New edition of British guidebook for hog farmers available

Feb 28, 2014

The second edition of Managing Pig Health has been published and is now available to interested Iowa hog farmers.

The 600-page, hardcover book offers a fresh and comprehensive guide to practical veterinary information for pig farmers, veterinarians and technologists around the world. It’s designed for people at all levels — including those with little biological or zoological knowledge — and it acts as a checklist for use on the farm and is helpful in improving dialogue with the veterinarian and other visiting farm consultants.

Managing Pig Health was written with a clear objective: to help the pig producer or advisor understand and manage health on the farm, including identifying health/disease issues that arise. The book also aims to offer management and treatment advice, to be used in conjunction with your specialist veterinary consultant, to maximize health, production and profitability.

The book is written by British authors M.R. Muirhead, T.J.L. Alexander, and Dr. J. Carr (Ed) and sells for $189.75.

Click here for more information.

Source: Iowa Pork Producers Association

Video: CEOs of the Industry: John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems

CEOs of the Industry, Jim sits down with John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems, one of the most quietly impressive 26,000-sow operations in the U.S. John shares how he grew from operator to partner, how Pike built a people-first culture with long-tenured managers, and why they’re committed to weaning bigger, stronger pigs at 25+ days.

John breaks down how Pike stays efficient in a tough economic environment, the power of their shareholder-owned farm model, and how their work with PIC and a 240-head boar facility drives genetics and health outcomes. He also opens up about the innovations Pike adopts — and how they decide what’s truly valuable versus industry hype.

From Prop 12 and labor challenges to trade, consumer expectations, and sustainability, John chooses a hot-button issue and shares how Pike is preparing for the future. The episode closes with a rapid-fire “Fast Five” — mindset, leadership, daily habits, and three words that define Pike Pig Systems in 2025.

If you want a look inside a people-driven, purpose-driven, quietly elite pork system, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.