Summer is a social season! Great opportunities arise to share your story! Only 2% of the population raises food for the entire world, and that is you! No one is more passionate, caring, or committed to the humane care of animals and safe food than you. Pig care is more than just bacon, it is…
Category: Swine
Responsible Imports
As the epidemic of African Swine Fever (ASF) spreads throughout China, it raises animal welfare and economic issues for the swine industry in China and the United States. Classified as a foreign animal disease, ASF in the United States would immediately stop the export of pork products, costing the United States economy $16.5…
Production Efficiencies
This year we have implemented several production efficiencies to focus our efforts on sustainable farming. Three production efficiencies to remain sustainable on farm include water usage, energy consumption, and reducing waste. As an outcome of COVID-19, we re-evaluated many of our production Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and determined ways to reduce cost at the sow…
Methane Digester
When evaluating the carbon footprints at the sow farms managed by Pipestone Management, we found that manure accounts for roughly 30% of emissions. So, if your goal is to reduce your overall carbon footprint, how do you do that with manure? One method to gain traction in the industry is methane digesters. Recently completing a…
PORK Responsible Antibiotic Use Standard
PIPESTONE provides veterinary services to pig farmers all over the world. We recognize the growing global concern over Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and its impact on human and animal health. We share society’s concern of the potential impact of antibiotic use on AMR. With the health and production tools available today, we can raise pigs with…
Essentials of Business Succession Planning
Through good times and bad in agriculture, farmers generally cherish the idea of passing their family farm on to the next generation. The farm community’s practice is to celebrate and even commemorate the moment the family farm reaches the century mark. However, according to the PWC 2016 US Family Business Survey, only slightly over half…
Creating a Sustainable Pig... All Starts in the Field
The pork industry is a buzz with carbon reduction goals and even carbon neutrality. Two questions often asked are what is a carbon neutral pig and what can farmers do? A carbon neutral pig has net zero carbon dioxide emission equivalents (CO2e) into the atmosphere during its lifetime. CO2e is a term used to express…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 23: The Latest on Disease Feed Risk
Based on the current body of knowledge, it is evident that feed and feed ingredients are risk factors for the transboundary spread of viruses, including African Swine Fever virus, classical swine fever virus, pseudorabies virus, and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Dr. Spencer Wayne, Host of SwineTime Podcast with Pipestone Veterinary Services visits with Dr. Scott…
Buhl's Ridgeview Farm | A Leader in Sustainability
“Utilizing the corn they grow in their on-farm feed mill, monitoring and reducing antibiotic usage and educating their communities on swine production practices, Buhl’s Ridgeview Farms is at the forefront of sustainability,” said Emily Scholtz, PIPESTONE Nutritionist. Purchasing their first sows in 1976, Don and Susan Buhl operate Buhl’s Ridgeview Farm of Tyler, Minnesota. Since…
SwineTime Podcast Episode 22: Managing Old Assets
What do you do with an old facility? How do you know when to fix it or replace it? Host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, visits with Dr. Barry Kerkaert, veterinarian and Pipestone Management President, and Justin Roelofs, CFO of Pipestone Management about Managing Old Assets in the 22nd Episode of SwineTime Podcast. Don’t miss future…
Cost of Feed Production
There are three drivers influencing cost of production today; facilities, weaned pigs and feed, with feed cost accounting for over 60% of the total cost of production. In the last 90 days, we have seen feed cost per pig increase >$20/pig. Now more than ever, producers should be focused on improving feed efficiency as a…
Animal Welfare
Training | Tools | Tracking PIPESTONE and the families we work with are committed to producing safe food, protecting our environment, and providing the best care for our animals. Whether I am working with an individual family farmer or the team at PIPESTONE, when it comes to animal welfare we talk about incorporating the three…
Innovation in Production
The tech service team works to challenge current production protocols, evaluate new ideas and technology, and provide real data to make decisions. Utilizing actual sow farms, we can conduct large scale field research trials in actual production conditions. This helps to gain valuable information to implement in sow farms managed by Pipestone Management. New products…
