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In the podcast Swine Extension Educators Sarah Schieck Boelke and Diane DeWitte speak with Miranda Medrano, a 3rd-year Ph.D. student at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine. Miranda talks about the current survey she has open for alternative and outdoor pig farmers in Minnesota to take. The survey is part of her Ph.D. research.
University of Minnesota Extension Swine team gives research updates through podcasts.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Hello and welcome to Minnesota Swine & U Podcast Series, which is a University and Minnesota Extension Swine program.
Today's podcast is a chat with Miranda Medrano about a survey she's currently doing as part of her Ph.D. Project.
My name is Sarah Schieck Boelke, your host and a swine extension educator with the University of Minnesota.
Joining me today is Diane Dewitte, a swine extension educator with the University of Minnesota and a frequent guest on the podcast. So welcome back Diane.
Diane DeWitte:
Well, thanks a lot, Sarah. I'm glad to be here.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Like I mentioned, we are joined with Miranda Medrano. She's a third-year, Ph.D. Student at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.
So welcome, Miranda.
Miranda B Medrano:
Thank you
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
So to get us started today. Would you introduce yourself? Tell us a little bit about you, and also who you're working with on your Ph.D.
Miranda B Medrano:
Yes, so I'm Miranda. I am a third-year, Ph.D. Student at the U and I grew up in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California.
I raised various livestock species through 4-H And FFA, and that is where I had my passion for livestock and the agriculture industry.
From there I completed my bachelor of science in Animal science at Cornell University. And then I started my DVM As well as my Masters of Public Health at the Virginia, Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
After painting those 2 degrees. I then started at the U for my Ph.D. and that was in August of 2020 and my research particularly is working with flighting infectious disease, epidemiology.
A lot of that of my interest comes with working with farmers and trying to keep their livestock healthy so that they can be able to produce a safe and affordable food product for people.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Great. Thank you. I always find it interesting to learn about folks's background and kind of how they got to where they are today.
I do have a follow-up question. So along that way I know you mentioned you were in 4-H and FFA which so myself, and I know Diana's got some roots in those organizations, too.
Where did you cross paths with swine, or get involved in the industry?
Miranda B Medrano:
So I actually did show swine for a few years at my county there. So that was my very first introduction, particularly with swine. But, as you may know, California is not known for its swine industry and so it actually wasn't until veterinary Medical School, where I did a rotation with a veterinarian in Nebraska and learn more about the swine production industry.
I really enjoy working with the different aspects of the production management side so specifically with biosecurity, and of course, infectious disease.
Diane DeWitte: We're a couple, Sarah and I are a couple of Biosecurity folks from way back, and even, you know, in our background, too. And so we always perk up when we hear that word, biosecurity. That's an important part of pig farming these days.
Miranda B Medrano:
Definitely, I agree that it is a very important aspect.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Well, thank you, Miranda, for telling us a little bit about your background, and how you came to work with pigs.
So like I mentioned in the Intro, you have a survey that you are conducting, and so that's what we're talking about today on the podcast.
So will you sharewWhat is your survey about? And who is your target audience?
Miranda B Medrano:
Yes, so it might be a little bit of a different take on the swine industry.
Of course we have our more traditional pig production systems and production but there are a lot more smaller farms that also raise pigs specifically being outdoors.
And so the survey is to collect more information about this population and about the farmers and these farms that raise these pigs outdoors. We're interested in better describing their production practices. Both their management practices. Different aspects of that may include biosecurity.
It also includes asking questions about their marketing practices, as well as different certifications that the farm might also have, such as being organic or PQA. Certified
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
So like you mentioned you know, looking at more of the alternative or outdoor raising of pigs, which the industry, I mean we need all kinds within the industry.
Before we get too far here into our discussion and asking about your survey exactly can you share with us the funding source of your project? Because I always think it's important that we give those funders recognition for the financial support that they help provide to us.
Miranda B Medrano:
Yes, so I'm very fortunate to have a paying Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education Graduate Research Grant.
Particularly for the survey I have also received funding from the Swine Disease Eradication Center at the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine for disease, testing on these particular farms
Diane DeWitte:
What a valuable aspect that is, too! And I know you'll talk a little bit more about the disease testing. But you know, there is alternative and organic pig research happening through the Department of Animal Sciences here at the U and I've been involved in some of that. And so we know that there are lots of different styles and sizes and types of outdoor and alternative pig farming happening, and so this can be a big assistance to them
Miranda B Medrano:
Definitely, you had mentioned other research that's going on at the University of Minnesota, and a lot of that research has actually been focused on parasite control, whereas mine is looking at some of the viruses that may be circulating or may not be circulating in this population.
Diane DeWitte UMN Extension:
Well, Miranda, why don't you give us a brief introduction to your project, and tell us a little bit more about it. You've sort of introduced it. Tell us, why it's important for farms. Raise pigs outdoors or provide outdoor access to their pigs to complete your survey.
Miranda B Medrano:
So there are actually more small farms in Minnesota that raise pigs outdoors, and there are farms that raise pigs indoors, and so it's important for us to better understand again what their production and management practices are so that we can better assist these farms and farmers, and keeping their pigs healthy.
Unfortunately, a lot of the information that we have about the health, status and production practices of pigs that are raised outdoors actually are from Europe and the UK.
So the interest in this project is more to better define describe, and characterize these practices, as well as the pigs' health statuses on farms that raise outdoor pigs in Minnesota specifically and be able to better understand how that again might impact the big health status.
Diane DeWitte:
Now, what a terrific way to learn more about, I mean with actual university research, to learn more about what's going on in the disease profile of these alternative and outdoor pig farms. My hats off to you for focusing on that.
