Swine Doc Pod with Carthage

We are joined by Dr. Cesar Corzo of the University of Minnesota to talk about our old enemy, PRRS.  In his role as the Allen D Leman Chair, Swine Health and Productivity, Dr. Corzo routinely interacts with industry stakeholders to keep his pulse on industry challenges and opportunities.  Cesar leads the MSHMP project which monitors both prevalence and incidence of PRRS in the United States sow herd.  We chat about how this data can be used to objectively determine if this PRRS season is "different" as well as how we can look at the data to see how our PRRS management decisions are impacting PRRS outcomes.  Dr. Corzo shares his insights on the latest PRRS mutant to threaten our industry, the 144 Lineage 1C PRRS strain.  We talk about the recombination events that lead to the creation of these new mutant viruses and how discouraging it can be for the industry that so many sows remain infected with wild type PRRS viruses.  We share a glimmer of hope for a more successful future in discussing the technology behind the PRRS resistant pig and wrap up by educating the audience on how they can get involved in the MSHMP project going forward.

With a gentle nudge from our friends in the Twitter world... we bring to you one of the world's leading E. coli management authorities, Dr. Elise Toohill.  Dr. Elise shares her experiences with E. coli diagnosis, prevention, control, treatment and sanitation.  We review this emerging disease threat and highlight practical solutions for producers and veterinarians alike to consider when optimizing their E. coli management program.  Even if E. coli isn't causing challenges in your farm today, I'd recommend you listen to Elise's advice as you may soon be facing this evolving pathogen challenge.

Dr. Megan Bloemer joins us to share her personal journey into the world of swine production and veterinary medicine.  Dr. Megan didn't grow up on a pig farm and until college really didn't know a lot about the swine industry.  Her journey is similar to many of our professions best and brightest, she was an exceptional student who got exposed to our industry through a willing mentor (The great Dr. Laura Greiner!) and through her exposure found the passion for pigs that collectively unites our industry.  Dr. Megan explains how students can find mentors through internship programs at both the undergraduate and veterinary school stages.  She talks in detail about the variety of different experiences she sought out to gain perspective on the industry and her tips for students on how to network, even if you're naturally introverted.  We learn about Dr. Megan's year in production, what it taught her and how it makes her a better veterinarian today because of the skills she learned working hand in hand with our on farm employee teams.  Whether you're a student interested in swine medicine or a grizzled industry veteran, please give this episode a listen to understand the journey of "The Modern Swine Vet Experience".  

Dr. Will Fombelle with Carthage Veterinary Service, LTD stops by the podcast studio to chat with us about a recent case he dealt with involving a combination of nutrition and health opportunities.  Dr. Will shares his case study about a nursery facility with increased mortality, as he started digging into the case he quickly realized this was a "Zebra" and not a "Horse".  Engaging with nutrition experts, Will was able to submit a variety of diagnostic samples to help him diagnose both infectious disease agents as well as nutritional disease challenges.  Will chats about the importance of having a well rounded education and how we as swine veterinarians can work as "extension agents" for other technical experts who aren't as fortunate to be able to visit pig farms as regularly as the veterinarian.  We end with some well deserved shout outs to mentors who have helped shaped our respective professional careers.

With another USDA weaned pig price report in hand, we visit with Steve Toohill to get his thoughts on the current weaned pig market.  Steve comments on buyers willingness to accept PRRS positive pig sources and we chat about how the attractive summer market hog prices are driving continued demand for weaned pigs of any health status.  Steve shares his thoughts on how demand looks to evolve heading into February, giving both buyers and sellers insight into future weeks price projections.

Dr. Aaron Lower joins us to share his passion for improving the quality of information available to pig producers to support quality decision making.  Aaron shares his experiences in the Executive Veterinary Program at the University of Illinois and how he learned about data management.  We talk about how to merge different software systems in a "common data model" and use systems such as Power BI to create customized reports and dashboards specific to each producer.  Data collection and entry is key, Aaron shares how he sees progressive producers using mobile entry platforms to enter sow data via QR codes to eliminate problems with data accuracy.  We also discuss sensor technologies and the transition from "Hardware purchases" to more subscription based approaches to new technology introduction into the farm.  Aaron is passionate about making sure his producers are on the cutting edge of data collection and management so they can make most efficient use of the available information to make better decisions and ultimately improve throughput in their operations.

Another week and another USDA update on weaned pig prices.  We visit with Steve Toohill, Business Development Manager for the Carthage System as he shares his insight for how the weaned pig market has evolved over the last week.  Weaned pigs remain scarce and as is always the case with scarce resources, the sale price is indicative of how few weaned pigs there are available.  Join us for this timely discussion on how weaned pig prices may impact your farm's financial performance in the coming weeks.

We get to interview two excellent guests, Ted Ufkes and Dr. Beau Peterson as they share their thoughts on how to both attract and retain talent through the culture of your business.  Ted & Beau give us insight into the "Farm First" culture they collectively strive to create in the Carthage System while talking us through how you can make accountability a key part of your business culture.  We dive into discussions about how to set up metrics to create both accountability and ownership and how important our Farm Managers are to the success of any pork production operation.  In addition to the office and farm culture, we talk about how culture extends into community engagement and what that means to employee engagement and ultimately, employee retention.  With "The Great Resignation" providing labor challenges throughout every industry and business environment, I think you'll find this a must listen for any business leaders looking to create a positive culture that creates engaged employees.

On this edition of Swine Doc Pod with Carthage, we explore the world of weaned pig pricing.  We welcome Steve Toohill to the podcast - as the Business Development Manager for the Carthage System, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise on the topic.  Steve explains the weekly USDA pricing process as well as his tips for how to navigate the market.  Steve gives us his insight into how to maximize either your wean pig sale or purchase in addition to his thoughts on the current market.  This episode if the first in a recurring program on weaned pig prices, we hope you'll join us not only for this edition, but in our routine updates to come!

In this episode, we interview Dr. Dyneah Classen, Director of Health for the Carthage System.  Dyneah and I chat about misconceptions of animal agriculture and how those of us actively engaged in the farming profession can help those not lucky enough to be able to visit farms better understand our practices and way of life.  While Dyneah and I both grew up actively visiting pig farms (Dyneah's pigs were right outside her front door!), we discuss how difficult it is to get our own children physically onto a farm to educate them about our profession and industry while sharing some light and fun stories about our experiences with kids on farm.  Dyneah shares her tips for engaging online, particularly what types of posts she finds are most interesting to our non-ag friends and family as well as how to handle the occasional online troll trying to create mischief.