The Perceived Soybean Meal Shortage with Gordon Denny
Pork is hugely important to domestic and international soybean meal consumption. Closely following poultry, swine consumes a large percentage of soybeans available in the United States. Guest host, Amber Pugh, a Director of Procurement with Pipestone Nutrition, hosts Gordon Denny, a soybean industry professional, to discuss the perceived soybean meal shortage in our industry. As…
7 Ways to Build Working Capital
During periods of high commodity prices and profitability, farm business owners should be diligent to financially prepare for the next period of low prices. The following are strategies that could help you build working capital to be ready for the next cycle of low prices. Improve operational efficiency Aggressively managing operational efficiency is the most…
Innovation in Nutrition
Innovation in nutrition comes in many forms at PIPESTONE. From new technology, to better feed management, to improving the feed quality across our 40+ feed mills that feed sows managed by Pipestone Management, we are continually investigating ways to bring value. What does the body condition of an “ideal” sow look like in your mind?…
When Cheap Diets Fail
Everyone likes a deal! Who doesn’t? If there is an opportunity to buy something at a “good” price most people jump at the opportunity. But sometimes the deal isn’t as good as what we thought and is not figured out until after the fact.The same thing can happen with nutrition or formulation. One of the…
History and Advancement of Innovation
In 1942, Drs. E.A. Scheweim and P.A. Pinkert founded the Pipestone Veterinary Clinic. Since then, the company has continued to innovate while serving our mission of Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow. In 1988, the Pipestone Management was founded and in 1990 Hiawatha Gilts, LTD was built and became the first Pipestone Management…
Podcast 20: Influenza: History, Symptoms, and Eradication Protocols with Dr. Cameron Schmitt
Over the years, veterinarians and the pork industry have tackled eradiation protocols for viruses like PRRS, PED, and Mycoplasma, yet influenza remains a common occurrence in the field. In this Episode, host Dr. Spencer Wayne talks with Dr. Cameron Schmitt, Veterinarian with PIPESTONE, in the 20th episode of SwineTime about Swine Influenza and efforts to…
Podcast 19: Sustaining the Pig farm of Tomorrow
By taking care of the land and natural resources, farmers have naturally practiced and cared about sustainability for generations. Today, sustainability is more important than ever, as it allows us to be transparent and authentic about what we are doing on-farm to consumers. Dr. Spencer Wayne, Veterinarian at PIPESTONE Veterinary Services, and the host of…
Pivot to Meet Ever-Changing Pig Care
This year marks 30 years that the sow farm Hiawatha Gilts was constructed in Pipestone county, Minnesota birthing what would become the Pipestone Management and change modern swine production. Most intriguing is what Hiawatha represents as we think about innovation and the progression of health management. Hiawatha started as a multi farmer-owned farrow to finish…
Idlenot Farms | a leader in Innovation
“I can remember sitting in a booth at the World Pork Expo when this technology was just being developed. As it was explained to us, I was like, ‘wow.’ That is quite a dream. I wonder if we will ever have that?” Brad Moser said. “It is real. It really works.” Brad and his brother,…
Take Advantage when Profit Opportunities Become a Reality
The year 2020 has been anything but normal. I think we can all agree that the hog and pork markets are as volatile as ever! In recent years, this industry has undergone PEDV, African Swine Fever, and now Covid-19. All of the market ups and downs isn’t for the faint of heart. Big Stone Marketing…
Podcast 18 Question and Answer session with Luke Minion CEO of Pipestone
While there ‘feels’ like tremendous change has taken place within the pork industry industry, producers have becoming increasingly aware of the industry’s growing dependence upon the export market. Because farmers face many different issues, Dr. Spencer Wayne obtains answers to questions submitted from producers during this podcast interview with Dr. Luke Minion, Pipestone’s CEO.…
Podcast 17 The importance, effectiveness, and cost of sow farm filtration systems
While the use of air filtration systems on sow farms has been proven to reduce the incidence of airborne illness such as PRRS, there are still many swine operations that operate without it. While the design of physical structures vary, most if not all operations can reduce overall cost per pig if the correct…
Antibiotic Resita-WHAT?
