Meet Dr. Jim Smith – Senior Technical Swine Nutritionist October 1, 2021 October 14, 2021 Jim Smith wears two hats when supporting pork producers: Resource and Consultant. The first has him answering questions about Kent products from customers and dealers, as well as formulating customized feed programs. The second hat requires his expertise in improving profitability by optimizing nutrition programs β whether it be changing feed ingredients or assisting with efficiencies of feed mills. βAnything that has to do with putting food in the pigβs mouth,β he says. As Senior Technical Swine Nutritionist, Smith is a key link between Kent Nutrition Groupβs research development efforts and pork producers. Growing up, he owned and showed pigs from his grandparentsβ farm in Northeast Indiana where he still lives. He maintains close relationships in that territory every day with producers, some of which are managing upwards of 12,000 sows at a time. And while his traditional role as βnutritionistβ still applies, Smith says itβs evolved into much more. βI want to be a partner in their success,β he says. βTo be successful, our customers need to have access to information and products, and my role is to find them those answers. It used to be that our role as nutritionists was, βHere is the product.β Now itβs, βI have a solution for you.ββ One of Smithβs primary objectives is finding the best mix of feed costs to provide customers with optimum return. WithΒ uncertainty in the market, Smithβs challenge is to take a long-term approach with producers. βWe really have to have an understanding of the markets and make the best decisions for whatβs coming down the road," Smith says. To that end, Smith studies corn and soybean markets and analyzes ingredients for individual pork producersβ needs. There may be set nutrient specifications that a pig needs to consume, depending on housing style (confined or pasture setting) β but Smithβs job is to put algorithms to work and come up with the best feed solution. Different combinations, coupled with prices of varied ingredients, give him a best-value solution. And thatβs when Smithβs Doctorate degree in swine nutrition comes into play: either he believes the solution or he doesnβt. If he doesnβt, he goes back to work again. βItβs a balance,β Smith says. βIn reality, we want the nutrient profile to be right β corn, soybean fat. But if the pig isnβt going to grow, we have to adjust it. Itβs my job to be on top of all this.β Kentβs flexibility allows him to customize ingredients to do just that. βWe have the capability to give producers what they need, whether itβs an 800-pound inclusion supplement or a two-pound vitamin trace mineral,β Smith says. βThatβs definitely something we do best.β Jim Smith lives with his wife, Kimberly, a small animal veterinarian, in Grabill, Indiana.Β Outside of work, Jim enjoys serving as a 4-H and Cub Scout leader, hunting, camping and fishing with his family. Β Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Print Email Related Posts Jillianβs #MyTrustStory for Kent Feeds Read how Rooster and Forrest β Jillianβs rehabilitated standardbreds β inspired the recent opening of Peaceful Haven Farm, where horses can regain a healthy mind, body and soul, thanks in… Read More Charlyβs #MyTrustStory for Kent Feeds Barrel-racing quarter horses, frisbee-obsessed aussie/collies and an O.G. lady (a.k.a. an elderly layer hen) named Gwenny β they mean everything to Charly, the teacher turned stay-at-home mom who runs Forever… Read More Meet Mary Schroeder β Senior Formulations Manager Mary Schroeder oversees a formulation team that works with Kentβs nutritionists to develop new products, deliver new formulas to manufacturing facilities and evaluate costs for each ingredient. Read More