Image by Dominique Benoist from Pixabay
by Carie Moore
I love, love, love October. In a “normal” year it means harvest, pumpkins, fall, school activities, and pigs. Yes, pigs! In the ag industry it is known as Porktober.
I have a soft spot for pigs, as do many friends of mine. No matter why they are raised, pigs are remarkable animals. They provide us with so many things.
Pigs are synonymous with food to most people. But pigs are also a part of so many products we use every day. And let’s not forget research. Medical advancements are always on the forefront and pigs are saving human lives.
There is a facility that specializes in production of research-purposed swine. I know that can be a sore subject with some people, but because of the genetic makeup of swine, they can truly help solve a variety of medical issues faced by people. For instance, the Yucatan is a mini breed and is used specifically for biomedical research. It grows slower and can be held at an ideal weight (similar to the average adult) of 130 pounds for several years. The Yucatan’s organs are a better fit for humans than with previous swine breeds used.
The need for organ transplants and the waiting list are both around 100,000, with a rough estimate of 100 being done each day. On average, 20 people die daily waiting for a transplant. Recently, that affected my family, which affects me.
I have friends, family, as well as friends of family, who need products from swine relating to cardiovascular, diabetes, dermal and wound healing, dental, orthopedic, renal, and metabolism. These are a few of the studies done with these swine.
Other advancements in energy, heating, air conditioning and filtration systems are also being made at the facility because of the need for biosecurity. In fact, the facility is similar to a hospital operating room. Just think about that for a moment. Would l love to go and visit this new facility? Definitely!
I appreciate pigs for so many reasons. They are a phenomenal animal and a joy to work with every day.
From https://www.pork.org/facts/pork-bytes/everything-but-the-oink/
Advancements in agriculture are happening at such a fast pace, just like the rest of the world, and it’s important to understand that those agricultural advancements often relate back to you in some way.
Agriculture’s main goal is to feed the world, but it’s all the secondary accomplishments and research that come along with it that truly make our lives better beyond food.