SwineTime with Pipestone

Latest Episodes:

Episode #55: Riding the Wave of Feed Cost Fluctuations Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Kiah Berg, Senior Supervisor of Nutrition with Pipestone Nutrition, to discuss the state of feed costs and her recommendations for proper nutrition strategies. Dr. Berg explains the recent trends in feed costs, highlighting the notable decrease in prices for key ingredients such as corn and soybean meal, resulting in significant cost savings for pig production. Dr. Berg underscores the importance of regularly monitoring ingredient prices and reformulating diets to optimize cost efficiency while maintaining nutritional quality.

Drs. Wayne and Berg emphasize the need for adaptive feed management, they discuss the frequency of reformulation, suggesting regular reviews based on cost savings thresholds and market dynamics. Furthermore, Dr. Berg stresses the importance of adjusting feed orders based on herd size and mortality events to prevent overfeeding and optimize feed utilization. Overall, the podcast offers valuable insights and practical strategies for swine producers to enhance productivity and profitability in the pork industry.

Episode #54: Life Lessons with Dr. Dee Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of the SwineTime podcast, hosted by Dr. Spencer Wayne, the featured guest is Dr. Scott Dee who shares valuable insights for young veterinarians, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, recalling his journey from being told he couldn’t attend vet school to becoming a prominent figure in the field. The discussion also touches on the balance between scientific and artistic talents, with Dr. Dee highlighting his creative approach to scientific problem-solving.

Mentorship is a central theme as he encourages young veterinarians to remember and appreciate those who have played significant roles in their development. The conversation also explores Dr. Dee’s experiences living in Brazil, underscoring how exposure to different cultures and witnessing poverty profoundly shaped his perspective on making a positive impact on both animal and human lives.

The pair further cover themes such as embracing adversity, finding joy in one’s work, and the ultimate goal of finishing a career feeling accomplished and satisfied. The episode provides a rich and insightful discussion on veterinary medicine, research, mentorship, and personal growth, offering valuable lessons and inspiration for professionals in the swine industry.

PIPESTONE’s mission is “Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow.” The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care and how to enhance your productivity.

Monthly podcasts are available on Spotify, Google Music, iTunes, and on Pipestone.com.

Episode #53: Welfare + Sustainability from Farmer to Packer Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare at PIPESTONE, and Dr. Carissa Odland, Director of Sustainability for Wholestone Farms, a producer-owned packer enterprise.

The episode provides insights into the complex dynamics of animal welfare, sustainability, and consumer preferences in the swine industry.

Episode #52: Fall Health Update Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Dr. Adam Schelkopf, Health Director for Pipestone Management, for a discussion on the overall health status of PIPESTONE-managed farms. Historically, this time of year brings an increase in illness, especially PRRS infections. Dr. Schelkopf reports less than 10% of PIPESTONE-managed farms breaking with PRRS over the last two years, which is far better than in the past. He attributes the improvement to compounding interventions over time. Feed mitigation is the most recent strategy implemented at PIPESTONE, having been in place for 2-3 years it correlates well to the reduction in PRRS over the last two years. Over the last 15 years air filtration has been implemented in nearly 70% of farms. And lastly, location selection. The good health reported from an isolated sow farm pays dividends.

In regard to the wean-to-finish side, Dr. Schelkopf stresses the importance of alternatives to antibiotics – management, environment, sanitation, and biosecurity. Though the availability of generic drugs may be greater, the introduction of new antibiotics is not expected. Dr. Schelkopf recommends this recipe for success: “Start with a high-health pig and protect it through the wean-to-market phase with biosecurity.”

PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care, and how to enhance your productivity.

Monthly podcasts are available on Spotify, Google Music, iTunes, and on Pipestone.com.

Episode #51: Nutrient Management Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Marty Rost, Environmental Specialist with PIPESTONE, to talk about the valuable commodity we have in manure. The pair discuss the importance of understanding its value and making it work for you and your neighbors.

Marty talks about the differences in facilities he sees and shares insight on finding opportune times to pump a farm. Additionally, Dr. Wayne asks Marty to explain why safety is such a crucial part of manure management and outlines procedures to minimize health risks for both humans and livestock.

Episode #50: Celebrating SwineTime Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Barry Kerkaert, Chairman of the Board, takes the reigns and puts Dr. Spencer Wayne in the hot seat to celebrate our 50th episode of the podcast.

The pair discuss the goals of SwineTime and reflect on some of Dr. Wayne's favorite episodes. He shares behind-the-scenes happenings reflecting on memorable guests and the impactful work our experts have shared on the podcast.

Dr. Wayne and Dr. Kerkaert close the celebration with their interpretation of our mission - Helping Farmers.

Episode #49: Farmers First at PIPESTONE Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Spencer Wayne welcomes Hannah Walkes, President of Pipestone Services, to chat about the recent leadership transitions at PIPESTONE - including the creation of two divisions, Pipestone Services and Pipestone Partnerships.

Hannah provides insight into how her upbringing and tenure at PIPESTONE have fueled her passion and made her uniquely qualified to take the reigns as President of Pipestone Services. She outlines her goals and shares what customers, shareholders, and employees can expect from the company going forward.

Episode #48: Pigs to People with Dr. Taylor Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, is joined by Dr. Taylor Spronk to talk about the pig promotion activities happening at PIPESTONE. Dr. Taylor discusses the county and state fairs that PIPESTONE supports with exhibits and live sows across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa. Additionally, she describes the Discovery Barn, championed by PIPESTONE’s own Sylvia Wolters, which is an agricultural experience at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls, SD.

The pair chat about interacting with the public and sharing information about pig farming at these types of events. Dr. Taylor also addresses biosecurity concerns that arise when going to a fair and steps we can all take to mitigate the health risk to commercial herds.

Episode #47: Pipestone Nutrition with Jon Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Jon DeJong, President of Pipestone Nutrition to talk about what’s new with his team and all things nutrition. Pipestone Nutrition provides economic-driven, feed ingredient procurement and performance-based diet formulations that fit both your operation and your bottom line.

Dr. Wayne and DeJong discuss a variety of interesting topics surrounding swine nutrition. DeJong shares how his team manages wean-to-finish nutrition vs. sow nutrition and the challenges that arise when diagnosing issues in the barn. They look at the types of feeders commonly used today, how they have evolved both in the U.S. and abroad and key things to consider when looking at feed efficiency.

Monthly podcasts are available on Spotify, Google Music, iTunes, and on Pipestone.com.

Episode #46: Support & Solutions with FarmTeam Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Dan Hanson and Giovanna Penuelas to discuss FarmTeam, a service offering of Pipestone Business. FarmTeam utilizes the human resource expertise of PIPESTONE to provide independent pork producers access to qualified farm employees for grow/finish teams.

From a producer’s perspective, Hanson, the Director of FarmTeam, highlights the benefits for producers and the steps taken by FarmTeam to ensure a successful experience for both parties. From a team member’s perspective, Penuelas, FarmTeam Coordinator, shares some common challenges a TN will face when moving to the U.S. and how she supports their transition. Tune in to learn more! PIPESTONE's mission is "Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow." The SwineTime podcast was created for pig farmers and individual pork producers around the country. Hosted by Dr. Wayne, the podcast contains pork industry news, advancements in animal care, and how to enhance your productivity.

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