We all share a concern for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and its impact on human medicine, veterinary medicine, and global society. As veterinarians, our first instinct is to correct the problem! As scientists, we want data to help craft the plan. As a mother (and as a human being in general), I (and others) want to…
Do you work with a Veterinarian and do you follow their guidelines for antimicrobial use?
The bare minimum to meet this requirement is to have a Vet physically on site one time per year and to have written scripts for all prescription products on site. If this is the only interaction you are having with a Veterinarian, consider getting value for your operation with more veterinarian interaction. Questions to ask…
Testing, advice valuable to the Minnesota producer
Feed costs are the largest expense in raising pigs today, so carefully analyzing every opportunity to get the most out of every ration at every stage in a pig’s life is key to profitability. Tri-M Farms, owned and operated by brothers Greg, Mick and B.J. Madson, have found benefits for both performance and the bottom…
Preparing for Periods of Low Prices
For most pork producers, 2020 has not been a year of profitability. Without government program payments and a short-term spike in cut-out prices in May, the red ink has been steadily flowing. During these unfavorable economic times, your business uses the working capital you’ve created in the good times. Working capital measures whether you have…
Podcast 16 Latin America Swine Industry, Operations, Practices, and Opportunities with Dr. Gustavo Pizarro
Producers in Latin America and the United States share the same passion for agriculture, but the way to achieve the goal varies. From the economy to efficiency on farm, there are many differences in Latin America, but there is also a relationship building. In this episode, host Dr. Spencer Wayne talks with Dr. Gustavo…
Deep Agriculture Roots Now and for Years to Come
Lee and Ben Bader farm together as father and son Tracing back six generations of farming, the Bader family continues the family tradition. Lee and Ben Bader, a father and son duo, farm together in Jesup, IA. “Since the early years, our family has been on the farm,” Lee (dad) Bader said. “Today, it is…
Manure Pumping and Agitation Guidelines
As the harvest season approaches, fall field work and manure application will follow closely thereafter. During the manure removal process, our primary objective is to elevate the ventilation in your barns and keep you and your livestock safe and comfortable. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate and reach out to a Pipestone Management…
SwineTime podcast 15: Business Decisions During Periods of Low Prices
Dr. Spencer Wayne of Pipestone Veterinary Services, and the host of the SwineTime podcast visits with Jim Marzolf, Vice-President of Pipestone Business Services to talk about new swine service offerings designed to assist farmers on the next SwineTime podcast. Having extensive background in Agriculture Accounting and fiscal management practices, Jim details four new ways Pipestone…
Business Strategies for Periods of Low Prices
In commodity production, high prices are the result of more demand than supply. In the past 20 years, the pork industry has been fortunate to increase demand through exports. More demand than supply results in high prices and creates profitability that attracts financial capital. As capital rushes to the higher rates of return, pork producers…
SwineTime podcast 14: Risk Management in Pig Production
SwineTime host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, speaks with Veterinarian, Dr. Gawen Zomermaand of Pipestone Veterinary Services. In this episode, you will discover what hedging looks like in pig production, how to best educate yourself on risk management, and the benefit of finding a good partner for advice and service. For information regarding hedging call Dr.…
A proven safe and effective disinfecting alternative
Ag Forte Pro has been proven to improve sanitation and bio-security of pig barns and livestock transport trucks, while being safe and easy to use. It eliminates irritation to nose, eyes and skin, as well as reduces wash time and water use. COVID-19 has brought biosecurity and disinfecting to the top of everyone’s minds; a…
Episode 13: We slowed pigs down: What was the effect and where do we go from here?
