In this episode of the Pork Podcast, host Jennifer Shike sits down with Joe Dykhuis of Dykhuis Farms in Holland, Mich. Although Dykhuis has deep roots in pork production, he’s not stuck in how things have always been done. As the owner of a large sow farm that relies on contract growers to finish 450,000 pigs a year, he has a unique perspective on how to align people, resources and the pigs themselves to make sure everyone thrives.

He dives deep into the evolving landscape of grow-finish production, explaining why the old "rules of thumb" no longer apply to contract growing and disease management. From navigating the complexities of a multi-generational family business to calculating the staggering up to $1,500-per-sow cost of a PRRS L1C break, Dykhuis shares why he believes high-risk environments offer the greatest returns for those willing to lead.
Key highlights include:

• The "Pig Pays the Bills" Philosophy: Why animal husbandry and business economics are inseparable.
• Contract Growing 2.0: Navigating high interest rates, rising construction costs, and the shift from transactions to true partnerships.
• The Reality of Risk: A sobering look at the modern cost of disease and the urgent need for industry-wide risk mitigation.
• Legacy and Leadership: How a "learner" mindset and involvement in industry organizations helps drive the farm’s success.

Read more at https://www.porkbusiness.com/topics/grow-finish.

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