The Squeal

On this episode of The Squeal, host Tori Walters leads a timely and practical conversation on preparing wean-to-finish barns for the quickly approaching warm weather months. She is joined by Nat Stas, PIC Wean-to-Finish Director and Isaiah Spath, PIC Wean-to-Finish Manager, who bring real-world experience and insights into what it takes to set barns up for success before temperatures rise.

On this episode of The Squeal, host Brie Quick, PIC Technical Services Manager, continues the Heat No Service (HNS) conversation by building on the foundation laid in Episode 1 and taking a deeper dive into practical application and real-world impact. Joined again by Sergio Canavate, PIC Applied Repro Technical Services Director, and Jennifer Patterson, University of Alberta, this episode shifts from the "why" behind HNS to the "how." Together, they unpack what effective implementation looks like on farm, common challenges teams face when refining gilt development protocols, and how to evaluate whether HNS is truly driving the outcomes you expect. Be sure to tune in as the Heat No Service series continues to connect science, management, and long-term profitability on The Squeal.

On this epsidoe of The Squeal, host Brie Quick, PIC Technical Services Manager, leads a foundational conversation on the importance of HNS and why it plays such a critical role in long-term performance and profitability. She is joined by Sergio Canavate, PIC Applied Repro Technical Services Director, and Jennifer Patterson, University of Alberta, to explore how HNS impacts herd health, reproductive performance, and overall system stability. Together, they break down why HNS isn't just a technical term — it's a coordinated strategy that supports stronger pigs, improved efficiency, and more resilient production systems. From practical application on farm to the science behind the strategy, this episode sets the stage for understanding how aligning health, nutrition, and system management drives measurable results.

This episode of The Squeal is a replay worth revisiting. Transporting weaned pigs from the sow farm to the next phase of production comes with plenty of moving parts, and strong communication between teams can make all the difference. Hosted by Brie Quick (PIC Technical Services Manager), this conversation brings together real-world perspectives from Chad Bermel and Ted Recker of Brenneman Pork, who share the communication practices that work best within their operation and why alignment between sow farms and wean-finish sites is so critical. The discussion is rounded out by insights from Brad Schimmer (PIC Technical Services Manager), who draws from his experience working with sow farms across North America to highlight common gaps and practical ways communication can be strengthened.

In this episode of The Squeal, host Dr. Craig Lewis, PIC Genetic Services Director for the EU, sits down with Dr. Lindsay Case, PIC Technical Director or Product Sustainability, Dr. Greg Thoma with Colorado State University, and Pieter Knapp, PIC Genetic Strategy Manager, to unpack groundbreaking research that puts real numbers behind genetic progress and sustainability in pork production. Together, the group explains what a life cycle assessment is, why it matters, and what makes PIC's LCA different from anything done before in the industry. They break down how improvements in traits like feed efficiency, survivability, and overall performance translate directly into measurable environmental gains—without requiring producers to change how they raise pigs. 🎧 Subscribe to The Squeal and share this episode with fellow producers who want to understand how genetics are setting a new standard for pork sustainability.

In this episode of The Squeal, Alison Stagemeyer, PIC Supply Chain Account Representative is joined by David McGee, PIC Supply Chain Sr. Specialist and Mauricio Gonzalez, PIC Technical Services Sr. Manager for a practical conversation on setting pigs up for success from the very beginning. From Entry to Excellence: Selecting to Avoid Early Setbacks dives into the critical decisions made at entry that can prevent costly challenges later in production. The group discusses what to look for when selecting pigs, common early mistakes that lead to downstream performance issues, and how early selection strategies influence health, growth, and overall herd efficiency.

In episode two of the Sow Body Condition series, Sow Body Condition: Getting it Right at Weaning, host Michael McKinney, PIC Sales Representative, is joined by Dr. Lori Kociemba, PIC Technical Services Manager, and Dr. Carine Vier, PIC Nutritionist, to dive into the importance of sow body condition at weaning and how it influences both sow longevity and future reproductive success. This episode explores what optimal body condition looks like at weaning, how lactation demands and feed intake affect condition loss, and why managing that loss is critical for successful rebreeding. The group also discusses practical strategies for supporting sows through lactation, identifying problem areas early, and using consistent assessment tools to make informed management decisions. From the farrowing house to the breeding barn, this conversation connects sow body condition at weaning to overall herd performance and long-term productivity.

On this episode of The Squeal, host Isaiah Spath, PIC Wean to Finish Manager, is joined by Brie Quick and Kendall Weger, PIC Technical Services Managers, to discuss what it takes to get sow body condition right at farrowing. From defining the ideal sow condition to understanding how it impacts farrowing performance, piglet viability, and colostrum quality, our guests share practical insights and on-farm strategies to help producers set their sows up for success.

In this final installment of The Power of One More Pig, host Brie Quick, PIC Technical Services Manager, brings back Isaiah Spath, PIC Wean-to-Finish Technical Services Manager, and Kendall Weger, PIC Technical Services Manager, to explore one of the most influential—but often overlooked—drivers of pig performance: communication between the sow farm and the wean-to-finish facility. From weaning age and transport details to health status, pig quality, and placement planning, the team discusses how clear, consistent, two-way communication forms the bridge that helps every pig—especially that extra one—transition successfully. They break down practical communication tools, what information matters most, how feedback loops strengthen both ends of the production chain, and why collaboration between teams directly impacts health, growth, and overall barn success. If we want to produce not just more pigs, but better pigs, connecting the dots between sow farm productivity and wean-to-finish execution is essential.

In this episode of The Squeal, host Brie Quick, PIC Technical Services Manager, continues our series The Power of One More Pig—exploring what it takes to help that extra pig thrive after leaving the farrowing room. Brie is joined by Isaiah Spath, PIC Wean-to-Finish Technical Services Manager, and Kendall Weger, PIC Technical Services Manager, to discuss post-weaning management strategies that set piglets up for long-term success. Together they cover key topics including ideal weaning age and weight targets, minimizing stress during transport and transition, early disease prevention, nutrition strategies, and the critical role of communication between farrowing and wean-to-finish teams. Tune in to hear how the right management, environment, and stockmanship can turn one more pig into one more success story.

In this first episode of The Power of One More Pig series, host Isaiah Spath, PIC Wean-to-Finish Manager, is joined by Kendall Weger and Brie Quick, both PIC Technical Services Managers, to discuss how producers can get the most out of every piglet born. Together, they explore practical strategies to maximize piglet performance—from cross-fostering and supporting underperforming sows to improving survivability and growth potential. Tune in to hear how small management decisions early in life can make a big difference in reaching that "one more pig" goal.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "10b19f40-25a0-44bd-8a52-d4452932bcb9" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> In the second episode of The Price of PRRS series, host Dr. Lindsay Case, PIC Technical Director of Product Sustainability, continues the conversation with Dr. Perry Harms, PIC Health Assurance Global Director, and Dr. Derald Holtkamp, Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. Building on the discussion of PRRS's economic toll, this episode dives deeper into how the disease spreads within and between herds, the ongoing challenges of control and elimination, and what progress the industry has made in reducing its impact. The guests share insights from both research and field experience—highlighting practical steps producers can take today to better protect herd health and profitability.

In this first episode of The Price of PRRS series, host Dr. Lindsay Case, PIC Technical Director of Product Sustainability, is joined by Dr. Perry Harms, PIC Health Assurance Global Director, and Dr. Derald Holtkamp, Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, to explore the economic burden of one of the most costly diseases in swine production—Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). Together, they break down what makes PRRS such a persistent challenge for producers, the factors that drive its financial impact, and why understanding the true cost is the first step toward long-term solutions.

When cold weather hits, it's natural to want to tighten up barns to hold in as much heat as possible. But cutting back too far on ventilation can create problems that are just as harmful as the cold itself. In this second episode of our Cold Weather Preparation series, host Isaiah Spath, PIC Technical Services Manager, is joined by Nat Stas, PIC Wean-to-Finish Director, and Curtis Possberg, Senior Production Manager at Olymel, to explore the consequences of under-ventilating barns. From poor air quality and higher humidity to increased disease pressure and reduced pig performance, the group discusses why balancing airflow and temperature is critical for keeping pigs comfortable and productive all winter long.

As temperatures begin to drop, making sure barns are ready for winter is critical to maintaining pig comfort and performance. In the first episode of the Cold Weather Preparation series on The Squeal, host Isaiah Spath, PIC Wean-to-Finish Technical Services Manager, sits down with Nat Stas, PIC Wean-to-Finish Director, and Curtis Possberg, Senior Production Manager at Olymel to talk about the fundamentals of preparing wean-to-finish barns for the cold months ahead. Together they discuss how barn environment impacts pig health, the importance of getting ahead of maintenance needs, and practical steps producers can take now to set their barns up for success this winter.

In this episode, we break down two key artificial insemination techniques — Conventional AI (CAI) and Post-Cervical AI (PCAI) — and explore how each can impact productivity, labor efficiency, and reproductive success. Jorge Cajamarca (PIC Technical Services Sr. Specialist), Bruno Cortes Espejo (Supervisor, Farm Operations), and Dr. Brad Didion (PIC Reproduction Services Manager) explain the practical differences between the methods, share tips for selecting the right approach for your herd, and discuss how improved breeding efficiency can boost overall farm performance. Whether you're considering making the switch or just want to fine-tune your current program, this conversation will help you make informed, results-driven decisions.