Setting Ourselves Up For Success | |
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Dan Dean, Director of Sow Production, recently laid out our disease elimination strategy and explained our different approaches to improve herd health and productivity.
Depop/repop is a thorough process that eliminates a herd's disease load. Although a lengthy and costly way to eliminate PRRS, this method is especially effective when a farm has other diseases like strep, APP, dysentery, or Glaseuralla parasuis, which can’t be fully eradicated through herd closures or medication alone.
The process starts with removing all animals and supplies from the farm, moving the sows to our 'farrow-out farms' (Sow 46, 47 and 48) to keep them in production. Once the farm is emptied, it undergoes a rigorous seven-step disinfection process using Barn Storm, Parasite, Bio Gel, Tektrol, Synergize, formaldehyde, and a final whitewash. The health services team conducts three separate inspections to ensure that all biological matter, including manure, has been eliminated.
A new element we have added to the depop process is the 72-hour formaldehyde procedure applied inside empty farms during the final disinfection stages. We partner with a third-party vendor to ensure this process is done safely while strict security measures are in place to keep employees and visitors clear of the area. This protocol has already been successfully carried out at Sow 14, Colfax and Isopork, with Sow 13 and Sow 32 going through the process this week.
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Herd closures are designed to homogenize a virus within a herd and "burn it out" over time. This approach is highly effective for diseases like PRRS and Mycoplasma. During herd closures, we identify the sow farm and the corresponding gilt developer, then load up the farms with gilts to ensure the timeframe required to eliminate the disease is met.
All gilts and sows are exposed to the virus simultaneously at the farm and the gilt developer locations. Testing plays a critical role in the success of this strategy, ensuring that all animals have been exposed, confirming their health status, and verifying that they’ve cleared the disease.
We currently have 18 herds in closure, with three completing the process. Herd closures are often favored because they allow us to maintain production on the farms while eliminating disease.
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Dr. Pete Thomas, DVM, Director of Health Services, and his team are implementing a sow farm medication program to reduce bacterial levels. The team is working through a priority list to establish the on-farm infrastructure for delivering medication to farrowing and gestation barns. The program aims to decrease mortality rates, enhance feed conversion, and improve average daily gain.
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In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) | |
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Dave Winters Celebrates 30 Years
Congratulations to Dave Winters for celebrating 30 years of service with Iowa Select Farms!
Dave’s first job with the company was in the breeding department at Cadillac Sow 1. After a few months, Brian Qualley, Gene Transfer Center Supervisor, approached Dave about a vacant department head position for the mini stud. While Dave was hesitant, Brian promised that if he didn’t like it after a month, he could return to the Sow 1 breeding department.
“Looking back, I’m so glad I accepted the opportunity,” said Dave. “Brian has been an excellent boss and mentor, teaching me everything I know.”
As the manager of a gene transfer center, or boar stud, Dave oversees the day-to-day operations. Dave and his team start their days at five in the morning. After loading three delivery drivers with their supplies, the team chores and collects the boars. Once collecting is done, they test the semen to ensure quality, add extender to increase volume, and prepare the following day’s supplies.
“Working at a boar stud is rewarding because it all starts here, “he said. “We have a critical job setting these sow farms up for success.”
As Dave reflects on his career, he says the coworkers and friendships are invaluable. “I’ve worked with a lot of great people throughout the years that make my job fun – that’s what it's all about.”
This Hawkeye fan enjoys playing golf, spending time with family, and making memories with six little ones who call him “Papa Dave.”
Thank you, Dave, for your commitment to Iowa Select Farms for 30 years!
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Celebrating 30 Years With Brian Qualley
“It’s been a journey,” said Brian Qualley, a dedicated employee celebrating 30 years with Iowa Select Farms. “I’ve seen a lot of change throughout my years, it’s hard to put into words.”
“When I started in 1994, we didn’t have boar studs like we do today, “said Brian. “There were several “mini studs” that would provide semen for farms, but that became a biosecurity risk. We eventually decided to build centralized farms where we would collect, sample, and ship out semen while ensuring the health of the entire herd.”
Brian is talking about Hastings and Qualley boar studs, farms he had a hand in designing back in the day. “It was really exciting to be a part of,” he said. “It’s rewarding to look back and see how far we’ve come – I love being part of the genetic improvement story.”
As a Gene Transfer Center Supervisor, Brian plays an integral role in the daily operation. From overseeing boar isolation to communicating and coordinating movements, production information, and health results, he also ensures the couriers execute their daily delivery routes to the farm. “We have a direct impact on the downstream performance of our pigs, and our farms rely on us to deliver fresh semen so they can meet their breeding targets,” said Brian. “That’s important to us.”