SwineTime host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, converses with Veterinarian, Dr. Brent Pepin and Nutritionist, Jon De Jong, at Pipestone Veterinary Clinic. In this episode, you will hear experts discuss the noticed effects of slowing pigs down, as well as their opinion on where we go from here. Featuring: SwineTime Host – Dr. Spencer Wayne (Veterinarian) …
'You don't get what you wish for, you get what you work for'
As a family, Lynn Farms works to overcome challenges “My wife always says, ‘A farmer has to be an optimist or you wouldn’t be a farmer,’” said Jeff Lynn, owner of Lynn Farms. Jeff Lynn is a third-generation farmer from Lismore, MN. He grew up feeding cattle alongside his dad, until he decided to expand…
SwineTime Podcast #12: Understand the Hutterite Colony Farmers
A christian agriculture community, the Hutterite Colony, meets with Dr. Spencer Wayne from Pipestone. Through the SwineTime Podcast, Dr. Wayne and two guests from different Hutterite communities discuss lifestyles and farming as a colony. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a monthly podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork…
Episode 11: COVID-19 and it's Impact on Pig Production with Dr. Beth Thompson
SwineTime host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, visits with Dr. Beth Thompson, Minnesota State Veterinarian, about COVID-19 and it’s impact on the Swine Industry. Listen in as they discuss African Swine Fever preparedness and how COVID-19 has affected our risk for ASF, ways COVID-19 has affected our state and federal agencies, what food safety concerns there…
The value of your pigs
How do I look at today’s pigs and tomorrow’s pigs? We’re in the middle of a slow moving train wreck and are faced with doing things we never conceived of doing. Some economics are worth weighing as we approach drastic actions. You only have so many spaces. If pigs must leave your production pipeline, then…
Where is the Needle point for Your operation?
About 70% of the cost associated with raising a market weight pig occurs in the wean-to-finish growth. Many of the producers have an idea where they stand in their current business model, but we encourage you to take a hard look at your operation to see ways to improve and how you can stay competitive…
Feed Mill and Ingredient Biosecurity
Feed mills serve as a central location for feed ingredients to create a complete ration. Ingredients and complete feed have the potential to carry and harbor detrimental bacteria and viruses (Dee et al., 2018 and Cochrane et al., 2018). These ingredients and complete feed not only have the potential to introduce pathogens themselves but also…
Episode 10: The importance of records and data and how it impacts your profits.
Dr. Spencer Wayne talks with Angie Homann of Pipestone Managements and uncovers the truth about records and data that result in profitability. Learn how important it is to utilize benchmarks for your operation to understand production strengths and reveal weaknesses needing improvement. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a monthly…
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Pipestone Veterinary Services Update
Pipestone Veterinary Services shares in the global concern surrounding COVID-19. We take our responsibility to provide animal care seriously. We also understand the necessity of our business continuity as a part of the food supply chains critical infrastructure designated through the Department of Homeland Security. Animal care cannot stop amid this virus concern and…
Episode 9: Antibiotic Resistance with Dr. Carissa Odland
Dr. Spencer Wayne talks with Dr. Carissa Odland on her latest trial on Antibiotic Resistance. Find out if she has any answers. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a monthly podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. The podcast world-renowned resources and expertise on Swine Health,…
State Pork Congress Winners 2019
Every year, each state has their annual pork congress where they recognize the outstanding pork producers and their families. This year, Pipestone had many producers and shareholders that received an award. South Dakota 2019 Pork All American- Craig Andersen The South Dakota Pork Producers Council (SDPPC) elected Craig Andersen, a pork producer from Centerville, SD,…
Is the Water Quality the Best at Your Farm?
Dr. Spencer Wayne spends some time with Jesse McCoy, a water quality expert. The discussion is about ways to check water quality to determine what’s happening at your farm!
