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Smithfield Premium Genetics Philip Mzyk. My Background. Year: Senior Major: Zoology Fun Fact: Martial Artist Career Goals Obtain my DVM and PhD Pursue research in either ophthalmology or reproductive endocrinology Schools applied to NCSU - OSU - CSU - MSU. What is Murphy-Brown?.
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Smithfield Premium Genetics Philip Mzyk
My Background • Year: Senior • Major: Zoology • Fun Fact: Martial Artist • Career Goals • Obtain my DVM and PhD • Pursue research in either ophthalmology or reproductive endocrinology • Schools applied to • NCSU - OSU - CSU - MSU
What is Murphy-Brown? • Headquartered in Warsaw, North Carolina. There are over 6,000 Murphy-Brown employees located in twelve states. • Produce approximately 17 million market hogs each year. • Own and manage approximately 450 hog farms in the U.S. • Partner with over 1,500 independent farmers and contract growers in the U.S. to raise hogs. • Murphy-Brown leads the pork industry by ensuring animal well-being, responsible antibiotics use and animal traceability.
What is Smithfield Premium Genetics? • Smithfield Premium Genetics strives for 4 main goals: • Large litters • Fast growth rate • Efficient feed conversion • Nutritious healthy pork products • This is accomplished by monitoring: • Semen quality • Breeding stock • Trait heritability
My Projects • Utilize the on-site QA lab to run PCR/ELISA/Semen quality testing • Track the epidemiology of the PRRS virus • Study dysentery results and determine the cause for erratic positives and retest • On-site farm assessments with company veterinarians
Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome • PRRS • Invades alveolar macrophages and uses them to reproduce • Spreads to reproductive system and causes widespread death within a herd, “breaks” a farm • Tracking the epidemiology of the PRRS virus • Tracked along the entire East coast holdings of Murphy-Brown • Utilized Google Earth to map the virus • Results were inconclusive
Dysentery Results • Iowa State University • Offsite testing facility • Gathered reports and flagged opposing PCR/Culture results • ISU sent samples back to me • Performed my own in house PCR and cultures • Sent off to be gene sequenced to determine what we really had on our hands
Farm Assessments • Biosecurity was a LARGE concern • Shower In/Out • Use it on the farm = Leave it on the farm • Conducted blood draws on all farm types • Sow • Nursery • Finishing • Saw the unique interaction between company veterinarians and farm managers
Material Recognition The use of cited and non-cited figures for this presentation was deemed appropriate only after an analysis of the “Terms and Conditions” on the website www.murphybrownllc.comwhich states: “Murphy-Brown authorizes you to view and download a single copy of the Site Material for your non-commercial personal use.”