By Diane DeWitte, UMN Extension swine educator
Originally printed in The LAND - as April 25, 2025 Swine & U column
Minnesota is typically considered an outdoor recreation, hunting-and-fishing state, the motherland to six outstanding professional sports teams, and home of the Mall of America. However, nestled within Minnesota’s rural communities are nearly 9 million hogs and hundreds of well-trained professionals who grow them.
According to the 2022 Ag Census, Minnesota ranks 2nd in the U.S. in inventory of hogs & pigs, and in number of hogs & pigs sold (28.5 million). That number translates to $4.7 billion in sales, up 31% since the 2017 US Ag Census.
Across the country, Americans are challenged to evaluate their health habits and assess their diets. While it’s important to consider the quality, quantity and nutritional value of food that we consume, I have been concerned about health experts who generously toss around terms like “toxins” and “poison”, and the phrases “pumped full of hormones & antibiotics” when referring to American agriculture. Here’s where pig farmers and pork industry allies have a chance to adjust the message.
Pork Quality Assurance History
The voluntary program, created at the National Pork Board, and funded by producers’ check-off dollars, originally had at its core 10 Good Production Practices. The 10 GPPs centered around responsible antibiotic use, correct and careful delivery of all medications, and education in record-keeping and drug withdrawal times. A Youth version of PQA was introduced in 2004, and the nation’s young swine exhibitors then learned the 10 Good Production Practices.
In 2007, a five-year-old Swine Welfare Assurance Program was integrated into the PQA curriculum, and PQA Plus (PQA+) was born. The new program combined proper medication use with education on appropriate animal well-being practices and how they relate to pork carcass quality. It also added a Site Assessment component which allowed a producer to host an unbiased PQA+ Advisor to observe the animals, equipment and work style on a particular farm.
At the same time, a trucker’s education program was being revamped to include swine handlers, and the Transport Quality Assurance curriculum was introduced. TQA provides education in biosecurity, appropriate animal handling, loading, and transporting, and how to deal with various emergencies when hauling swine.
Today no antibiotics are fed to improve feed efficiency. For many years, antimicrobials & antibiotics were fed at subtherapeutic levels, but the practice declined, and, in January 2017 over-the-counter antibiotics were eliminated, and any in-feed or water-provided antibiotics are available only through the prescription of a veterinarian.
An important element of today’s PQA+ is the creation of a herd health management plan in conjunction with the farm’s veterinarian. This VCPR (Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship) is a critical part of the PQA+ curriculum used by all pig farm employees.
Antibiotics ARE used on the pig farm to medicate sick pigs, when it benefits the health and well-being of the pig. Any animal care health products used on the farm are FDA approved, and each product has a specific withdrawal time. Withdrawal time is the scientifically determined amount of time it takes for the animal to process and eliminate the medication to an acceptable level considered safe for human consumption. Maximum residue limit (MRL) is the tolerable drug concentration that has been established for each product by the FDA.
PQA+ Advisors are present in every state to either teach face-to-face classes or help the producer get set up for online certification. In this way, every PQA+ trained individual has contact with an Advisor. PQA+ Advisors also conduct PQA+ site assessments which are on-farm visits to assess the condition of the pigs, equipment, environment and on-farm team members according to a set of standards which relate directly to PQA+ education.
The National Pork Board uses the latest swine research to help develop the curriculum of every new version of PQA+. The most recent health, handling and management findings are incorporated into the continuing education of PQA+. In addition, PQA+ site assessment trends are addressed when the newest PQA+ version is developed.
June 2025 will be the rollout of the newest version of PQA+, Version 6. A group of university and Extension swine specialists who serve as PQA+ State Trainers have already completed the new curriculum and will soon begin to get their state’s PQA+ Advisors recertified. Producers will receive Version 6 training when their current PQA+ certification expires; Advisors will use the new version for training beginning this summer.
As previously offered, Version 6 is available in English and Spanish. English versions also offer the training to general audiences, or specifically to market hog caretakers, breeding & sow farm team members, or directed to alternative production pig farmers.
The online PQA+ Handbook now contains active links to directed resources; the Handbook is now mobile friendly. Online Handbook forms are now fillable PDFs for ease in completing and printing them.
PQA+ certification is available to all producers aged 14 and older. Young exhibitors can complete the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training at yqcaprogram.org.
Today, across the country, 71,000 producers are PQA+ certified, and over 18,000 swine farms have earned PQA+ site status. More than 29,000 individuals have been TQA certified, including on-farm handlers, transporters, and those who handle pigs at the destination site. Learn more about PQA+ and TQA certifications or locate a PQA+ Advisor at porkcheckoff.org.
Diane DeWitte is a UMN Extension Educator focused on swine and based in Mankato, MN. She can be reached at stouf002@umn.edu.
Originally printed in The LAND - as April 25, 2025 Swine & U column
Minnesota is typically considered an outdoor recreation, hunting-and-fishing state, the motherland to six outstanding professional sports teams, and home of the Mall of America. However, nestled within Minnesota’s rural communities are nearly 9 million hogs and hundreds of well-trained professionals who grow them.
According to the 2022 Ag Census, Minnesota ranks 2nd in the U.S. in inventory of hogs & pigs, and in number of hogs & pigs sold (28.5 million). That number translates to $4.7 billion in sales, up 31% since the 2017 US Ag Census.
Across the country, Americans are challenged to evaluate their health habits and assess their diets. While it’s important to consider the quality, quantity and nutritional value of food that we consume, I have been concerned about health experts who generously toss around terms like “toxins” and “poison”, and the phrases “pumped full of hormones & antibiotics” when referring to American agriculture. Here’s where pig farmers and pork industry allies have a chance to adjust the message.