Ready... Set... GROW! Getting Weaned Pigs Off To a Good Start
It’s time to start a new group of pigs. If you want your best closeout, get your weaned pigs off to a good start. This begins long before the pigs arrive. Your journey starts with communication to your sow unit, confirming delivery times to ensure the barn is cleaned, disinfected and dried to create the…
Autogenous Vaccines: A Tool in the Toolbox
It’s that time of year filled with snow, ice, and… minimum ventilation inside your barn. The time of year when it is a constant battle between fresh, good air quality versus the heating bill. Poor air quality can also lead to increased bacterial disease pressure such as Streptococcus suis (Strep) and Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) in…
PIPESTONE Donates Over 1 Million Servings of Pork Through Give a Helping Ham Program
PIPESTONE Donates Over 1 Million Servings of Pork Through Give a Helping Ham Program Fourth Year of “Give a Helping Ham” a success During the holidays we look forward to connecting with family and friends and enjoying a delicious meal with the prized ham featured in the center of the table. However, many individuals in…
Antibiotic Resistance: Pipestone Investigates at the Farm Level
By: Ann Hess, editor at National Hog Farmer Ever since the Center for Disease Control released their 2013 report, Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, stating that each year at least 2 million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection, and at least 23,000 people die, there has been a concerted effort to track antibiotic resistance.…
Animal Health and Biosecurity Drive Changes, Growth for Family Operation
Adapting to a changing industry and adopting new business and management practices has allowed Harold Dekkers and his family to maintain and grow the Hawarden, Iowa, farm that has been in his family for decades. “I’ve lived in the same house my entire life, on the farm that my father bought in 1944,” said Harold.…
Nutritional Advancements for Pig Health
Advancements in swine nutrition have led to strong gains in pig health and productivity over the years, and research is continuing to identify ways to ensure that nutrition can boost performance from the nursery through the finishing barn. Pipestone is uniquely positioned to conduct research and share beneficial results with customers, said Jon De Jong,…
A Foundation for Success
A passion for supporting small- to medium-sized independent livestock producers and providing a path for future generations interested a group of northwest Iowa livestock producers to the Pipestone Management several years ago, and has built a foundation for their success. Kirk Hall lives in LeMars, Iowa, and is the manager of Pork 4 Profit,…
Episode 8: Part 2 of Herd Disease Elimination
Listen in to Episode 8 Part 2: Herd Disease elimination as Dr. Spencer Wayne and Dr. Joseph Yaros for a historical and future perspective on swine herd disease elimination. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a monthly podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. The podcast…
Episode 7: Herd Level Disease Elimination- Does it Work?
Swine Time Podcast #7 with Dr. Spencer Wayne talks with Dr. Joseph Yaros on how Pipestone handles herd level disease elimination, and how effective it is. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a monthly podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. The podcast world-renowned resources and…
Episode 6: Water Quality
Listen to Dr. Spencer Wayne discuss the water quality at your barn with Dr. Todd Williams. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a monthly podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. The podcast world-renowned resources and expertise on Swine Health, Management, Nutrition, Marketing, Business and more. …
Frequently Asked Questions about Erysipelas
What is Erysipelas? Swine erysipelas is a disease caused by a bacterial infection named Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. It has been around for well over one hundred years. It is important to remember that this bacterium can cause disease within your breeding herd, as well as your growing pigs. Although the prevalence is low in the industry,…
Back to Basics: Air, Water, and Feed
My wife and I recently watched my brother’s two children one of whom isn’t quite talking. In the middle of an atypically long crying session my wife and I were reminded of when our two oldest were newborns. We started scrolling through the mental rolodex of what could possibly be wrong: was he hungry, tired,…
Episode 5: Welfare
Listen in for Episode 5 of Swine Time with Dr. Carissa Odland as she talks about how Welfare is practiced every day at Pipestone. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a monthly podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. The podcast world-renowned resources and expertise…
Don't Sweat Heat Stress
As summer approaches, so does the increased risk of heat stress and heat exhaustion. Heat stress is an economically important issue and can have severe consequences if proper precautions are not taken. Through a variety of management techniques, we can help reduce the risk of our hogs being affected by heat stress. Pigs are unable…
Antimicrobial Resistance: We don't have all the answers yet!
