January 2025 - Journal Final - Flipbook - Page 6
Health
CHAMPION CHANGE
in Swine Production
Dr. Rachel Stika Jensen
Managing Veterinarian
Pipestone Veterinary Services
Dr. Rachel Jensen, originally from Cresco, Iowa, pursued her education
at Iowa State University, where she developed a strong passion for swine
production. She joined Pipestone in 2021 and now serves as Managing
Veterinarian from the Independence, Iowa clinic, providing dedicated
support to local producers.
Change is often described as inevitable, but in the
pig business, it’s more than a reality—it’s a mindset.
Embracing change can set the course for progress and
success, as demonstrated by one producer’s journey to
transform their operation.
• Slow Barn Turnover:
Filling a 1,200-head barn could take 2-3 weeks, and
poor health slowed growth, delaying the time to
昀椀rst market cuts.
This producer owned a 30-year-old, 1,300-head sow
unit located in a swine-dense area. The un昀椀ltered unit
faced recurring porcine reproductive and respiratory
syndrome (PRRS) virus infections every 12 to 18
months. While disease elimination efforts occasionally
brought the herd back to a negative status—resulting
in high productivity—each PRRS outbreak came with
signi昀椀cant challenges:
• Reduced Pro昀椀ts.
• Increased Mortality:
Wean-to-昀椀nish mortality rates of 10-20%.
6 | PIPESTONE JOURNAL
• Higher Animal Health Costs.
• Increased Feed Costs:
Higher days on feed (DOF), reduced average daily
gain (ADG), and poorer feed conversion (FC).
Over time, these compounding costs and production
inef昀椀ciencies became unsustainable. Nothing is as
painful as staying stuck, and facing mounting losses,
the producer began exploring options for a long-term
solution.
