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1,000 Pigs Died in Iowa Hog Farm

By , Farms.com

Officials say that about 1,000 pigs died in a barn fire that broke out on a hog operation located in eastern Iowa.  The fire was reported on Friday around 1pm on a hog farm located 10 miles west of Columbus Junction. The hog facility included eight connected buildings, spanning 20 acres.

By the time firefighters arrived on scene, two of the farrowing barns were fully engulfed in flames. It took 45 firefighters from surrounding communities to put out the fire. The blaze was difficult to extinguish due to the location of the facility. The swine barn was located on a hilly property, which made it difficult to truck water in freezing temperatures.

Authorities say that 500 to 600 pigs that were killed were sows and the rest were piglets. No humans were injured.

The fire is still under investigation.


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Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.