Late in the day as you are watching the evening news you learn about an individual who was confirmed with an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection. The story continues describing how there has been an increase in antibiotic-resistant infections around the world and the news anchor quotes CDC by stating that antibiotic use in livestock is…
Episode 4: Secure Pork Plan
Listen in for Episode 4 of Swine Time with Dr. Brent Pepin as he talks about Secure Pork Plan and how to prepare incase of a Foreign Disease outbreak.
Early Investment in Filtration Pays Dividends for Animal Health, Biosecurity
The investment in filtration equipment for sow farms that began as a “leap of faith” by Pipestone Management over a decade ago has evolved into a critical element of keeping sows and piglets protected from deadly viruses. Pipestone was the first to install filtration equipment on a commercial sow farm in the United States in…
Stop the loss! Focus on Mycoplasma and Circovirus Prove Profitable for Pig Producers.
The goal of boosting production and profitability for pork producers has led Joseph Yaros, DVM, and veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, to focus on the control and elimination of two key pathogens. “My main objective is to help our producers be as profitable as possible and reduce health issues in their herds,” said Dr. Yaros.…
SwineTime Podcast with Pipestone Veterinary Services
Pipestone Veterinary Services is pleased to present “Swine Time” the podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. Our first podcast deals with the subject of African Swine Fever and what it means to the industry as a whole and more importantly the individual producer. Episode 2: Transboundary Work with…
Animal Health and Biosecurity Drive Changes, Growth for Family Operation
Adapting to a changing industry and adopting new business and management practices has allowed Harold Dekkers and his family to maintain and grow the Hawarden, Iowa, farm that has been in his family for decades. “I’ve lived in the same house my entire life, on the farm that my father bought in 1944,” said Harold.…
Give a Helping Ham
Did you know 1 out of 5 kids in America struggle with hunger? Food security is something many of us take for granted every day and as we approach the holiday season, PIPESTONE would like to Give a Helping Ham to families in need through our communities. Through the Give a Helping Ham program, for…
Do You Know Manure's Value
Written by Marty Rost, Environmental Specialist The last two manure application seasons were the most difficult seasons I’ve dealt with. Excess rains, early snow and cold made the 2018 fall one we’d all like to forget. If that wasn’t enough, the 2019 spring turned out to challenge many nutrient management plans as well. A challenging…
Biosecurity Steps that Work!
Fall is the time when us pig veterinarians start getting nervous to answer phone calls from our farmers. The shorter days mean different things for veterinarians and farmers, but it’s an equally busy time of year. For farmers, autumn means harvesting the crops and spreading manure. For veterinarians, it’s an awful-tasting pumpkin spice latte full…
Talking Pigs to People
As a farmer, no one is more passionate, caring, or committed to humane care and safe food than you! Today, only 2% of the population raise food. Today’s consumers are more and more removed from the farm. Summertime provides a lot of great opportunities to share your passion and the story of safe food. For…
Episode 4: Secure Pork Plan
Listen in for Episode 4 of Swine Time with Dr. Brent Pepin as he talks about Secure Pork Plan and how to prepare in case of a Foreign Disease outbreak. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a monthly podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. The…
19 Pork Masters: Protecting our U.S. pork population
Veterinarian Scott Dee finds answers off the beaten path. The Dutch Postimpressionist painter Vincent van Gogh once said, “I would rather die of passion than boredom.” For U.S. pork producers and the global swine industry, it’s a good thing Scott Dee also embraces that philosophy; after all, it was often boredom that led him to…
Antimicrobial Resistance: We don’t have all the answers yet!
Late in the day as you are watching the evening news you learn about an individual who was confirmed with an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection. The story continues describing how there has been an increase in antibiotic-resistant infections around the world and the news anchor quotes CDC by stating that antibiotic use in livestock is…
Early Investment in Filtration Pays Dividends for Animal Health, Biosecurity
The investment in filtration equipment for sow farms that began as a “leap of faith” by Pipestone Management over a decade ago has evolved into a critical element of keeping sows and piglets protected from deadly viruses. Pipestone was the first to install filtration equipment on a commercial sow farm in the United States in…
Stop the loss! Focus on Mycoplasma and Circovirus prove profitable for pig producers.
