Pig 3D

Environmental Care

For decades, pig farmers have worked hard to produce pork products that are safe and nutritious. But they did not have a good way to share what was happening on their farms with the people who were questioning how their pork was raised. But now, through the Pig 3D program, farmers are eager to share their side of the story about how pigs are cared for and raised. These farmers want to answer your questions about pig farming openly and honestly, and share their own experiences with you.

Schafer Farms, Goodhue, MN

Take a look at the Pig 3D videos to have some of the most common questions about pig farming answered by the experts—the pig farmers themselves. Then join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Schafer Farms, Goodhue, MN

Take a look at the Pig 3D videos to have some of the most common questions about pig farming answered by the experts—the pig farmers themselves. Then join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Schafer Farms, Goodhue, MN

Take a look at the Pig 3D videos to have some of the most common questions about pig farming answered by the experts—the pig farmers themselves. Then join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Trail's End, Easton, MN

Take a look at the Pig 3D videos to have some of the most common questions about pig farming answered by the experts—the pig farmers themselves. Then join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Trail's End, Easton, MN

Take a look at the Pig 3D videos to have some of the most common questions about pig farming answered by the experts—the pig farmers themselves. Then join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

News:

Q + A: Managing Life On The Farm

Do farmers really care about their pigs?

Take a Look Inside a Pig Farm

Animal Care:

Minnesota pig farmers have an ethical responsibility to provide their animals with the highest level of care. They continuously invest in learning new techniques and using new technologies to ensure the well-being of their pigs. Farmers and farm workers also invest hours of training and certification so those outside of the industry know that they are held accountable for the actions on their farms.

Antibiotic and Hormone Use:

Antibiotics are expensive and are not needed in healthy animals, so Minnesota pig farmers are very careful about how and when they are used. When an animal does become ill, it is important to treat it quickly to reduce the risk of illness for the entire herd. Pig farmers work closely with their veterinarians to maintain herd health. Pig farmers also share the concern of impacting the effectiveness of antibiotics in human medicine; however, most antibiotics used in livestock never reach the human medical community, keeping the risk of resistance extremely low. Additionally, there are protocols in place to make sure antibiotic residue is not found on meat when it is processed. While often lumped with antibiotics, growth hormones are not medicinal, and are in fact illegal to use in pork production.

Animal Housing:

There is no one perfect way to house pigs. All animal housing is designed to keep animals safe, and some farmers choose to keep their pigs in barns while others choose to have the animals outside. In Minnesota, one of the key reasons for keeping pigs in barns is to protect them from the harsh weather elements. Barns also allow pig farmers to closely observe each pig so that they can address any issues before they become widespread problems for the entire herd. Similar to barns, the use of gestation stalls have their benefits and challenges. Farmers choosing to use gestation stalls are able to give sows individualized attention and increase the safety of those sows.

Environmental Care and Sustainability:

Pig farmers are environmental stewards, because they rely on the environment for their business and they have a responsibility to make sure it is in better shape for the next generation of pig farmers. In Minnesota, pig farmers use a closed-loop system, which means they use the manure from the pigs to fertilize the crops they grow. Those crops, in turn, are fed to the pigs. Pig farmers are also held to very high environmental regulations. The industry, as a whole, has become more sustainable over the last five decades, reducing its carbon footprint by 35% and using 78% less land and 41% less water than before. All sizes of pig farms work hard to be sustainable, as the future of pig farming depends on what we do today.