Miranda B Medrano:
Thank you. This project makes me really excited, like I said I did raise some show pigs in California, and a lot of the pigs that are raised in California are raised outdoors. And so it just makes me excited to get back to that side of production.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
So, Miranda, can you tell us with this survey, what's your intended outcome?
Miranda B Medrano:
So for this survey I am focusing on 4 different practice areas. We have that production, management, biosecurity, and marketing practices.
Within this, we are asking questions about where the farm is located, and it can be as simple as the county that it's in.
We're also interested in learning. And what type of pigs do they have?
Specifically to their age we are interested in learning where exactly those pigs are being moved from? Are they being moved from out of state? Are they being sold out of state? Things like that.
So for this particular interest of the outcome, in addition to better describing and characterizing these practices. I will also be using the information provided to form a model that might be used to estimate. What disease spread could look like in this population
For that particular outcome. It's really focusing on any preventative measures that can be taken within the population. Again, to better help decrease the spread or transmission of diseases.
Those sounds some like some great outcomes. I can't wait until your survey is done, and you've got all of your data compiled.
So the next question I have for you is, I'm sure a question that a lot of farmers who are debating on whether they should participate or not. And I think it's a common question for any survey that any of us do.
But how is the farmer's information protected? So those individuals that answer your survey. How are you protecting that data? So it's used specifically for your project and not getting out elsewhere.
Miranda B Medrano:
Yes, so this has been a very important consideration from the outset of this project. We want the participants and farmers to be as comfortable in sharing your information as much as they are. and so there are many steps by the University of Minnesota that must be met before we are able to send the survey out into the public.
Once we do have the data from that survey. There are also certain precautions that I and the team will be making. Such as only utilizing the University of Minnesota's online network when we are looking through the data and doing any analysis. Through this, they are having their data protected through various firewalls.
Additionally, if any of the participants would not like any of their research to be used for any other aspect of this project they can definitely let us know, and we will make sure that that information and data is destroyed at that time.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Thank you. So it sounds like there's a lot of different safety precautions both in developing the survey. And then, you know, gathering the data and the analysis. So thank you for sharing everything that you're doing to protect the farmer's information.
Diane DeWitte:
Yeah, that's really important. And that is a lot of the reason why we have seen it other, I have some experience with some other: surveys that farmers didn't want to participate because they were concerned about where their information was going to wind up. So thank you so much for making it secure like that. That really is important.
Can you tell us how a farmer can complete the survey?
Miranda B Medrano:
Yes, so the survey has been launched. It was launched about 2 weeks ago, and if they are interested in participating in this survey they can go to z.umn.edu/OutdoorSwineSurvey.com
no spaces.
Diane DeWitte:
of course we'll have this z-link publicized in a lot of our UMN Extension swine locations as well.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Yes, that's correct. For example, our newsletter. That will be coming out here in the beginning of January. We will definitely share it there, as well as the article that Miranda shared with us to talk a little bit more about her survey. We'll share that in there as well. So if anyone is not a subscriber to our Newsletter. I'll direct you at the end of the podcast, but visit our U Of M. Extension Swine pages, and you'll find a link to sign up for our newsletter.
But before we get there I do have a few more questions here for Miranda, and one of those is, Are there any incentives for farmers when they complete this survey?
Miranda B Medrano: All farmers that raise their pigs outdoors, or partially during the year, or throughout the whole year in Minnesota who do complete the survey, will receive a $25 visa gift card.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Great that that's an incentive in itself. I think because that can be used for anything. So that would be wonderful.
So to wrap up our discussion. Are there any other closing remarks that you would like to make? For example, do you have any other projects that are tying in with this survey? Or maybe also your contact information. So farmers can learn more.
So anything else you'd like to add?
Miranda B Medrano:
Like I mentioned previously. One part of this project is looking at the health outcomes of these pigs and learning what that looks like, we need to be able to test these pigs for those diseases.
So another part of the project is going to these farms and collecting samples from pigs to test for those diseases.
So if you are interested in having free disease testing for your pigs that are outdoors in Minnesota. I would love to be in contact with you, so that this might happen for both you and for me. It will be free, and there are some other incentives attached to that.
As for my contact information participants can feel free to reach out to me via email at medra036@umn.edu feel free to give me a call as well at 612-440-5859.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Thank you for that added information, so that farmers are able to contact you, and also hearing about the other part of your project is great.
Yes, and I just want to say thank you all for the consideration participating in this project.
Miranda B Medrano:
I truly would not be able to carry out this project without the participants.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
and Diane and I would like to thank you, Miranda, for participating with us in this podcast today, and talking about your survey on alternative and outdoor pig farming in Minnesota.
Diane DeWitte:
Now, thanks so much, Miranda. It's really interesting, and it's great to see this health-focused research going on at it with our Minnesota smaller and outdoor pig farmers. That just adds more breadth to the knowledge that we have about raising pigs outdoors in an alternative organic style.
Sarah Schieck Boelke:
And I just want to thank everyone who is listening to the podcast, the University of Minnesota swine & U Podcast. And once again this has been Sarah Schieck Boelke and Diane Dewitte, both swine Extension educators along with Miranda Medrano, who is a 3rdyear PhD Student.
and I want to give one last reminder of the link to complete her survey for alternative and outdoor pig farming in Minnesota.
That survey can be found at z.umn.edu/OutdoorSwineSurvey all one word.
and to further connect with University of Minnesota Extension swine. Please visit the swine-specific web pages on our University of Minnesota Extension website at www.extension.umn.edu/swine. On those pages, like I mentioned earlier, you will find connections to not only our blog, but also our Facebook page, and to sign up to receive our e-newsletter if you're not already receiving that.
To learn about research being done by our swine faculty and veterinary medicine please visit there Swine and Minnesota blog at www.umnswinenews.com