The goal of boosting production and profitability for pork producers has led Joseph Yaros, DVM, and veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, to focus on the control and elimination of two key pathogens. “My main objective is to help our producers be as profitable as possible and reduce health issues in their herds,” said Dr. Yaros.…
Benefits to Animal Health and Bottom Line with Pipestone Antibiotic Resistance Tracker
The use of antibiotics and development of resistance to medically important antibiotics has emerged as a critical issue in both human and animal health sectors in recent years. With 23,000 deaths in the U.S. each year attributed to infections that are antibiotic resistant, and increasing interest from consumers, food companies and restaurants in the use…
PEDV... Have you Forgotten? PEDV: Hysteria is Gone, but the Disease Isn't
It seems so long ago. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) had just been diagnosed in the U.S. Rumors circulating that it hit a farm not far from yours. What could be done to stop it? Was it as bad as everyone was saying? The PEDV storm came and went. The virus is not gone, but…
SwineTime Podcast by Pipestone: ASF and Transboundary Work with Dr. Scott Dee
Pipestone Veterinary Services is pleased to present “Swine Time” the podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. Podcast #2, continues with the subject of African Swine Fever and the transboundary work needing to be done with Dr. Scott Dee. Don’t miss future SwineTime podcasts The SwineTime podcast is a…
Keeping Antibiotics in the Arsenal: Pigs Can Still Get Sick
By Ann Hess, editor at National Hog Farmer When the new FDA antibiotic guidance rules went into effect Jan. 1, 2017, it was a good reminder to all pig farmers that antibiotic stewardship is very important and to strive for reduction in use when possible. Brad and Peggy Greenway at their pig farm on Thursday,…
Episode 1: SwineTime Podcast by Pipestone: African Swine Fever
Pipestone Veterinary Services is pleased to present “Swine Time” the podcast created for the pork industry and individual pork producers around the country. Our first podcast, deals with the subject of African Swine Fever and what it means to the industry as a whole and more importantly the individual producer with Dr. Gordon Spronk. Don’t…
Effective Execution Drives Feed Efficiency
There are three drivers influencing cost of production today; facilities, weaned pigs and feed, with feed cost accounting for over 50% of the total cost of production. Thus, producers should be focused on either reducing feed cost or improving whole herd feed efficiency. Feed efficiency is typically measured by feed consumed per unit of gain…
A Team of Experts at Your Sow Farm
“An advantage of the Pipestone Management is that everyone — veterinarians, production staff, the research team, maintenance team, transportation team — all work for the same company,” said Dr. Barry Kerkaert, Vice President of Pipestone Management. “As a result, we have more internal accountability and the experts in each of these service groups are focused…
Dr. Dee's Research Provides Undisputable Evidence for Responsible Use of Antibiotics
On December 6, 2018, the first large-scale scientifically validated trial to better understand the importance of responsible antibiotic use in clinically sick pigs was published in PLOS ONE, the Public Library of Science. This journal is #1-2 in the world as it pertains to publication of medical science. The trial sought to compare pigs raised…
MEASURE. MONITOR. MOVE: Three simple steps to pork production records
MEASURE. MONITOR. MOVE. Three simple steps to pork production records. Well, maybe not always simple, but certainly valuable. The 2018 USDA census puts the U.S. at 75 million pigs. Pork production is a competitive business. Long gone are the days of measuring success by the balance of the farm account at the end of the…
Foreign Animal Disease: Preparing for the worst
Everyone who works with pigs is likely aware of the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) across Europe and Asia. This seemly unstoppable sweeping of disease is a concern for swine farmers worldwide. Even with a vast ocean separating North America, it only takes one failure in biosecurity for ASF to reach our soil. The…
For the Love of Science.... and a Delicious Burger!
