Transitioning to Organic Swine and Lamb Webinar Nov. 5th

Oct 16, 2025

Join us for an informative one-hour webinar focused on the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to organic swine and lamb production. Hear from Dr. Angela Jackson, advisor and organic transition expert from South Dakota, alongside Kevin O’Connell, an experienced organic livestock producer at O’Connell Organic Acres in Iowa.

This session will highlight practical steps for certification, organic standards, animal welfare, pasture requirements, and marketing strategies for organic pork and lamb.

This webinar will cover:

Foundations of organic certification for livestock.
Overview of USDA organic requirements for swine and lamb, including feed, health care, and transition timelines.
Kevin O’Connell’s journey, including the hurdles and rewards of transitioning to certified organic production.
Lessons learned from O’Connell Organic Acres in organic swine and lamb production
Free technical assistance, mentoring opportunities, and support through the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)

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Video: Genetics vs Genomics in Swine - Dr. Max Rothschild

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Max Rothschild, Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, explains how genetics and genomics have transformed swine production. He explores genomic selection, key gene discoveries, and the role of gene editing in improving disease resistance and productivity. Practical insights on litter size, meat quality, and industry adoption are also discussed. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Genetic improvement in swine production accelerated significantly once molecular tools enabled identification of DNA level variation influencing growth, reproduction, and meat quality across commercial populations."

Meet the guest: Dr. Max Rothschild / max-f-rothschild-b3800312 earned his PhD in Animal Breeding from Cornell University and has spent over four decades at Iowa State University advancing swine genetics and genomics. His research focuses on genetic improvement, disease resistance, and molecular tools for swine production. A leader in pig genome research, his work has shaped modern breeding strategies.