology as a tool to be more productive and efficient.

Significant strides have been made over the past 40 years to improve and reduce the environmental impact of swine production. The environmental footprint of swine production is at an all-time low and through a combination of sound science and dedicated pork producers, the future impact will be further reduced. This article will highlight the past, present, and future of many of the major factors which have positively contributed to reducing the environmental impact of swine production. Although there are many more, this article will focus on swine nutrition advancements in technology and precision formulation.

In the age of smartphones and smart homes, the pace of change can leave you dumbstruck, so it is of little surprise that swine genetics has made substantial progress over the last 50 years. Where it started, and where it stands today, may offer some enticing clues on where we go from here.