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The top 10 list clearly shows that 333 users are dedicated to continually improving the industry and staying current with the latest technologies. We saw this reflected in the wide range of topics found in the top 10 most popular articles in 2021.
From improving colostrum intake and optimizing insemination methods, to smart farming, users were interested in practical on-farm solutions. Three of the top 10 articles were related to the economy. Nutrition was another popular topic, and the impacts of pork production in China also made the list.
Here's what most captivated our users in 2021:
#1 A simple tool to increase the amount of colostrum available to newborn piglets (February 19, 2021)
In the most popular article, we discovered how to prolong the colostral phase which can improve the quality of milk in early lactation. Chantal Farmer walks us through the results of a recent trial. Read more
#2 What were production costs on pig farms in 2019? (January 8, 2021)
Coming in second was a breakdown of production costs for 19 different countries in 2019. IFIP uses InterPIG data to compare the costs of feed, labor, new constructions, as well as the price received by producers around the world. Read more
#3 What insemination method should I use? (January 19, 2021)
This important question grabbed our attention. The article gives pointers on how to improve fertility and prolificacy. Author Javier Gil addresses the criteria needed to establish correct insemination protocols. Read more
#4 Removing in-feed antibiotics and zinc oxide (1/2): Why, when and how? (July 6, 2021)
This read wasn't just for our European users. Farms using less or not using in-feed antibiotics and ZnO perform in general better than those relying on antibiotics and ZnO. Authors Daniel Ekhlas, Edgar García Manzanilla, and Juan Manuel Ortiz Sanjuan share what it takes. Read more
#5 The party's over: Plummeting declines announced (June 22, 2021)
In his economic commentary, analyst Guillem Burset alerted us to the fact that for the first time in 20 years, the Spanish pig price had fallen in the month of June. Spain felt the absence of China as a pork buyer. Read more
#6 Pork production in China and its international impact (November 9, 2021)
All eyes were on China as always. Here IFIP examines the effects of the country recovering from African swine fever and how China's plummeting demand for pork imports is affecting the rest of the world. Read more
#7 Sunflower meal (July 12, 2021)
The seventh-place article was from our collection of data sheets on raw materials and additives. Here David Solà-Oriol tells you all you need to know about using sunflower meal as a pig feed ingredient. Read more
#8 Precision livestock farming and smart farming: Advantages and challenges (July 2, 2021)
A review of the ways technology can be used to monitor animal behavior, track feed and water intake, and even stop tail biting events before they start. The article also cites limitations including making sure technology can weather barn conditions and a lack of internet access in some areas. Read more
#9 The Spanish meat industry on strike? (November 11, 2021)
This commentary by Burset discussed the threat of a major strike in the Spanish meat industry, which was finally called off. Read more
#10 Semi-precision feeding of finishing pigs (2/2): Split-sex feeding (July 16, 2021)
Feeding entire males and females differentially is an opportunity to minimize costs and maximize profits in finishing pigs. Authors Aymerich, Coma, Gasa, and Solà-Oriol discuss how do nutritional requirements differ between male and female pigs, and how this affects the cost of production. Read more
In addition to reading articles by experts in the field, users stayed up to date with the latest happenings in the latest swine news such as pig production in China and in the Philippines along with news following the latest ASF cases in Germany, China, and the Dominican Republic. News about current global production and projections were also popular. 2021 was quite the year. Thank you for your continued support.
