1. John J. McGlone, PhD Texas Tech University
Profile and structure of modern pork production AND Society Issues for Pork Production
John J. McGlone, PhD
Texas Tech University
11/12/2018

2. Outline National and international competition
USA pork production areas
Changing structure of farms
Large vs. small farms
Legal requirements
Modern systems
Society Issues
11/12/2018

3. National and international competition
Today:
1 billion pigs
91 million mt/year
In 30 years:
3 billion pigs
231 million mt/year
Who will produce pork for the future?
11/12/2018

4. USA grain production Where has pork production grown in recent years?
11/12/2018

5. Why is pork production moving?
To get away from population centers
To lower the cost of environmental compliance (and to minimize the risk of pollution)
To lower cost of land and labor
11/12/2018

6. Largest USA farms Smithfield 710,000 14.2 Conti/PSF 201,000 4.0
Name
#Sows
# Pigs (millions/year)
Smithfield
710,000
14.2
Conti/PSF
201,000
4.0
Seaboard
185,000
3.7
Triumph
140,000
2.8
Prestage
122,000
2.4
Pipestone
120,000
Cargill
109,000
2.2
Total
1,587
31.7
11/12/2018

7. Recent re-structuring
Farms are getting larger
Fewer companies are owning more market share
Family farms are declining rapidly
Corporate farms are growing
In the 1990s by building new farms
In the 2000’s by buying their competitors
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8. Legal requirements Set-back from houses Water or well requirements
Waste treatment rules and regulations
Ground or surface water protection
Air quality protection
Fire, flood and disaster protection
11/12/2018

9. Other factors to consider before building a pig farm
Available capital
Through-out of pigs required
Neighbors
Labor force
Other operating costs (power, bedding, markets)
Regulations
Environmental
Food Safety
Animal welfare
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10. Model farms
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11. Large farm organization
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12. Life cycle of a pork production unit
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13. Production schedules Based on a 20 or 21 week cycle
20 groups of sows would be on a weekly schedule
Each week one group farrows another is weaned and another is bred
Shorter lactation length results in more litters per sow per year (up to a point)
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14. What drives production?
Lower the cost
Increase pigs per sow per year
Increase farrowing or conception rate
Increase litter size
Increase weight gain
Improve feed efficiency
Improve animal health
Morbidity
Mortality
11/12/2018

15. Society Issues
If the public perceives there is a problem with the industry, then there is a problem that must be dealt with.
11/12/2018

16. Issues Pig farms smell Pigs suffer on farms
You can get worms from eating pork
Pork has cancer-causing chemicals
Pigs pollute the water
Pigs eat grain that people could eat
Corporate farms kill the family farm
11/12/2018

17. Pig farms smell Would you like to have your home next to a pig farm?
Why are pig farms not inside city limits? (note the orient)
If a pig farm actually did not smell, would you like to live near it?
“The Nebraska retirement program”
11/12/2018

18. Pigs suffer on farms How much space do you think sows need?
Enough to turn around?
Enough for social interactions?
Should aggressive animals be penned apart from submissive animals?
11/12/2018

19. You can get worms from eating pork!
Should pork be required to be free from Trichinae?
Should the industry eradicate Trichinae?
11/12/2018

20. Pork has cancer-causing chemicals
Should additives be used in meat products?
Would reducing acute deaths by 90% be worth adding 10% to the long-term cancer rate?
What advanced technologies could be used to reduce chemical-induced cancer?
11/12/2018

21. Pigs pollute the water
Should farms of all sizes be required to spend what ever is required to prevent water pollution?
Should farms be located where water pollution risk is low?
Should farms be allowed to be near waterways?
Where should farms be located?
11/12/2018

22. Pigs eat grain that people could eat
Feed fed to 100 million pigs in the USA could feed 54 million people
What would happen if the world grew and we could not feed everyone; would we feed grain to pigs? (and cattle)
What happens to meat consumption when poor countries improve their income?
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23. Corporate farms kill the family farm
Are corporate farms killing the family farm?
The Kansas Experience
The Nebraska Experience
The Iowa experience
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24. The End
11/12/2018