Fact: Using antibiotics responsibly is an important part of the welfare of our animals, food safety, and sustainability. Science is an amazing tool that helps us to understand how AND WHY things work throughout the universe. Science uses standardized methodologies, a strict level of testing, and enforces repeatability. But science can be a difficult topic…
When Swine Isn’t Fine: 3 Steps for Pork Producers to Reduce Foreign Animal Disease Risks
As the world swine population continues to grow both domestically and internationally, it can open doors to producers and veterinarians to visit production locations away from home. In some cases, this may involve going to a location which is known to have diseases that are not present in the United States. Knowing this, it is…
Building Foundation for Future Generations
Staying focused on their strengths, but being willing to change has been the foundation of the growth and evolution of the Dumoulin family’s farm for more than six decades. Bill and Pat Dumoulin began farming together in 1954 near Hampshire, Illinois, about 60 miles west of downtown Chicago. Pat currently farms with two sons Mike…
African Swine Fever in China: What is the Role of Feed Ingredients in Viral Movement?
Scott Dee DVM MS PhD Dipl;ACVM, Director, Pipestone Applied Research On Friday August 3, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) reported that African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) had been identified in a northeast Chinese pig herd. This is the initial report of this disease in the country of China, although it had been reported in…
49 Days of Transparency
It takes a village to raise a family, well it also takes a village to showcase our passion. We had a great crew of Pipestone staff and volunteers at county and State fairs sharing their passion in 2018! This year it was 49 days of transparency, where Pipestone pigs and people met visitors at the…
4 Key Factors to Ask About Pig Sourcing
Weaned pig sourcing has the potential to affect the profitability of an enterprise greatly. Here are 4 things to keep in mind when considering your pig source. #1 Health When evaluating a “one time” purchase of weaned pigs you will want to know the current health status of the sow farm and weaned pigs. However,…
New Program Takes Proactive Approach to Boosting Health and Bottom Line
A new program from Pipestone Veterinary Services is focused on improving animal health and farm profitability through a proactive and planned approach. The Pig Vet program was launched in January 2018 and includes scheduled visits from a Pipestone veterinarian to a producer’s operation each year with the number of visits dependent of each producer’s unique…
PRRS Control for Your Market Hogs
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), much to producers’ and veterinarians’ dismay, can have a devastating impact on pigs of all ages. In general, the introduction of a new strain of PRRS at any stage of pig production has the potential to cause severe damage. Not only can PRRS be devastating by itself, but it…
PRRS Control for Your Market Hogs
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), much to producers’ and veterinarians’ dismay, can have a devastating impact on pigs of all ages. In general, the introduction of a new strain of PRRS at any stage of pig production has the potential to cause severe damage. Not only can PRRS be devastating by itself, but it…
It's the Relationship with Pipestone that Keeps Vroman's Growing for Generations to Come
For more than thirty years, Dean Vroman has been raising crops, pigs and cattle in Minnesota. While equipment and facilities have been important, his most valuable investment has most likely been the relationships he’s built with farmers and industry professionals that have allowed his farming operation to grow and provide an opportunity for the next…
New Disinfectant Product Shows Promise
Cleaning and disinfecting transport trailers, farrowing stalls, and pens in nursery and wean-to-finish barns has been proven critical to keeping animals healthy and preventing the spread of viruses. A new product is showing promise, while also proving safer for the people, pigs, and environment. Ag Forte Pro is a unique product that is a combination…
Meet Our New Swine Veterinarians
As Pipestone Veterinary Services continues to grow and improve we are finding the need for additional veterinary support. We would like to introduce our newest veterinarians to the team and more specifically, one locally in your area. Dr. Brent Pepin is from central Minnesota and a 2014 graduate of Iowa State Veterinary School, where he…
Heat Stress is a Big Deal
Between death loss and production impact, the estimates have the yearly cost to the U.S. swine industry to be around $300 million so far this year. Don’t ignore heat stress. While you can’t control the weather, you can control your facilities. Pigs don’t sweat, so they cannot naturally take advantage of evaporative cooling. They rely…