Darwin Kohler, DVM

Top Vet? You Bet!

DR. DARWIN KOHLER, DVM joined Babcock in 1992, as Technical Services Director. Darwin was raised on a swine and dairy farm in southwestern Minnesota where he gained hands-on swine experience that continued into his early college years. Darwin received his BA degree in 1980 from Southwest State University and his DVM from the University of Minnesota in 1985.

DR. KOHLER returned to southwestern Minnesota after veterinary college and worked in a practice that specialized largely in swine for seven years before beginning his career with Babcock. He has since pursued further training in Swine Production Medicine in areas such as reproduction, nutrition, environmental monitoring, records, epidemiology and statistics, as well as financial management. Dr. Kohler also earned a certificate in Swine Management from the University of Illinois in 1995.

A MEMBER of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), Dr. Kohler attends several meetings each year, including the AASV annual meeting and the Al Leman Conference where he has also been a speaker on health monitoring and the use of slaughter checks. He has traveled throughout the U.S. and to Europe and Canada to gain new insights into a rapidly changing swine industry.

DR. KOHLER’S primary responsibilities are to maintain biosecurity and the health of Babcock's Research Center and multiplier farms. He visits Babcock's Research Center, Boar Studs, and Gilt Multipliers for monthly farm 'walk-throughs' for herd health monitoring and record review. Dr. Kohler is also involved in employee training, writing and reviewing production manuals, and establishes biosecurity protocols and health maintenance programs for each farm.

DR. KOHLER meets regularly with other Babcock staff to discuss the latest developments in genetic research and production technology. As new information is obtained and applied at Babcock, he helps facilitate the transfer of technology to the commercial level. Dr. Kohler works closely with producers and management groups to implement Babcock's Closed Herd™ System and to help all Babcock producers become least cost producers of premium pork.

SEMI-ANNUAL slaughter checks are offered for all producers, and these results have shown a continual improvement in health scores using the closed herd system. Dr. Kohler uses these results to help each producer establish protocols for serological monitoring. This will confirm the absence of new pathogens and/or the stabilization of existing ones. Based on these results health, vaccination, and medication recommendations are updated to help reduce costs and optimize performance.

ON-FARM service calls offer an opportunity for Dr. Kohler to review biosecurity, production and breeding goals, health protocols, nutrition, and management practices. Record review is also very helpful to target areas for improvement and to avoid any future production losses. These visits also offer an opportunity to complete annual Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) program recertifications.