Rethinking GDU Design for Longevity and Profitability | Emily Pottorf & Dr. Dalton Obermier

About the Guests Emily Pottorf is the Territory Representative for Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for Gestal. She has been with the company for 4 years. Emily grew up on an Iowa farm with her 3 sisters and spent her high school through college career working on nursery and sow farms. She followed her passion for the pork industry to Iowa State University where she earned her degree in Animal Science. She continued to work in the swine industry post-graduation; her favorite part of working with Gestal is helping farmers find solutions and improve efficiencies in their operations. Dr. Dalton Obermier is the Farm Research and AI specialist for JYGA Technologies, residing in central Nebraska. Dalton grew up on a diversified livestock farm in Nebraska, where he developed a deep passion for the livestock industry. Dalton earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Nebraska, followed by a master’s degree in swine genetics at North Carolina State University. He then completed his doctorate in animal breeding and genetics at the University of Nebraska, where he utilized machine learning and computer vision systems to study swine behavior in relation to feed efficiency. Dalton has been with Gestal for one year and enjoys working with producers from around the world. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? Why the GDU is often ignored and how that’s hurting sow longevity and productivity. The three easiest fixes in GDUs: matching waters and environments, and better-timed nutrition. Why feeding to the average fails most gilts and how technology now lets us feed each one right. How custom feeding and better GDU design can lead to stronger sows, fewer culls, and less stress for farm teams. Emily & Dalton’s “golden nugget”