Lessons Learned

Dr. Paul Yeske (’85)
In early April 2020, major packing plants taking most of their clients’ hogs started shutting down. At one point, processing capacity dropped 45%. “Plant closures were one of the those things we didn’t see coming,” said Paul Yeske of Swine Vet Center in St. Peter, Minnesota. “We were in the middle of it. It had a major impact on our producers and clients. Yeske and his colleagues devised contingency plans for handling a glut of market-weight pigs with no place to go. Yeske discussed the harrowing situation and outcomes during a talk at the 2020 Leman Swine Conference held virtually in mid-September.