Animal welfare continues to be at the forefront of discussion throughout the swine community. And Dr. Angela Baysinger’s talk at Boehringer Ingleheim’s Swine Health Seminar hit on just that. Pig welfare and doing what is right for the pig centered discussion on crates and pain mitigation in castration and tail docking. I had a chance to speak with Dr. Baysinger following her presentation and before we got to the nitty gritty, we quickly bonded over our home state…Missouri.

“The swine industry has been changing since the time I started raising pigs in the 70’s. The pendulum has swung from outdoors to pen gestation to crates and now it is swinging back. Everything in life changes over time and we as a swine industry are just going to change and adapt to what we need to do, but it is what’s best for the pig that we need to keep focus on.”

Dr. Baysinger said many of the issues on the farm include getting the message to the barn and remembering changing doesn’t mean caving. She also said that people are the most important thing we tend to forget. People are the foundation for care of the pigs. People should feel empowered to speak when they see something wrong. Training and education are key and she adds that we need to remember that they aren’t simply hired hands anymore. The key is to have a better understanding of the world in which we operate.

Listen to my complete interview where she touches on the future and discusses some conversations she has had along the way to providing a better understanding of pig welfare to producers, vets and the consumer. Interview with Dr. Angela Baysinger, PIC

Find all the photos from the event here: 2015 BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album