Swine

All Swine Content

Professional portrait of Rafe Royall

SDSU Extension welcomes new swine specialist

March 11, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Rafe Royall as a new assistant professor and SDSU Extension Swine Specialist.

South Dakota State University Extension logo

SDSU Extension welcomes new swine field specialist

March 11, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Kaylyn Rudy as the new SDSU Extension Swine Field Specialist.

Veterinarian and pork producer with clipboard inspecting a hog pen.

Can Pork Producers Rely on Antibiotic-Use-Based Product Differentiation To Be Competitive?

Do consumers prefer meat produced with the minimal use of antibiotics compared to meat produced with standard antibiotic use? The following study investigates this question in-depth for South Dakota pork producers.

Swine drinking from a waterer in a finishing facility.

Water Usage Increased by Dietary Phytase Incorporation in Growing and Finishing Swine

Total water usage is an important consideration in sustainable pork production. Recent research at the SDSU investigated water usage of growing and finishing pigs fed diets without or with phytase included in the diet.

Group of weanling pigs inside a wean-to-finish facility.

Tribasic Copper Chloride Source Shows Promise in Weanling Pig Performance

One of the many challenges in swine production is getting newly weaned pigs off to a good start. Research has found that tribasic copper chloride supplemented into nursery pig diets can be effective at improving growth performance and intestinal health of weanling pigs.

South Dakota State University Swine Education and Research Facility exterior.

Trace Mineral Incorporation Level Did Not Impact Grow-Finish Pig Performance

Recent research at SDSU found that supplementing dietary trace minerals at levels closer to NRC requirements in typical corn-soybean meal diets for grow-finish pigs did not have an impact on overall pig performance and carcass characteristics.

Tractor loading a liquid manure applicator in a bare field.

Swine Manure for Spring Planting

Did you know that swine manure is a valuable fertilizer that offers many benefits? Learn how it can be used to promote healthy plant growth, improve soil fertility, and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.

A sow and her piglets rest in dry and clean pen. Courtesy: USDA

Next-Level Precision Sow Feeding

As the nutritional requirements of sows continue to be further refined, are there opportunities to achieve next-level precision sow feeding?

A group of matureing swine in a group pen.

Is it Time to Reconsider Trace Mineral Levels in Pig Diets?

Growing pigs require trace minerals such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc for various biochemical functions, including cellular development and energy metabolism, which lead to optimal health and immunity.

SDSU off-site wean-to-finish production barn.

Evaluating the Effects of Replacing Soy Protein Concentrate with Corn-Fermented Protein on Growth Performance and Gut Integrity of Weaned Pigs

A recent trial at the SDSU offsite swine commercial wean-to-finish research barn investigated if corn-fermented protein could replace soy protein concentrate in weaned pig diets with similar effects on growth performance and gut integrity.