The Squeal

Hosted by PIC, pic.com

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Episodes

248

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Hello and welcome to 'The Squeal', PIC's swine management podcast, featuring in-depth conversations on topics that matter to you. PIC is the global leader in swine genetics. At PIC, our goal is to make our customers the most successful pig producers by providing them with the best genetics. We know our business success depends on yours..

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60 recent

June 9, 202636 min

The Squeal_0256: The Vision and Future of Pork Chop Studio

On today's episode of The Squeal, our host Emily Mauch-Swinford, PIC Genetic Research Scientist leads a conversation to introduce the science, purpose, and vision around the Pork Chop Studio. Our guests, Brandon Fields, PIC Product Development Sr. Manager, and Justin Holl PIC Product Development Sr. Director explain the technology and development behind the camera technology that can tell the industry specific data about a pork chop by scanning the individual chop. This opens many doors to the future of evaluating meat cuts to determine data that is commonly evaluated by the human eye. The Pork Chop Studio was on display at World Pork Expo and sparked several conversations with producers and gained a wide audience of interested industry members. PIC is looking forward to the future of the Pork Chop Studio!

May 27, 202631 min

The Squeal_0255: Biosecurity Through Truck Wash Sanitation

On this episode of The Squeal, we're taking a closer look at one of the most critical, but often overlooked, components of swine health management: truck wash biosecurity. Our host, Dr. Rebecca Robbins, PIC Health Assurance Veterinarian is joined by Dr. Kate Dion, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University, and Emiliano Hidalgo, PIC Technical Operations Manager to discuss the importance of a truck wash and its procedures. Transportation plays a major role in protecting herd health, and even small gaps in cleaning and disinfection protocols can create significant disease risk across production systems. From trailer sanitation and drying time to employee compliance and facility design, maintaining strong truck wash biosecurity requires attention to detail at every step. Whether you're managing transportation logistics, overseeing site health, or working directly in the wash bay, this episode offers actionable insights to help strengthen one of the industry's most important lines of defense.

May 12, 202643 min

The Squeal_0254: Desired Sire Traits Around the Globe_Part 2

In episode two of the Global Sire Traits series, host Dr. Dan Hamilton, PIC Sr. Director, Americas-Product Performance, continues the conversation by taking a deeper dive into how sire traits are not only prioritized—but put into practice across different regions. Joining Dan for this conversation is Dr. Saskia Bloemhof, PIC Genetic Services Director, Brandon Fields, PIC Product Development Sr. Manager, Eunice Chun, PIC Technical Services Sr. Manager, Sergio López, PIC Sr. Sales Manager, and Pablo Magallon, PIC Technical Services Manager. Building on the global perspectives shared in episode one, representatives from Asia, Europe, and North America discuss how trait selection translates into real-world results at the farm level. From balancing multiple trait objectives to navigating market demands and production challenges, the group shares how decisions around genetics are made with both short-term performance and long-term progress in mind. The conversation also explores where regional strategies align, where they differ, and what those insights mean for the future of global genetic improvement. With a focus on application and impact, this episode brings clarity to how sire traits drive measurable outcomes across diverse production systems.

April 28, 202635 min

The Squeal_0253: Desired Sire Traits Around the Globe_Part 1

In this first episode of the Global Sire Traits series, host Dr. Dan Hamilton, PIC Sr. Director, Americas-Product Performance, brings together experts from across the globe to explore how sire trait priorities vary by region- and what those differences mean for producers, worldwide. Joining Dan for this conversation is Dr. Saskia Bloemhof, PIC Genetic Services Director, Brandon Fields, PIC Product Development Sr. Manager, Eunice Chun, PIC Technical Services Sr. Manager, Sergio López, PIC Sr. Sales Manager, and Pablo Magallon, PIC Technical Services Manager. Featuring perspectives from representatives in Asia, Europe, and North America, the conversation dives into the key traits driving genetic selection in each market. From growth and efficiency to robustness, meat quality, and adaptability, each region shares how local production systems, market demands, and environmental challenges shape their focus. Whether you're focused on local production or global strategy, this episode sets the stage for understanding how sire traits are defined, prioritized, and delivered around the world.

