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PORK Academy Features Full Slate of Producer Seminars

DES MOINES, IOWA  – The Pork Checkoff’s Producer Opportunity for Revenue and Knowledge (PORK) Academy sessions will again be part of the World Pork Expo, Wednesday, June 3 through Thursday, June 4, 2015. The annual sessions are designed to educate pig farmers on the latest trends in pork production. The PORK Academy is held each year during World Pork Expo on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. “PORK Academy offers an outstanding lineup of leading experts who will address issues facing producers today,” said James Coates, chair of the Checkoff’s Producer and State Services Committee and a pork producer from Franklin, Kentucky. “These sessions will provide attendees with information to help operate their farms more effectively and to stay current on industry trends and challenges.”  2015 PORK Academy seminars will be held at Varied Industries Bldg. Room C and will cover:

WEDNESDAY- JUNE 3, 2015
Varied Industries Bldg. Room C

9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.                                                                                        
FDA Antibiotics Guidance

Jennifer Koeman, National Pork Board
Harry Snelson, American Association Swine Veterinarians
This session will provide an overview of regulatory changes on antibiotic use in food animals and what it will mean on the farm.

10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Secure Pork Supply

Pam Zaabel, Iowa State University
The secure pork supply plan is being developed to help maintain business continuity in the event of trade limiting foreign animal disease of swine. Recently the producer components of the plan were piloted in Iowa. This session will provide an overview of the pilot project and the experiences of the production system that participated.

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Common Industry Audit

Sherrie Webb, National Pork Board
As packers have begun implementing on-farm audit programs for their suppliers, the National Pork Board has facilitated the development of the Common Swine Industry Audit to reduce burdens on producers and build audit process clarification across the industry. Sherrie will highlight progress of the standard industry audit and help producers be prepared for when they are called.

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV)

Paul Thomas, AMVC
This session will provide the most up-to-date research information on the management and control of PEDV within the U.S., including information and biosecurity interventions for transportation.

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
U.S. Pork Exports – Situation & Outlook

Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University
Becca Nepple, National Pork Board
Plan to learn about U.S. pork export markets, gain insight into world economics and the growing opportunity for global trade.

THURSDAY- JUNE 4, 2015
Varied Industries Bldg. Room C

9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.     
Sow Lifetime Productivity

Chris Hostetler, National Pork Board
The number of quality pigs a sow produces from the time she becomes breeding eligible until she leaves the herd is more comprehensive than simply measuring pigs per sow per year. It more fully represents the overall efficiency with which she produces pigs and has a greater impact on profitability of the entire enterprise. Nutrition, genetic selection, environment, animal welfare and health are just a few of the bigger factors that affect productivity. Research is being conducted that to provide pork producers with management tools to improve sow lifetime productivity.

10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  
Planning for an emergency mass-depopulation of swine in response to a foreign animal disease outbreak

Mark Rice, North Carolina State University
In the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the United States, a method for rapid on-farm swine mass-depopulation must meet American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) requirements. This session will share planning tools and basic planning concepts for an on-farm system that meets AVMA recommendations.

11:15 p.m. – Noon
The Swine Health Information Center – A New Defense for the Industry

Paul Sundberg, National Pork Board
The experience of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) has offered many lessons. We have learned the logistics of today’s pork production is so large that the likelihood of being able to protect against the entry of another disease is, at best, extremely small. International travel has dramatically increased, and pork producers import a wide variety of inputs onto their farms. This session will share how we can prepare for future production diseases and how the Swine Health Information Center can help with coordinated federal, state and industry responses.

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Mitigating Impact of Seasonal Loss of Productivity

Tim Safranski, University of Missouri
This session will provide information on the impacts of seasonality of swine, including recent research that has measured the impact of in utero heat stress on subsequent growth, composition and reproductive efficiency. More research is being conducted to define the in utero effect.

2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Pork Quality

David Newman, North Dakota State University
Dustin Boler, University of Illinois
Consistent, high-quality pork will increase positive eating experiences for consumers. David will discuss the results of the updated retail quality study along with the direction of improving pork quality.  Dustin will present on Checkoff funded research correlating the quality from different primals of the pork carcass.

Source: Porkcheckoff


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