Like most employees celebrating a work anniversary, it’s hard for Brian to wrap his mind around 30 years and how quickly they’ve flown by.
“It’s amazing to see what Iowa Select Farms has accomplished over the years,” he said. “I’m grateful for my time here and proud to be part of this company.”
Beyond work, Brian enjoys hunting, visiting his family’s century-old farm in Lake Mills, and an annual fishing trip to Canada with friends. But more importantly, Brian is a family man who enjoys spending time with his wife, Mary, and their three children—Brandon, Sara, and Megan. “I’ve raised three kids while working here and we still talk about attending the Iowa State Fair and Adventureland,” said Brian. “Working for a company that prioritizes family is pretty special.”
Congratulations, Brian! Thank you for spending 30 years with Iowa Select Farms.
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June 8% Club Announced
The 8% Club recognizes managers and caretakers who achieved a mortality rate of 8% or lower. Congratulations to the following farms on earning a spot on the June 8% Club roster!
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F496 Ottosen
F738 Underwood
F1003 Willow II
F045 Withum
F528 Droppert
F452 Hammen
F028 Kulow # 2
F830 Mollie
F044 Behr
F677 Quinton
F801 Abbott
F611 Orthel
F462 Greenwood
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F429 Kniest
F102 JLH
F358 Brent M
F637 Norway
F941 Star
F232 Lindberg
F066 Schrage
F051 Quirk West
F933 4 Leaf
F894 Mewes
F1041 5Rees
F074 Hosteng South
F089 Cylinder # 4
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Celebrating the Life of Jaime Thompson-Keninger
Last Friday, well over 400 people attended the Celebration of Life for Jaime at Highland in Iowa Falls, with an outpouring of support from our managers, leaders, and longtime colleagues of Jaime, Jean and Doug.
Jean Thompson and Doug Keninger wish to express their gratitude to all of you who attended the Celebration of Life, sent an arrangement, shared memories, offered support, and helped in any way. Please know that your love and kindness have brought comfort and will always be remembered. Jaime would appreciate all the kind gestures - you all meant a great deal to her.
Anyone is welcome to send a note directly to dokeninger@IowaSelect.com and jthompson@iowaselect.com.
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Words of Thanks
Sabrina Caruth, Production Accounting Analyst, thanks the farms she supports for their excellent communication in completing daily entries and corrections!
Trent Myers, Senior Wean-to-Market Supervisor, expressed his appreciation to the Sow 1 team and Chris Nydegger for the tour earlier this week. This experience allowed him to understand and appreciate the protocols and extra attention to detail they do at the sow farm to ensure they provide healthy pigs downstream to our finishers.
Trent also gives a shoutout to Greg Tolzmann, who stayed up late on Monday to assist with the water well at the Granzow finishing site. Thank you, Greg, for providing top-notch pig care and ensuring pigs had water!
Do you want to give thanks to someone in the Weekly Update? Please send it to Abby Fausch at afausch@iowaselect.com.
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Joke of the Week
How do pigs introduce themselves?
They shake hams!
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This Week's Years of Service
Check out all of the employees below celebrating their work anniversaries this week and last week. If you see these folks out and about, be sure to congratulate them!
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30 Years
Robert Lavallee, Animal Caretaker Nursery 007
27 Years
Reuben Riniker, Sow Farm Manager Sow 007 Jacobson
17 Years
Monty McIntire, Maintenance Technician - Wean to Market
16 Years
Dan Dean, Director of Sow Production
14 Years
Adam Swalla, Sow Farm Manager Sow 038 Smyrna
9 Years
Kiley Cook, CDL Driver
8 Years
Jennifer McMullen, Warehouse Assistant
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7 Years
Miguel Pacheco Espinoza, Animal Caretaker Sow 008
2 Years
Maria Tzab Cauich, Animal Breeder Sow 044 Hooper
Carlos Ruiz Vasquez, Animal Breeder GDU 537 Lorimor
Elsa Cerino Rodriguez, Heat Check/AI Specialist Sow 044 Hooper
Fredy Garcia Francisco, Animal Breeder Sow 044 Hooper
1 Year
Abby Statler, Production Accounting Analyst
Jenna Koenigsfeld, Animal Caretaker GDU 501 ISO Pork
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Internal Job Openings
Looking for a new role within Iowa Select Farms? Check out what you may have missed last week. To see a list of our current and new job openings and information on applying, click here or contact Human Resources at 641-648-4479.
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On-Call Maintenance Schedule
Stay up-to-date with the on-call maintenance schedule and never lose track of its location. This schedule can be found here, and it will continually be updated in real-time.
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