WELCOME

Welcome to the winter edition of Protein Producers! We think we have pulled together another valuable set of articles that can help you and your business meet the challenges that you face daily. Speaking of challenges, what a crazy world we live in. Drought is shifting where feed is available, both commodity and outside markets struggle to understand supply and demand, there are major legal cases dealing with issues close to ag, and global trade continues to be unpredictable. The impact of the drought is interesting to me and could fundamentally shift livestock production in the US. While the west is struggling to find feed, there is a glut of grain in the east with low river levels limiting export shipping, leading to an inversion of grain basis compared to historical patterns. If the drought persists, will livestock have to move east to utilize grain that is no longer able to be efficiently exported? I don’t know but, as it always is with ag, it seems that change is afoot. I have had the opportunity with the lifting of travel restrictions to again work with producers and veterinarians from around the world over the last year. I forgot how much I missed seeing how the rest of the world produces food (and how terrible flying is!). There are so many ways to raise livestock to produce milk and meat. While we tend to focus on our differences, pig are pigs and cows are cows and, most importantly, farmers are farmers wherever I visit farms around the world. For all our challenges here in the US, we are extremely fortunate to live and farm where we farm. Our markets are transparent, our customers value quality and price, and the market determines what we produce.

Dr. Tom Noffsinger and Shane Morrissey’s article is a must read. For all our good fortune in the US, we are always on the cusp of slipping off the edge and having production practices imposed on us like the European and Australian producers face daily. Our commitment to long-term stewardship of all our resources, but especially our animal resources, is critical in maintaining our customers’ confidence that we are doing the right thing. McDonalds Corporation has just experienced pressure (including changing board members) from Carl Icahn, an activist investor, to change how they buy pork based on sow housing. They, because they had confidence in the American producer, fought the challenge and committed to their existing supply chain. We, not just pork producers but everyone involved in the livestock industry, cannot afford to lose that trust or we will start to feel like European farmers!

We are thankful that each of you give us a little time to be part of your day. Spring will be here before we know it!

Jim Lowe, DVM, MS, DABVP (Food Animal) Production Animal Consultation Mahomet, Illinois

Thank You

We want to thank the industry partners, publications and associations who have pro vided content to Protein Producers . Also, a big thank you to our readers for supporting us, offering content and helping us improve each issue. We could not do any of this without all of you!

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and information expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect Production Animal Consultation's policy or position.