On this episode of The Squeal, our host, Dr. Clay Eastwood (PIC Applied Meat Scientist) is joined by Brandon Field (PIC Product Development Senior Manager) and Dr. Justin Holl (PIC Product Development Senior Director) to discuss the relationship between genetics and meat quality. The guests dive deeper into the areas of focus for meat quality and how PIC genetics can play a critical role in the caliper of product on a consumers plate.  

On this episode of The Squeal, our host, Tori Walters (PIC Technical Communications Specialist) is joined by Nat Stas (PIC Technical Services Director), Adam Walters (Tosh Farms Finishing Manager), and Austin Baker (Hogslat Ventilation Manager) to discuss the process of preparing a barn for cooler temperatures. This conversation provides many helpful insights into equipment management, placement plan, and employee trainings as the industry prepares for colder weather. 

On today's episode of The Squeal, our host Nichole Wilson (PIC Account Manager) is joined by Dr. Lori Kociemba (PIC Technical Services Manager) and Dr. Kyle Coble (JBS Live Pork, Director of Nutritional Services) as they walk through the importance of a body condition management program. On this episode, our guests share tips on how to use the caliper to track body condition on your farm. 

On today's episode of The Squeal, our host Nichole Wilson (PIC Account Manager) is joined by Dr. Lori Kociemba (PIC Technical Services Manager) and Dr. Kyle Coble (JBS Live Pork, Director of Nutritional Services) as they walk through the importance of a body condition management program for the females on your farm. Our guests explain what data should be collected and evaluated to continue to make body condition improvements and the criteria around a strong body condition program. 

On this episode of The Squeal, our host Tori Walters (PIC Technical Communications Specialist) is joined by Carine Vier (PIC Nutrionist), Lori Kociemba (PIC Technical Services Manager) and Nat Stas (PIC NA Wean to Finish Director) to discuss the process of a Technical Services visit from PIC. The guests offer tips to prepare for the visit, what should be expected, and the goals of each visit. This episode serves as a great resource for staff to understand what to expect from a Technical Services visit for both a wean to finish and sow site. 

There are constantly new discoveries and data shared to improve swine production. These discoveries are found by research projects to enhance and improve the way pigs are raised to ultimately impact the end product that is purchased by consumers. On today's episode of The Squeal, our host, Luis Zaragoza (PIC Product Development Manager) leads the conversation between research experts Dr. Laura Greiner (Director of Iowa Pork Industry Center and Associate Professor in Animal Science, Iowa State University) and Dr. Dustin Boler (Director of Research, CISS) as they discuss the importance of research projects and how they can make a positive impact on the future of the pork industry. 

The down time between groups of pigs can provide opportunity for maintenance repairs, cleaning, and disinfecting. On today's episode of The Squeal, our guests share tips on how to prepare a barn for an incoming group of pigs. Our host, Erik Darrington (PIC Account Manager) is joined by Jason Pooley (PIC Health Program Manager) and Isaiah Spath (PIC Technical Services- Wean to Finish) to discuss biosecurity procedures and other preparation steps to start new pigs off on the right foot.  

There are several moving parts when transporting weaned pigs from the sow farm to their next destination. The transition can be smoother if there is strong communication between the sow farm and the wean-finish site. There is always opportunity for these communication practices to improve, and our guests from Brenneman Pork share their experiences and tips to help maintain strong communication. Our host, Brie Quick (PIC Technical Services, Female Reproduction) leads the conversation with Chad Bermel (Head of Sow Production, Brenneman Pork) and Ted Recker (Head of Wean-Finish, Brenneman Pork) to discuss what communication practices work best for their farm and how strong communication can make a postivie impact on the entire operation. Brad Schimmer (PIC Technical Services, Female Reproduction) also shares what he sees when he travels to sow farms around North America and ways that communication can be improved. 

On today's episode of The Squeal, our guests share their experiences on maintaing employee satisfaction to retain great employees. Our host, Ashley Hengen (PIC Human Resources) is joined by Chock Booher (PIC Technical Services, Wean to Finish) and Jorge Cajamarca (PIC Technical Services, Female Reproduction) as they walk through different scenarios to increase employee happiness. There are many different ways for a farm to support their employees and make them feel important and included. 

There's no doubt that hiring and retaining labor is an ongoing challenge for the swine industry. On today's episode of The Squeal, our guests share their experiences with successful training opportunities and tools to onboard new employees and provide continued trainings for experienced employees. Our host, Ashley Hengen (PIC Human Resources) is joined by Chock Booher (PIC Technical Services, Wean to Finish) and Jorge Cajamarca (PIC Technical Services, Female Reproduction) as they walk through the training tools offered by PIC and how these trainings can be presented to new and existing employees.