April 14, 202652 min

The Squeal_0252: Summer Management Strategies Across Production Phases

As temperatures rise, so do the challenges across every phase of pork production. In this episode of The Squeal, we take a whole-system approach to summer management—connecting the dots between the sow farm and wean-to-finish to help producers stay ahead of heat stress. Carine Vier, PIC Nutritionist, is joined by Juan Orozco, PIC Technical Services Manager, and Isaiah Spath, PIC Technical Services Manager, to break down how hot weather impacts pigs at every stage, from feed intake and reproductive performance in sows to growth, efficiency, and overall performance in wean-to-finish barns. Together, they share practical, on-farm strategies to help maintain consistency, protect performance, and avoid common pitfalls during the summer months. From ventilation and water management to feeding adjustments and early warning signs, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can implement right away. Whether you're managing sows, growing pigs, or both—this conversation will help you prepare, adapt, and perform all summer long.

March 31, 202632 min

The Squeal_0251: Setting Your Barn Up for Summer Performance

On this episode of The Squeal, host Tori Walters leads a timely and practical conversation on preparing wean-to-finish barns for the quickly approaching warm weather months. She is joined by Nat Stas, PIC Wean-to-Finish Director and Isaiah Spath, PIC Wean-to-Finish Manager, who bring real-world experience and insights into what it takes to set barns up for success before temperatures rise.

March 10, 202631 min

The Squeal_0250: The Importance of HNS (Heat No Service)_Part 2

On this episode of The Squeal, host Brie Quick, PIC Technical Services Manager, continues the Heat No Service (HNS) conversation by building on the foundation laid in Episode 1 and taking a deeper dive into practical application and real-world impact. Joined again by Sergio Canavate, PIC Applied Repro Technical Services Director, and Jennifer Patterson, University of Alberta, this episode shifts from the "why" behind HNS to the "how." Together, they unpack what effective implementation looks like on farm, common challenges teams face when refining gilt development protocols, and how to evaluate whether HNS is truly driving the outcomes you expect. Be sure to tune in as the Heat No Service series continues to connect science, management, and long-term profitability on The Squeal.

February 24, 202620 min

The Squeal_0249:The Importance of HNS (Heat No Service)_Part 1

On this epsidoe of The Squeal, host Brie Quick, PIC Technical Services Manager, leads a foundational conversation on the importance of HNS and why it plays such a critical role in long-term performance and profitability. She is joined by Sergio Canavate, PIC Applied Repro Technical Services Director, and Jennifer Patterson, University of Alberta, to explore how HNS impacts herd health, reproductive performance, and overall system stability. Together, they break down why HNS isn't just a technical term — it's a coordinated strategy that supports stronger pigs, improved efficiency, and more resilient production systems. From practical application on farm to the science behind the strategy, this episode sets the stage for understanding how aligning health, nutrition, and system management drives measurable results.

February 10, 202625 min

The Squeal_0248: REPLAY_Wean-to-Finish and Sow Farm Effective Communication

This episode of The Squeal is a replay worth revisiting. Transporting weaned pigs from the sow farm to the next phase of production comes with plenty of moving parts, and strong communication between teams can make all the difference. Hosted by Brie Quick (PIC Technical Services Manager), this conversation brings together real-world perspectives from Chad Bermel and Ted Recker of Brenneman Pork, who share the communication practices that work best within their operation and why alignment between sow farms and wean-finish sites is so critical. The discussion is rounded out by insights from Brad Schimmer (PIC Technical Services Manager), who draws from his experience working with sow farms across North America to highlight common gaps and practical ways communication can be strengthened.

January 27, 202644 min

The Squeal_0247: Setting a New Standard for Sustainability in Pork Production

In this episode of The Squeal, host Dr. Craig Lewis, PIC Genetic Services Director for the EU, sits down with Dr. Lindsay Case, PIC Technical Director or Product Sustainability, Dr. Greg Thoma with Colorado State University, and Pieter Knapp, PIC Genetic Strategy Manager, to unpack groundbreaking research that puts real numbers behind genetic progress and sustainability in pork production. Together, the group explains what a life cycle assessment is, why it matters, and what makes PIC's LCA different from anything done before in the industry. They break down how improvements in traits like feed efficiency, survivability, and overall performance translate directly into measurable environmental gains—without requiring producers to change how they raise pigs. 🎧 Subscribe to The Squeal and share this episode with fellow producers who want to understand how genetics are setting a new standard for pork sustainability.