July 2025 Newsletter
- Claire Christensen
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Improving Performance of Pigs Marketed During the Summer
Jared Harshman, PhD
Swine Technical Service Nutritionist with Huvepharma
As the days get longer and the temperature gets hotter, the seasonal challenge and effects of heat stress set in on swine producers. Heat stress is associated with decreased voluntary intake and reduced body weight gain. This seasonal trend traditionally occurs when market prices are typically at the yearly highs. Thus, nutritional strategies to maximize income over feed cost should be carefully evaluated.
Nutritional strategies have long been the focus of summer feeding programs in the swine industry with focuses on maximizing growth performance to maximize economic return. A wide range of strategies exist within the industry, however, feed additives become a viable option during the summer months due to heat stress.
Flavomycin®, a feed additive, is a performance enhancing antibiotic intended and available solely for use in animal nutrition to increase weight gain and improve feed efficiency. As a class of antibiotic NOT used in human medicine, Flavomycin® DOES NOT REQUIRE A VFD and has NO WITHDRAW.
A study performed the final 49 days of finishing utilizing Flavomycin® (2 g/ton) during heat stress (90°F) provided the following results utilizing commercial diets and genetics:
| Control | Flavomycin® | Improvement |
BW D0 (lbs) | 196 | 196 | 0% |
BW D49 (lbs) | 288 | 295 | 2.4% |
ADG D0-D49 (lbs/d) | 1.88 | 2.02 | 7.4% |
Feed:Gain D0-D49 | 3.45 | 3.35 | 3.0% |
Feed additives selected for use in pigs marketed in the summer months should have a focus on those that have an improvement on gain to maximize income over feed cost. The use of Flavomycin® not only can improve gain but also improves feed efficiency. Flavomycin® is a proven, safe, low-cost choice for increased weight gain and improved feed efficiency. Feeding Flavomycin® as part of a summer nutritional strategy can be done with confidence in receiving a positive economic return on your investment.
The Exposition Show
Brady Allan, Purple Pursuit Intern
Hello everyone, my name is Brady Allan, and I was fortunate to be the Purple Pursuit intern for the Exposition out in Indianapolis. On June 6th, Greg Lear and myself headed to Indianapolis with a trailer full of Gut Bomb, Junction, and the newly released Ripped. After a few small challenges, we were successfully able to set up the Purple Pursuit booth in the center of the tradeshow barn. For the rest of the week, we were able to connect with industry experts as well as hand out many Gut Bomb and Junction samples.
By the time the week wrapped up, I was able to meet many Purple Pursuit dealers and even help welcome new customers to the Purple Pursuit family. No doubt, we had a successful Exposition adding Ripped to the product line. The new Paylean supplement was sure a hit. Throughout the week, the popularity and demand for Purple Pursuit was evident. I can confidently say of the 2,100 hogs exhibited, a high majority of them consumed a product from the Purple Pursuit line. I would like to thank the Spencer Ag crew for this incredible opportunity, as well as all of the loyal Purple Pursuit customers for their continued support.
Iowa Swine Days
This past week, we attended the annual Iowa Swine Days in Ames, Iowa. This event consists of multiple keynote speakers, industry talks, and academic research from Iowa State University and Extension, along with other universities. In the morning, there were four primary speakers, while in the afternoon, we had various break-out sessions to select from. The session topics presented in the afternoon included: producer resources, biosecurity and herd management, technology and the consumer, and Iowa State University specific research.
"Taste what pork can do"
Dr. David Newman, SVP Market Growth of the National Pork Board, discussed their newest marketing campaign at Iowa Swine Days— starting with a brand new slogan and a new digital approach, this may be a boon for the industry. Distancing ourselves from the old 1980s slogan “Pork. The other white meat, we are revamping it to “Taste what pork can do”. The promotional video we watched featured many popular dishes such as bacon and Christmas ham, but included multicultural dishes such as pork carnitas tacos, pepperoni pizza, and pork pho soup— to show that pork isn’t just a special-occasion meat. The NPB plans on focusing the content on taste, nutritional quality, and versatility to aim at higher populated areas and younger generations.
David emphasized that this campaign “isn’t for you, it’s about you”. With the digital marketing targeting our 10 states that purchase 50% of the US pork (CA, TX, GA, FL, PA, OH, IL, MI, and NT). These states typically include high populations with low pork production in-state. He explained, “Why use your checkoff money to tell you (the producer) to eat more pork?" By aiming our marketing towards educating the high consumer demand states (not midwestern), we could improve domestic demand.
After some market research, NBP determined the digital avenue based on generational usage. With baby boomers being the highest consumers, digital is an effort to increase consumption across the Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X audiences.
Beat the heat with Polar Power!
POLAR POWER is a product that utilizes a vasodilator, which drives water intake and improves circulation, which helps reduce internal body temperature. Polar Power driving water intake also improves feed intake, conception rates, weaning weights, and hoof related
problems as a result of reduced heat stress. Check out Polat Power today! Available in a 50lb. bag
For more information on how Polar Power works, click here.
Mark Your Calendars!
July 4th & 5th
We will be closed for Independence Day!
July 10th
Join Iowa Beef Center for their Sioux County Pature Walk. This event will include grazing tips as well as multiple speackers sharing their pasture knowledge. Be sure to register by July 2nd.
July 29-31
Iowa Beef Center is hosting a Feedlot Short Course. ISU beef nutrition farm, Ames, and Provision Cattle Company, Nevada. $375 registration, limit of 30. Registrations must be made online with a deadline of midnight, July 18, or when the 30-person limit is reached, whichever occurs first.
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