#196 - Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham: Through the lens of a swine vet: nursery diarrhea and piglet stress
May 09, 2023
Nursery is one of the most critical stages in any production system, since starting pigs off in the right direction is crucial for maintaining their good performance throughout their entire lives. However, as we all know, there are some challenges when it comes to nursery management, including high occurrences of diarrhea and piglet stress. In this episode, we have a great conversation with Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham, a swine veterinarian working in a commercial system. She shares her perspectives and experiences on the main challenges of the nursery phase and we discuss key strategies for managing early nursery scour, feeding protocols, vaccination programs, sanitation, among many other topics.
What you’ll learn:
1. Perspectives on nursery diarrhea
2. Feeding frequency to minimize stress
3. Minimizing stress during vaccinations
4. The impact of technology on the nursery
5. Strategies to improve sanitation
Meet the guests:
Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham
Experience
- Current: Director of Health, DNA Genetics Nucleus at Pillen Family Farms.
Background
- D.V.M. (Iowa State University)
- M.Sc., Veterinary Preventive Medicine (Iowa State University)
- B.Sc., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Nebraska Wesleyan University)
Hobbies: spending time with my family, playing volleyball, and singing.
Favorite quote: "If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life." - Michael Jordan
Tip for success: Stay true to your core values.
Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn
