January brings with it not only a new year, but a new farrowing season for many who live in the world of showpigs. While farrowing sows and gilts is an everyday occurrence for my friends and associates in commercial pig production, it’s typically much more seasonal (and stressful) for those of us with investments in showpig females. While those commercial maternal sows will pop out a litter of 15 or more live-born pigs with ease and little assistance, the modern showpig female isn’t nearly as maternal or prolific. The internet is flooded with stories of problem gilts, long nights of pulling pigs, c-sections, and dead sows and piglets.

It was the coldest night of the year thus far, with the wind howling and an occasional flurry of snowflakes hitting the restaurant window. Tucked away in a corner of the Butcher Block steakhouse, I was enjoying a delicious 16oz. ribeye while contemplating the topics of discussion for the upcoming conference in the morning. Traveling comes with the job description in my line of work, but winter brings with it an extra bit of travel..........