Popular Pig Podcast Episodes

The Dawn of Acuity Genetics | Dr. Clint Schwab

Summary

Clint Schwab serves as President of Acuity, with overall fiscal and operational accountability for the business. Clint received his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University before completing his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in animal breeding and genetics from Iowa State University, as well as an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Clint joined The Maschhoffs in 2012 following his time as CEO of the National Swine Registry.

Discovering Profitability In Various Forms Of Pork Production | Kelly Worthington & Christina Stender

Summary

Whispering Wind Farms was the first breeder in Alberta with the sole concentration on pasture pork genetics. In 2015, Kelly Worthington and Jon Lendvoy of Whispering Wind Farms began raising the Kunekune breed which could graze and finish as efficient on forage as their 40 cow-calf pairs and grass-fed beef operation. In 2018, they grew their herd large enough to offer fresh Kunekune Pasture Pork and become the first Kunekune Pork Supplier in Alberta. Their current operation includes 20 breeding sows and a pasture pork farrowing to finish operation of over 175 head with a strong emphasis on natural hands-off maternal instincts, herd health, and breed standard. Kelly Worthington serves on the Board of Directors for the American Kunekune Pig Registry, the original registry of the Kunekune breed.

Boss Hog: How Leadership and Collaboration Drive Innovation | Wendell H. Murphy

Summary

Wendell Holmes Murphy was born September 23, 1938, to Holmes & Lois King Murphy of Rose Hill, North Carolina, and is the brother of Harry Daniel (Pete) Murphy and the late Joyce Murphy Minchew.  Wendell was raised in Duplin County on a farm in the Registers Crossroads area.  He graduated from Rose Hill High School in 1957, received his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education from North Carolina State University in 1960 and taught vocational agriculture for five years in Green and Duplin counties.  Wendell is married to Linda Godwin Murphy from Spivey’s Corner in Sampson County.  They have four children; Wendell Holmes (Dell) Murphy, Jr, Wendy Murphy Crumpler, Cindy Hairr Bass, and Wesley Hairr.  They have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

COVID – Revealing Who We Are And Where We Want To Be | Dr. Chase Stahl & Mike Wubbena

Summary

Dr. Chase Stahl, DVM 

Chase grew up on a farm near Clarion, IA. He graduated from Clarion-Goldfield High School in 2004 and completed his undergraduate studies at Drake University in 2008 with dual degrees in Biochemistry and Environmental Science. While in the initial years of veterinary school, Chase was employed at the Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and later served as a summer intern at the Fairmont Veterinary Clinic in 2010. Shortly after graduating from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, Chase spent a year working as a Staff Veterinarian with Iowa Select Farms.

Kansas State Identifies Successful Way To Slow Pig Growth | Dr. Mike Tokach

Summary

Named among the 50 people who have made the greatest impact in the U.S. swine industry in the last 50 years, Mike Tokach, professor of animal sciences and industry, is a swine nutrition researcher and extension specialist at Kansas State University. Tokach joined K-State in 1991. In 2013, he earned the title of university distinguished professor. Tokach is the author of more than 350 articles in scientific journals, nine book chapters, and more than 1,000 extension and non-refereed articles. Tokach has received more than $20 million in research grants and gifts. He also has been awarded seven patents for his research and has given more than 300 invited lectures at national and international conferences.

How Community Engagement and Education Helped Bring Back the Family Farm | Bob and Kristy Walker

Summary

Bob and Kristy Walker have been in partnership for over 28 years taking on adventures ranging from parenting, youth group leaders, and authoring textbooks to taking on the challenge of a diversified farm and winery with the vision: A boundless venue for an agricultural and culinary delight. Their Walker Homestead is an 85-acre farm, field to fork farmer’s table, with gardens, orchards, vineyards, winery, and pasture playground, producing a variety of foods and wines, raising animals and honey, and growing herbs and flowers using techniques that protect the environment and help foster the development of healthy living.

ASF and Covid’s Impact on Pork Production Around the World | P.J. Corns

Summary

P.J. Corns is a pork producer and production advisor from Iowa who currently lives near Barcelona, Spain. He is the owner of Global Swine Solutions with clients throughout Europe, Asia, and Russia. Besides the family’s Century Farm near What Cheer, Iowa that includes row crops and wean to finish operations, P.J. consults large, vertically integrated swine production systems on production optimization, Biosecurity, standard operating procedure development and implementation along with business and development projects with the largest genetic companies in the world.

Life as a Pork Producer and Veterinarian During COVID-19 | Dr. Peter Schneider

Summary

Dr. Schneider received a DVM from Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. He’s been employed by Innovative Agriculture Solutions since graduation where he works with a varied group of pork producers. A large percentage of pigs Dr. Schneider sees are raised for a niche market.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Swine Industry | Dr. Gordon Spronk

Summary

Dr. Gordon Spronk is a native of the Pipestone, Minnesota agricultural community. Upon completion of his education with a DVM degree at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in 1981, he returned to Pipestone to practice at Pipestone Veterinary Services. Dr. Spronk is a co-founder of the “Pipestone System” of pig production.

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Leveraging Technology and Teamwork to Address Covid-19 | Phillip Hord

Summary

Phillip Hord is a fifth-generation pork producer and is continuing his family’s legacy at Hord Family Farms, which raises hogs and cattle as well as growing the crops to feed them. As a research coordinator, he helps to find innovative ways to care for the animals like improving their diets and much more. His father, Patrick Hord, serves as president of the business, and his grandfather, Duane Hord, is still part of the day-to-day operations. We spoke with Phil about Covid-19, their company’s response, and its impact on the US industry.