USDA: Pork production drops 2% from 2011
According to the USDA's Livestock Slaughter report, pork production totaled 1.91 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.45 million head, down 2 percent from September 2011. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 271 pounds.
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Video provides an accurate look at pig care
U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has stepped up not just to meet the challenge presented by the animated film “A Pig's Tale,” but to provide a real-world look at activities on a modern hog farm. USFRA released a nearly four-minute video-- “An accurate portrayal of today’s pig care”.
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Tips to reduce production costs
In the current environment of high feed prices and tight margins, pork producers are seeking ways to reduce costs and increase revenue. Prairie Swine Centre, offers a list of easy-to-adopt ideas, that can be implemented today.
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PorkBridge educational series schedule announced
PorkBridge is a distance educational program that provides relevant and timely information to those involved with grow-finish swine operations and consists of six teleconference sessions conducted by industry experts.
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Kansas State Swine Day slated for Nov. 15
The one-day event will feature a technology trade show, as well as presentations focused on current research relevant to pork production. The event begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Kansas State Alumni Center in Manhattan, Kan.
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USGC releases new, expanded edition of DDGS handbook
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has released the third edition of A Guide to Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS). The new handbook contains extensive information on the use of DDGS in swine diets including use of reduced oil DDGS and managing pork fat quality when using high levels in swine diets.
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Calculating the benefits of lower market weights
With corn prices nearing the $8 level, hog market weights are receiving more scrutiny than ever before. As feed efficiency drops in the late finishing phase pork producers look for some relief from this costly gain at the end of the production cycle.
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Sign up for swine castration seminar Oct. 8
In keeping with an ongoing effort to inform all parties involved in the pork supply chain about on-farm production practices, the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) will hold its second webinar. Scheduled for Monday, Oct. 8, the webinar will focus on swine castration.
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Profit Tracker: Pork producer margins remain in the red
Although still mired deep in red ink, pork producer margins struggled to improve a bit last week. The small gain in production margins was a welcome change as margins have tumbled over the past several weeks.
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Pit foaming research offers a solution
Just in time for the fall manure pumping season, University of Minnesota engineers have released results on research that offers a solution to control foaming risks in deep-pit manure storage.
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Recording birth weights helps identify full potential pigs
During times of high feed costs, pork producers should carefully evaluate key production data to help identify those animals with the best chance to become full potential pigs. Piglet birth weight is one such key parameter.
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