I was recently in San Francisco where the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Conference was being held and had the opportunity to spend time with a number of veterinarians, reconnecting with some that I haven’t seen in person in years. What struck me most wasn’t just the fact that there was a seminar on AI (artificial intelligence)—it was the notable shift in an industry often accused of lagging behind. Change is finally here, and it’s accelerating. Here are my three biggest takeaways from the conference and why they matter to pork producers, veterinary clinics, and the pigs themselves.
1. Artificial Intelligence: From Sci-Fi to In Hundreds of Pig Barns Today
First and foremost, AASV held a special seminar on AI (not artificial insemination, but Artificial Intelligence) and it was a wake-up call. Titled “ChatPIG” and chaired by Drs. Brent Sexton and Brandi Burton, it featured speakers like Drs. Jim Lowe and Nathan Schaefer, showcasing how artificial intelligence is transforming swine health management. More than five years ago, when EveryPig first rolled out AI-driven features like mortality forecasting and computer vision that helps to detect illnesses in photos, many veterinarians were skeptical. They’d zero in on edge cases where AI wasn’t 100% accurate, dismissing the entire concept rather than seeing its potential. “Why digitize health records if the AI isn’t perfect?” they’d ask.
Fast forward to 2025: those same skeptics are watching their peers use EveryPig to oversee more farms than ever, without the windshield time. Instead of sifting through Excel sheets detailing pig mortality from months ago, they’re using real-time data and AI to predict and prevent losses. The world isn’t reverting to paper barn sheets—AI is normalizing, even in our traditionally hands-on industry. Vets embracing it aren’t just keeping up; they’re gaining superpowers like full visibility into farm health, faster response times, and the ability to save pig lives proactively. Those sticking to old-school methods, spending hours driving between barns, risk watching their colleagues outpace them in productivity and impact. The AASV discussion underscored this: AI isn’t optional, it’s the present and future.
2. Quality Of Life: Redefining Veterinary Success
My dad’s generation of swine veterinarians built their practices on grit, 80-hour weeks, endless farm visits, and a relentless drive to succeed. I’m grateful for their legacy; some of the most accomplished vets I know thrived that way. But today’s veterinarians are rewriting the script, and “quality of life” is of utmost importance, a phrase that barely registered in the industry a decade ago. At AASV, I heard it everywhere: younger vets want to attend their kids’ baseball games or piano recitals, not crash into bed after driving 500 miles in a day.
This isn’t laziness, it’s a shift in priorities, and it’s forcing pork producers and veterinary clinics to rethink their approach. Swine vets’ true value isn’t in their mileage or their ability to post pigs (caregivers can handle that with proper training and feedback). It’s their expertise, deep knowledge of veterinary medicine and swine production—that sets them apart. EveryPig’s telemedicine and digitized records let them wield that expertise from anywhere: home, the beach, or the bleachers. Forward-thinking companies adopting these tools can hire top talent living hours from farms, delivering faster responses that save producers money and pigs’ lives. The competitive advantage is clear: technology amplifies brainpower, not just horsepower. Vets who can work smarter, without sacrificing family time—are the ones who’ll define the next era.
3. Generational Shift: New Leaders, New Rules
Walking around the Marriott Hotel where AASV was held, I noticed something striking, fewer gray-haired veterans, more young faces, and a lot more women. The old guard, my dad’s peers, are aging out, and a new generation is stepping up. This isn’t just a headcount change; it’s a cultural overhaul. The number of female swine veterinarians is likely at an all-time high, and they’re reshaping how the industry thinks and operates. Younger vets, raised on smartphones and apps, are inherently tech-fluent, ushering in new practices and protocols at a pace the pork production world hasn’t seen before.
This shift demands adaptation. Running a business like it’s 1980—manual records, rigid schedules, and a “drive everywhere” mentality won’t attract or retain top talent anymore. AASV 2025 highlighted this, the next leaders are already here, and they expect tools that match their digital-native mindset. EveryPig fits that mold, digitizing workflows and enabling remote oversight, but it’s bigger than us—it’s about an industry catching up to its people. Producers and clinics that lean into this shift will build teams that don’t just survive but thrive, delivering better outcomes for pigs and profits for themselves and their clients.
The Road Ahead
The 2025 AASV Conference confirmed what I’ve long believed: swine veterinary care doesn’t need to be stuck in the past. It’s evolving and increasingly quickly. AI is mainstreaming, quality of life is non-negotiable, and a new generation is rewriting the playbook.
At EveryPig, we’re proud to be part of this transformation, giving veterinarians the tools to work smarter, respond quicker, and live better, all while improving pig health and producer bottom lines. http://www.everypig.com
