Farms.com Home  › News

Registration now open for 15th annual Iowa Swine Day

The 15th annual Iowa Swine Day is set for Thursday, June 25, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. Hosted by the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University, Iowa Swine Day is a one-day conference focused on topics vital to the U.S. pork industry. 

Iowa Swine Day speakers are chosen by a planning committee of swine producers and allied industry representatives to ensure the program’s content is focused on current issues in today’s swine industry. 

This year’s agenda includes sessions on gene editing, artificial intelligence and innovation in pork production, along with research updates and applied talks from university and industry experts.

The program will kick off with a keynote address on innovation and leadership by Steve Lerch, former Google executive and president of Story Arc Consulting. This will be followed by the Lauren Christian Lecture on Swine Management and Genetics, given by Mike Paustian, who will address gene editing from a producer’s perspective. 

Additional morning sessions feature Dhamu Thamodaran, retired executive of Smithfield Foods, sharing insights from four decades of working in the swine industry, and Todd Thurman, CEO of Swine Insights International, discussing practical applications of artificial intelligence in swine production.

In the afternoon, participants can choose between two concurrent sessions. One track will feature applied, production-related topics, and the other will highlight recent research from Iowa State University experts. Themes include facility management, nutrition, labor, digital technology and more. 

All attendees registered for Iowa State Day are welcome to attend a pre-conference swine networking social held the evening prior. The social will be on Wednesday, June 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center, 2508 Mortensen Road in Ames.  

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Refeeding Syndrome After Weaning - Dr. Theo van Kempen

Video: Refeeding Syndrome After Weaning - Dr. Theo van Kempen



In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Theo van Kempen, an independent consultant with extensive swine nutrition and product development experience, explains how refeeding syndrome can affect newly weaned piglets. He discusses phosphate depletion, edema, intestinal health, oxygen delivery, and high-glycemic nursery diets, and presents nutritional strategies designed to reduce postweaning challenges. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40710...

“Refeeding syndrome develops when feeding resumes after fasting, creating an acute phosphate deficiency as metabolism rapidly accelerates and cellular phosphate requirements increase.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Theo van Kempen / theo-van-kempen-26181b15 holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition from the University of Illinois and has extensive experience in swine nutrition, digestive health, nutrient management, and feed product development. His career includes academic research at North Carolina State University and leadership positions in animal nutrition R&D. He currently works independently in product development, including nutraceutical and nutritional innovation. Listen to Dr. Theo van Kempen on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms!