Pork

What do we feed swine?

What do we feed swine?

The biggest expense when producing pork is feeding pigs. In fact, feed makes up roughly 70-80% of the variable total costs to produce pork. Since 2020, the cost of feed has been rising steadily, and pork producers feel the financial pinch of lower margins.
Yanhong Liu, Ph.D.

UC Davis’ Yanhong Liu Shores up PIG-PARADIGM Study

Yanhong Liu, an associate professor of animal nutrition and a member of the CLEAR Center at University of California, Davis (UC Davis), is bolstering the work of the five-year-long international PIG-PARADIGM study currently underway. In addition to lending her well-regarded expertise in animal nutrition and experience gained from her work to reduce antibiotics use in swine, Liu and other faculty from UC Davis are leading a project team of postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. candidates in nutrition, microbiology and big data analysis.

Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance

Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance in Swine Production

The use of antibiotics in livestock production has reshaped the farm for well over a half-century. While antimicrobial drug use for food-producing animals is below previous highs, efforts to further reduce the need for antibiotics play a key role in fighting antimicrobial resistance. The swine industry is central in the conversation about antibiotics’ importance, impact and sustainability.
Person holding a piglet at the UC Davis swine facility

What is the Lifecycle of a Pig in Market Production?

The lifecycle of a hog depends upon the sex of the animal. Given 90 percent of modern hog operations use artificial insemination, most male pigs are raised for meat production, while female pigs are evaluated to be used as breeding stock.
Piglets at the UC Davis Swine Facility.

Why is a Farrowing Crate Used in Swine Production?

Pork is one of the most widely consumed proteins in the United States, along with chicken and beef. And it’s big business in the United States, with U.S. pork exports through September 2022 totaling $5.6 billion. Production of this versatile, affordable protein has come under scrutiny in recent years and leaves people asking how pork is raised.
Piglets at the UC Davis Swine Facility.

UC Davis CLEAR Center Collaborating with National Pork Board

The CLEAR Center at the University of California, Davis has begun a partnership with the National Pork Board (NPB) to further sustainability research and extension in swine production. The CLEAR Center, led by Dr. Frank Mitloehner, leverages world-class research and science communication to improve sustainability in animal agriculture. 

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