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

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

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

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

USA and Canada 2025 Year Summary

Total number of farms = 149

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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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2025

Factors Associated with Sow Efficiency

While producers rely on reports for sow records, task management, and performance summaries, many overlook a critical opportunity: harnessing advanced analytics to maximize reproductive efficiency, profitability, and sow longevity.

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2025

Towards Automated Detection of Osteochondrosis From CT Images

Osteochondrosis is a disease that is a major cause of lameness in pigs. Currently, osteochondrosis is scored by trained technicians based on visual observation of CT images.

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2025

Recent Findings on the Use of Acidifiers for Nursery Pigs

A high stomach pH is concerning because it can lead to a myriad of issues, ranging from poor nutrient digestibility to increased pathogen proliferation, diarrhea, and mortality. Considering all the other stressors involved during the weaning period, it’s the last thing a piglet needs.

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2025

Choline - An Essential Nutrient With New Perspectives

Natural choline sources occur at meaningful levels in most feed ingredients; which is the main reason why choline is not considered to be a vitamin in the classic sense.

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2025

Addressing Barn Management Challenges with Ventilation Technology

From disease prevention to meeting compliance with animal confinement regulations, the latest set of challenges certainly continues the tradition of having serious repercussions on the industry.

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2025

USA and Canada 2024 Year Summary

Total number of farms = 174

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2025

Uncovering the Connection

To reach peak performance productivity, animals need a constant supply of feed. But when that flow of feed is interrupted, it can lead to growth delays, increased mortality, and other health issues - all of which impact feed conversion ratios (FCR).

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2024

Potential “Benchmarks” For Sow Longevity

High replacement rates for gilts and young sows have skewed current parity distributions on many farms towards younger females that haven’t reached their peak productivity.


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2024

Beating The Heat

Within the pork industry, heat stress poses a significant threat to overall pig production, impairing health, productivity, and well-being at all life stages.


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