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 It was 1976 and I
was enrolled in LAC 478, Swine Herd Health Clerkship, a 1-month
intensive study of swine production, medicine, disease, and diagnostics.
This was an elective course offered during the senior year at
Purdue University. The instructor was Dr. L. J. Runnels, Professor
in the Large Animal Clinic. It involved Dr. Runnels providing
swine consultative services to privately owned herds, in exchange
for which the producers allowed Dr. Runnels to use their swine
herds as teaching laboratories. Students that enrolled in LAC
478 accompanied Dr. Runnels during his monthly visit to these
herds. This was a unique and experiential teaching program. Dr.
Jack Stockton was the Dean at Purdue University School of Veterinary
Science and Medicine. He encouraged Dr. Runnels to develop a swine
health curriculum to meet the needs of a changing swine industry.
Dr. Runnels, like many of the faculty during that era of veterinary
medical education, had practiced and then returned to the university
to teach and do research. His dedication, intelligence, hard work,
and his family's sacrifice resulted in the development of LAC
478. That was a boon for students. Swine producers who participated
received excellent swine consultative veterinary service from
Dr. Runnels. The expertise and services of the Animal Disease
Diagnostic Laboratory faculty enhanced the learning experience
for students and services offered to producers. There was a link
between the veterinary school, the diagnostic laboratory at Purdue
University, and Indiana swine producers. In addition, veterinary
practitioners called Dr. Runnels for expert advice on matters
pertaining to swine production, disease, diagnostics, and other
topics.
Ten herds participated in LAC 478. They ranged in size from
small to large, with the largest being approximately 1000 sows.
Most herds used farrow-to-finish production. One herd was a farrow-to-wean,
feeder pig producer with sows gestating on pasture lots, but farrowing
inside. Students learned the art of pig rodeo whenever vaccinating
sows while on dirt lots. Dr. Runnels purposefully provided surgical
castration services on piglets at this herd in order for students
to participate and learn the procedure. To this day, I remember
the open surgical technique for inguinal hernia repair by ligating
the spermatic cord without suturing the muscular layers of the
inguinal ring. Dr. Runnels provided regulatory testing and paperwork
for boars submitted to the Indiana Boar Testing Station. I will
never forget collecting blood samples on a frigid January day,
from animals housed on straw in the modified-open front facility.
The collection needle would freeze between sampling due to the
extreme cold temperatures.
Pork producers of that era were not vertically integrated.
Pigs were produced and delivered either to a plant or to one of
many "buying stations" located throughout the state
to buy, sort, and then ship pigs on to markets or plants. Many
feeder pig producers throughout the Southern United States raised
and sold feeder pigs via the "sale barn" to producers
in other parts of the country. Producers made decisions to purchase
feeder pigs based upon potential profitability with an eye toward
the live pigs' futures price, the price of corn, and a simple
calculation known as the hog:corn ratio. This feeder-pig industry
vanished in the 1980s and was gradually replaced by larger herds
farrowing pigs on a regular basis.
Today, vertically integrated companies are defining the future
of United States swine production. The integrator companies continue
to expand their share of swine production despite record low prices
for live pigs. Apparently, it does not matter since they own all
phases of production and processing. The ability to lose money
in one division--pork production--and still earn profits in another
division--processing and selling of branded products--alters the
decision-making process. The price paid for live pigs today, depending
upon the market, remains below profitability levels for most producers.
Pork production has always been a business. Profit is the reason
pork producers choose to raise pigs. No longer does the producer
or company enter or exit pork production based solely on the profitability
potential of live pig production. The management of the integrated
(pork) company may decide to expand production to provide pigs
for their processing plant and the ability to earn profits on
the sale of pork products. The pork producer that does not share
in the ability to earn profits from the sale of pork products
is in jeopardy. Their survival is at stake. The time is too late
for some of them since the lending institutions are examining
the risk of extending further credit.
And what is to keep the integrated pork companies from further
expansion? Perhaps individual state permitting restrictions or
environmental concerns, but that is not a certain barrier. This
is a period of unprecedented change in the United States swine
industry. This change is adversely affecting both large and small
producers. By the time politicians and policymakers react, it
will be too late to save many pork producers. The changes will
have occurred. What it means for the future remains to be determined.
The AASP will not be insulated from these changes, since many
of our members have been mixed animal veterinary practitioners
with some swine emphasis. The changes occurring in the United
States swine industry will affect the AASP. The AASP will change
in the future. That much is certain.
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