Sustainable swine production in the U.S. Corn Beit

Swine production is a major component of Corn Belt agriculture; thus development of a sustainable Corn Belt agriculture depends on sustainable swine production systems. Swine are versatile enough to adapt to sustainable concepts, and swine production raises several opportunities to enhance sustainability. These include: 1) feeding with increased use of forages and by-product feeds; 2) nutrient cycling through improved handling of manure; 3) low-capital housing systems that offer an improved environment for the operator and reduced financial risk; 4) management systems suited to the swine's behavior; and 5) preventive approaches to swine health and a broader genetic base. The challenge beyond identifying the opportunities is research and technology transfer and incorporation of sustainable concepts into ecologically based swine production systems.