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“We work hand in hand with our farmers to produce the best quality pork.”

Laura Schulz
Hog Veterinarian

Name: Laura Schulz
Location: St. Peter, Minnesota
Years practicing veterinary medicine: I've been a veterinarian for two years, having recently graduated from the University of Minnesota in May of 2008.
My family: I live on a farm in Lafayette with my flock of Suffolk sheep and my golden retriever, Nellie. My parents are Tim and Wendy Schulz, who are also from Lafayette. My dad works in the agriculture field and my mom is a fourth-grade teacher for the GFW school district in Gibbon. I also have a sister and brother-in-law, Sara and Garth Saul, of Faribault. Sara has her PhD in human genetics and works at the University of Minnesota, while Garth is a mechanical engineer.
How I came to be a veterinarian: I've always had a passion for caring for animals. Growing up, I was very active in both 4-H and FFA; my involvement in both of these organizations helped to guide me to a career in veterinary medicine. I realized early on that veterinary medicine, specifically food animal medicine, was something I would love.
The best thing about being a veterinarian: I like the variety that my job offers; no two days are exactly the same. I get to see the countryside nearly every day, working with pigs and farmers in both the barn and the office. As a food animal veterinarian, I also really appreciate the responsibility of ensuring that the safest, best quality product is produced. Training our farmers in areas of food safety and animal welfare is something I take pride in.
My personal philosophy on working with farmers and their animals: I want to see the farmers that I work with succeed. Success is measured in different ways for everyone, so discussing and setting attainable goals for each farm and routinely "moving the carrot" is important. Ultimately, our goal is to produce high quality pork products that our consumers will enjoy at an affordable price.

Pork Production in Minnesota and the United States

• A key to Minnesota's success in the raising of pigs is a well-established and internationally recognized network of swine veterinarians and researchers who live and work in our state.
• Minnesota ranks third in the number of hogs its farmers raise, and second in the value of hogs that Minnesota farmers sell for processing into fresh and processed pork products.
• Minnesota hog farmers raised 14.6 million hogs in 2009.
• Americans, on average, eat more than 60 pounds of pork each year.
• Pork is 31 percent lower in fat today than it was 20 years ago.
• By raising pigs indoors, pork producers are able to keep their pigs warm during Minnesota's frigid winters and cool during the summers.

For more information about hog farming in Minnesota, please visit http://www.mnpork.com/.

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