Livestock Newsletter
SDSU Extension publishes the Livestock Newsletter to provide South Dakota producers, industry professionals and consumers with timely research-based recommendations.
Swine
All Swine Content
Virtual PQA Plus and TQA Certification Training Available
May 19, 2020
The National Pork Board has recently announced the opportunity to offer and complete Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus and/or Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) certifications virtually.
Preparing for a PQA Plus Site Assessment
The PQA Plus site assessment is an on-farm evaluation of a production site by a qualified PQA Plus Advisor. A review of standard operating procedures and office records, including caretaker training, animal observations, and the facilities will occur during the site assessment.
At-Home Hog Slaughter
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused supply chain disruptions for nearly every commodity, including the swine industry. This has left many producers searching for alternative strategies to market their livestock and consumers seeking alternative options for sourcing meat. One option that can be considered is butchering pigs at home.
Pork Carcass Fabrication: Packaging and Meat Safety
This article is intended to provide guidance on the proper techniques for packaging meat and storing meat at home.
Pork Carcass Fabrication: Primal and Retail Cuts
This article is intended to provide guidance on the proper techniques for fabricating a pork carcass at home.
Methods to Slow Finishing Pig Growth
In abnormal situations, like with the packing plant closure we’re currently dealing with, pork producers may need to “hold” their pigs past normal marketing dates in order for other processing options to open up. We can accomplish that in two ways: altering internal barn environment and changing diets.
Meat Inspection in South Dakota: Requirements and Resources
Market volatility and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have left many producers searching for alternative strategies to market their livestock. Many have inquired about selling directly to consumers, which has generated many questions about meat inspection rules and regulations.
Livestock Market Disruptions
COVID-19 has affected the market availability for finished cattle and hogs. Some beef and pork processing facilities have closed for cleaning and social distancing of their employees. While some of these facilities have scheduled a date to reopen at reduced capacity, others remain closed with no announced plans to resume operations.
Introducing PQA Plus Version 4
The Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus®) program is about education. The most-recent version of the program, PQA Plus Version 4, became effective June 3, 2019.