Benefits of Progress

Over time, pig farming has evolved to incorporate new ways of managing herd health and preventing disease, better manure management, improved feed use and nutrition, and leaner hogs that provide more healthful meat.

Then Vs Now

Farmers’ commitment to continuously improve practices has resulted in better methods in many areas of farming over time.

Barns

Then

Inconsistent use of barns that were vulnerable to extreme weather, injury, predators and illness.

Now

Today’s barns protect pigs from injury, illness and predators, and provide comfortable temperatures year-round.

Health Management

Then

Pigs were only treated in response to illness or injury.

Now

Many approaches are used in partnership with veterinarians to prevent and control disease and mitigate the risk of illness. Disease identification and treatment of sick pigs has also improved.

Odor Control

Then

Few standardized methods to control odors.

Now

Pig farmers use methods such as dust management and vegetative windbreaks to mitigate the spread of farm odors. They also use better manure management techniques to control odors.

Specialization

Then

Most farms were farrow to finish operations with no specialty among farms.

Now

Specialized farms provide care for pigs at each stage of their life cycle.

Hog Characteristics

Then

Smaller pigs with higher fat content, averaging 200 pounds with 2.86 inches of back fat.

Now

Larger and leaner pigs averaging 270 pounds with just 0.75 inches of back fat.

Feed, Diet and Nutrition

Then

Largely unregulated diet included grass, clover and table scraps.

Now

Strictly regimented rations include corn, wheat and soybean meal with added vitamins and minerals. Better administration means proper nutrition is equally distributed.

Manure Management

Then

Little manure containment and reuse.

Now

Sophisticated systems capture, control and use manure as fertilizer.