MU Extension joins multistate study of pig manure as corn fertilizer
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is studying the use of pig manure as a crop fertilizer in research at the MU Bradford Research Farm in Columbia.
MU Extension releases enterprise budgets for 2025
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension has released its latest crop and livestock enterprise budgets tailored to help Missouri farmers and ranchers plan for a productive 2025. MU Extension specialists have updated 38 budgets for farmers working with row crops, beef, swine, dairy, sheep, goats, forages and more. Region-specific budgets have also been developed for southeastern Missouri crops like cotton, peanuts and rice.
MU Extension has new guide on biosecurity for sheep producers
Biosecurity practices on sheep farms can prevent diseases from spreading among the animals and to workers, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist David Brown.
October Pork Month and biosecurity go hand in hand
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The safety of the U.S. pork supply is achieved through biosecurity protocols not only during National Pork Month in October but every day of the year to safeguard animal health, food safety, the environment and the economy. University of Missouri Extension’s Swine Team educates pork producers and workers on safety protocols throughout the year, working with industry partners, said Magdiel Lopez, MU Extension state swine…
Swine specialist says biosecurity biggest protection from H5N1 in pigs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Earlier this year, highly pathogenic avian influenza infected dairy cattle in some states, though not in Missouri. Could the disease affect pigs? Cory Bromfield, University of Missouri Extension swine veterinarian, said that it could happen. Low-pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in circulating swine strains five times from 1999 to 2015. Bromfield spoke about influenza in pigs at the recent Missouri Swine…
Grant aimed at employee satisfaction, retention for foreign labor in swine industry
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new grant to University of Missouri Extension from the National Pork Board will help pork producers who rely on foreign labor through the TN visa program. The program, which is part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, allows citizens of Canada or Mexico to work in prearranged part-time or full-time jobs in the United States.
MU livestock specialists on new MDA exhibition rules
New exhibition rules issued by the Missouri Department of Agriculture late last year for showing cattle and swine at county fairs and exhibitions go into effect this year. University of Missouri Extension specialists say the changes encourage healthy animals.
MU Extension receives swine biosecurity grant
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist Teng Lim has been awarded a $179,933 grant to study new wean-to-harvest biosecurity projects to improve entry to swine operations.
MU Extension biosecurity trailer demonstrates Danish entry system
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A biosecurity trailer developed by University of Missouri Extension shows how poultry, swine and all livestock producers can implement a Danish entry system, a cost-effective way to reduce the transmission of pathogens when showering in and out is impractical or unavailable.
Program helps pork producers secure their biosecurity plans
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Rapid Access Biosecurity app can help in the event of a transboundary or foreign animal disease outbreak in the U.S., said Corinne Bromfield, University of Missouri swine extension veterinarian.The web-based RAB app helps pork farmers get their Secure Pork Supply Plans in a format regulatory officials can access quickly when needed and approve plans and provide permits when requested, Bromfield said.
Beyond the show ring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nineteen youths from across the state came to Columbia on May 5 to compete in the first Missouri FFA Swine Facility Management Contest.The event, hosted by the University of Missouri and the Missouri Pork Association, took place at the Mizzou Swine Teaching and Research Farm, part of MU South Farm in Columbia.
Consider feeding pigs to higher weights when feed costs and hog prices go up
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When feed prices go up, swine producers usually see profits go down. That’s not the case in 2021.This gives producers an opportunity to look at feeding to heavier weights despite higher feed costs, says University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon.Higher market weights result in dramatic net gains per pig under current grain and market conditions, she says. This comes despite higher feed…
Sweating like a pig?
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As temperatures inch upward, it’s not uncommon to hear rural folks say they are “sweating like a pig.”But pigs can’t sweat, says University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon. Pigs would probably think they are in hog heaven if they could cool themselves by perspiring like other livestock and humans.
Feed pigs less fat, more fiber to slow growth
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As work at meat processing plants slows during COVID-19, hog producers may want to feed pigs cheaper diets and hold them longer.University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon says producers can feed more fiber and less fat to slow growth.“This is a good time to move to feeding low-energy, high-fiber diets with an adjusted lysine-to-calorie ratio and remove any growth-promoting technologies,” Shannon…
African swine fever reduces China’s pork production
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that by the end of 2019, China’s total swine inventory will be down by 18%. Indeed, the USDA estimated that the Chinese sow inventory was down 12% at the start of 2019.
Pigs can’t sweat to cool off; give them help on hot days
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Pigs can’t cool themselves through sweating and need special attention during heat waves, says University of Missouri Extension swine nutrition specialist Marcia Shannon.Pigs take priority over any other animals on the farm when temperatures rise, Shannon says. Pigs have few working sweat glands to remove body heat.Shannon offers these tips:Provide an adequate, constant supply of fresh drinking water cooled to room…
Different distillers grains may change feed rations
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Ethanol plants are getting more efficient at extracting fuel from corn, and that can affect the quality of distillers grains, a byproduct of ethanol production often used as an economical feed alternative for hogs and poultry.“They are doing some further extraction to get more of the corn oil out of distillers grains,” says Marcia Shannon, University of Missouri Extension swine specialist. “So we’re getting a little bit…
Hog farmers defy supply and demand; price outlook stays above expectation
COLUMBIA, Mo. – This year, hog farmers dodged lower prices when they expanded sow herds and grew the second-largest pork supply since 2008.Prices stayed above expectation, say University of Missouri Extension economists. Growing exports and consumers’ love for bacon helped demand for growing supply.However, the economists caution, “At this rate, supply can outstrip demand.”
Prepare for disease outbreaks in livestock operations with written plan
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A written plan to respond to disease outbreaks for your livestock operation is like insurance. You hope you never need it. You may never need it. But if there is an outbreak, the economic survival of your livestock operation might depend on having that plan.Planning and prevention are the best insurance against an outbreak, says University of Missouri Extension economist Ray Massey.
Pig disease on upswing in U.S.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Pork producers need to know what to do if a vesicular disease strikes their operation.The Seneca Valley virus (SVV) disease is on the upswing in the United States, says Corinne Bromfield, University of Missouri Extension veterinarian.The Swine Health Information Center reported that diagnostics labs had seen more than 60 cases of SVV from January to June 2016. They reported only 20 cases in the previous 30 years.