Inside the Helix

Is piglet drying a thing of the past? On this month’s episode of Inside the Helix, Dr. Amanda Cross and Brady McNeil discuss the results of a recent piglet drying trial that yielded telling results.  Tune in to hear the findings and see how the Line 241 can help your next generation of pigs start stronger. 

Gilts are the engine that drives your herd's productivity. How you set them up for success determines your farm's efficiency.  Listen to this month's podcast with Dr. John Sonderman and learn how to maximize your gilts' long-term performance.

As harvest begins, the conversation around old vs. new crop becomes more prevalent. In today’s episode of Inside the Helix, Dr. Steve Kitt, swine nutritionist at DNA Genetics, explains what producers need to plan for and consider during this harvest season. 

Fall is quickly approaching. As temperatures begin to shift, managing your barns’ ventilation becomes increasingly important for maintaining pig comfort, health, and performance. In this episode of Inside the Helix, Andy Jakubowski dives into the key considerations for transitioning your barn ventilation from summer to fall. We will discuss how seasonal changes can impact your barn's ventilation and affect your pigs. 

Does temperature really affect your sample results? The quick answer is yes, it does, and understanding why can make all the difference in collecting accurate, reliable data.In this episode of Inside the Helix, Dr. Jamie Madigan explores how temperature impacts sample integrity, common mistakes that can compromise results, and practical steps you, as a producer, can take to ensure your samples arrive in the best possible condition.

As we get ready for World Pork Expo this week, we wanted to revisit one of our favorite podcasts, "Decades of Advancement: The Evolution of American Genetics." In this episode, Dr. Tom Rathje explains how DNA Genetics became the only independent, American-owned genetics company and worked to create a genetic program designed to maximize American producers' profitability. 

The first days after weaning are critical to a pig’s long-term success. How do you set them up to thrive from the start? In today’s episode, Dr. Steve Kitt shares practical insights on creating a seamless transition from the farrowing room to the nursery and setting the foundation for performance. 

Summer growth suppression in finishing pigs is one of the most persistent and costly seasonal challenges in the pork industry. In this episode, Dr. Steve Kitt discusses how misters in finishers can help producers recover approximately 7 pounds of live bodyweight and 5 pounds of carcass weight during summer marketing periods.

Dr. Jamie Madigan joins us to talk about the role of temperature monitoring in pig health and share insights from a Pillen Family Farms study evaluating new temperature-reading technologies—their benefits, limitations, and what they mean for the future of herd management. 

Moving and mixing pigs in the nursery is a common practice on commercial farms. Producers often pull smaller or compromised pigs into recovery pens to give them extra care and help manage variation in body weight. While this can improve welfare, mixing pigs also changes their social groups and may increase exposure to disease. In this episode, Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham reviews a recent trial that looked at how different nursery movement strategies affect pig growth, health, and survival in real-world nursery barns.