Director of Production Research
Smithfield Foods
Warsaw, NC
Ashley DeDecker, Ph.D. Director of Production Research Smithfield Foods
Dr. DeDecker grew up on a third generation family pig and grain farm in West Central Illinois. She received her B.S. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Animal Science in 2006. She then pursued her Ph.D. in swine well-being at the University of Illinois where she studied the impact of housing pregnant sows in group-pens and how it impacts animal behavior, performance and stress physiology.
After receiving her Ph.D. in 2011, Dr. DeDecker began her career as the Assistant Director of Production Research in the Science & Technology Department at Smithfield Hog Production Division. Dr. DeDecker’s responsibilities are to conduct an internal technology development effort across the Smithfield organization that is innovative, future-focused, and strategic in nature.
Currently a Director of Production Research for Smithfield, Dr. DeDecker’s serves on multiple committees, including Smithfield Animal Care Committee, National Pork Board Animal Welfare Committee and on the executive board for Animal Agriculture Alliance. Dr. DeDecker conducts high quality research in all disciplines of swine production including feed manufacturing, nutrition, well-being, reproduction, performance and productivity, animal health, and meat quality.
Ashley works in Rose Hill, North Carolina and has been with Smithfield for 8 years.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM CST