Episodes

  • Building a Better Start: Setting Weaned Pigs Up for Success
    May 12 2026

    The first days after weaning are critical to a pig’s long-term success. How do you set them up to thrive from the start? In today’s episode, Dr. Steve Kitt shares practical insights on creating a seamless transition from the farrowing room to the nursery and setting the foundation for performance.

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    33 mins
  • Don't Sweat Summer Losses: Smarter Cooling for Better Performance
    Apr 7 2026

    Summer growth suppression in finishing pigs is one of the most persistent and costly seasonal challenges in the pork industry. In this episode, Dr. Steve Kitt discusses how misters in finishers can help producers recover approximately 7 pounds of live bodyweight and 5 pounds of carcass weight during summer marketing periods.

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    17 mins
  • Measuring What Matters: New Temperature Technologies
    Mar 10 2026

    Dr. Jamie Madigan joins us to talk about the role of temperature monitoring in pig health and share insights from a Pillen Family Farms study evaluating new temperature-reading technologies—their benefits, limitations, and what they mean for the future of herd management.

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    14 mins
  • The Real Cost of Re-Mixing Nursery Pigs
    Feb 10 2026

    Moving and mixing pigs in the nursery is a common practice on commercial farms. Producers often pull smaller or compromised pigs into recovery pens to give them extra care and help manage variation in body weight. While this can improve welfare, mixing pigs also changes their social groups and may increase exposure to disease. In this episode, Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham reviews a recent trial that looked at how different nursery movement strategies affect pig growth, health, and survival in real-world nursery barns.

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    12 mins
  • Understanding the Maternal Line’s Role in Grow-Finish
    Jan 13 2026

    In this episode, Dr. Tom Rathje dives into why maternal lines matter and how they influence grow-finish performance from start to finish.

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    25 mins
  • Inside the Pen: Best Practices for Managing Group-Housed Sows
    Dec 2 2025

    In this episode, Paul Faris shares practical strategies and proven insights for successfully managing group-housed sows in a pen-based production system. From daily management routines to key welfare and performance considerations, Paul delivers actionable tips to help sow farm teams drive efficiency, consistency, and success.

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    26 mins
  • Precision Protein: Rethinking Amino Acid Sources for Modern Swine
    Nov 18 2025

    In this episode, Dr. Steve Kitt joins us to reveal the age-specific amino acid strategies every pig producer needs to know. From young pigs that thrive on low-protein, synthetic-boosted diets to finishers that falter when crude protein dips too far, this episode breaks down how to feed smarter at every stage.

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    15 mins
  • Don’t Let the Feed Go Dry: Preventing and Managing Feed Outages in Pig Production
    Nov 4 2025

    In this episode, Dr. Steve Kitt breaks down what leads to feed outages, the impact they have on pig performance and profitability, and the practical steps producers can take to prevent them. Tune in to learn how to maintain consistent feed delivery and keep your operation running smoothly and efficiently.

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    18 mins