Pork Quality Assurance History
Minnesota’s pig farmers are certified in advanced animal care and handling, thanks to a 36-year-old quality assurance initiative.
Since its introduction in 1989, Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) education and certification are the linchpins to ensure that the swine industry deliberately provides superior quality pork to consumers. Pig farmers’ PQA certifications can alleviate the public’s worries about medication use and the potential presence of drug residues in American pork.The voluntary program, created at the National Pork Board, and funded by producers’ check-off dollars, originally had at its core 10 Good Production Practices. The 10 GPPs centered around responsible antibiotic use, correct and careful delivery of all medications, and education in record-keeping and drug withdrawal times. A Youth version of PQA was introduced in 2004, and the nation’s young swine exhibitors then learned the 10 Good Production Practices.
In 2007, a five-year-old Swine Welfare Assurance Program was integrated into the PQA curriculum, and PQA Plus (PQA+) was born. The new program combined proper medication use with education on appropriate animal well-being practices and how they relate to pork carcass quality. It also added a Site Assessment component which allowed a producer to host an unbiased PQA+ Advisor to observe the animals, equipment and work style on a particular farm.
At the same time, a trucker’s education program was being revamped to include swine handlers, and the Transport Quality Assurance curriculum was introduced. TQA provides education in biosecurity, appropriate animal handling, loading, and transporting, and how to deal with various emergencies when hauling swine.
We Care Ethical Principles
In 2008, the “We Care” ethical principles were adopted by the industry as the overarching philosophy and commitment that guides pig farmers in what they do. The original PQA 10 good production practices were woven into these ethical principles and today We Care exemplifies six pillars on which US pig production is based. Within We Care, pig farmers affirm these obligations to:- Produce safe food, including managing herd health & technology to ensure food safety.
- Protect and promote animal well-being. This includes providing feed, water and an environment that keeps animals healthy. Within this commitment the farmer also works with a veterinarian to provide treatment when needed.
- Safeguard natural resources. This involves proper use of manure as a valuable resource in a way to protect the quality of air and water.
- Protect public health. Farmers commit to appropriate medication use and farm management to minimize environmental impacts.
- Provide a safe environment for our people. This includes thoroughly training farm team members to work with pigs in a safe, healthy and ethical manner, and to ensure that all employees are treated fairly.
- Contribute to a better life in our communities. This is where pig farmers tell their story and promote their product; interact within their communities and acknowledge & address community concerns.
What About Antibiotics and Hormones?
Hormones are not approved for use in pigs raised for meat. While all pork contains natural hormones which circulate in a pig’s body, any pork purchased from the store has been raised with no added hormones.Today no antibiotics are fed to improve feed efficiency. For many years, antimicrobials & antibiotics were fed at subtherapeutic levels, but the practice declined, and, in January 2017 over-the-counter antibiotics were eliminated, and any in-feed or water-provided antibiotics are available only through the prescription of a veterinarian.
An important element of today’s PQA+ is the creation of a herd health management plan in conjunction with the farm’s veterinarian. This VCPR (Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship) is a critical part of the PQA+ curriculum used by all pig farm employees.
Antibiotics ARE used on the pig farm to medicate sick pigs, when it benefits the health and well-being of the pig. Any animal care health products used on the farm are FDA approved, and each product has a specific withdrawal time. Withdrawal time is the scientifically determined amount of time it takes for the animal to process and eliminate the medication to an acceptable level considered safe for human consumption. Maximum residue limit (MRL) is the tolerable drug concentration that has been established for each product by the FDA.
PQA+ 2025
PQA+ is a continuously evolving curriculum. A PQA+ certification is good for three years, and each producer is then required to attend a class or participate in a self-driven PQA+ recertification online.PQA+ Advisors are present in every state to either teach face-to-face classes or help the producer get set up for online certification. In this way, every PQA+ trained individual has contact with an Advisor. PQA+ Advisors also conduct PQA+ site assessments which are on-farm visits to assess the condition of the pigs, equipment, environment and on-farm team members according to a set of standards which relate directly to PQA+ education.
The National Pork Board uses the latest swine research to help develop the curriculum of every new version of PQA+. The most recent health, handling and management findings are incorporated into the continuing education of PQA+. In addition, PQA+ site assessment trends are addressed when the newest PQA+ version is developed.
June 2025 will be the rollout of the newest version of PQA+, Version 6. A group of university and Extension swine specialists who serve as PQA+ State Trainers have already completed the new curriculum and will soon begin to get their state’s PQA+ Advisors recertified. Producers will receive Version 6 training when their current PQA+ certification expires; Advisors will use the new version for training beginning this summer.
As previously offered, Version 6 is available in English and Spanish. English versions also offer the training to general audiences, or specifically to market hog caretakers, breeding & sow farm team members, or directed to alternative production pig farmers.
The online PQA+ Handbook now contains active links to directed resources; the Handbook is now mobile friendly. Online Handbook forms are now fillable PDFs for ease in completing and printing them.
PQA+ certification is available to all producers aged 14 and older. Young exhibitors can complete the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training at yqcaprogram.org.
Today, across the country, 71,000 producers are PQA+ certified, and over 18,000 swine farms have earned PQA+ site status. More than 29,000 individuals have been TQA certified, including on-farm handlers, transporters, and those who handle pigs at the destination site. Learn more about PQA+ and TQA certifications or locate a PQA+ Advisor at porkcheckoff.org.
Diane DeWitte is a UMN Extension Educator focused on swine and based in Mankato, MN. She can be reached at stouf002@umn.edu.
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