#175 - Dr. John Deen: Why the average pig is not a great indicator for potential value

swine it podcast Dec 12, 2022

When we analyze a population of pigs, oftentimes the average pig is considered the most important statistic, and efforts are directed to improving them in the barn. However, if improving the entire population is our goal, maybe that shouldn’t be our main focus. In this episode, I talk with Dr. John Deen about his experience with increasing the total value and potential success of pigs in the barn by paying attention to what percentage of them are below certain specifications.

What you’ll learn:

1. How to measure populations by averages or specifications

2. Intervention models

3. How to categorize pigs with the 10% rule

4. Full value market pigs

5. How to determine economic potential

6. How to better understand what is happening before the nursery

Meet the guest

Dr. John Deen

● Experience

○ Current:

■ Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Minnesota

○ Past:

■ Assistant Professor at the North Carolina State University

● Background

○ Ph.D., Epidemiology (University of Guelph)

○ D.V.M. (University of Guelph)

● Let’s connect on Social Media!