By Mark Storlie, Dave Stender, Sherry Hoyer
Pork producers are invited to attend either of two June workshops focusing on advanced swine reproductive management topics. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa Pork Producers Association are sponsoring the seminars in Le Mars and Waverly.
The LeMars workshop will be held Wednesday, June 10, at the Le Mars Convention Center, 275 12th St SE. The northeast Iowa workshop will be held in Waverly Thursday, June 11, at the Waverly Civic Center, 200 1st St. NE. Registration at both sites begins at 9:30 a.m. with the first session starting at 10 a.m. The event concludes with a question-and-answer session at 3 p.m.
Keynote speaker is Larry Coleman, DVM, of Broken Bow, Neb., with the topic of “No Pig Left Behind: Increasing Piglet Survival in the Farrowing House.” He will explain how swine producers using proper management should be able to decrease stillbirths and pre-weaning mortality, while weaning 14 pigs per litter and achieving 35 pigs per sow per year. Coleman also will present, “Increasing Employee Success: Is There a Silver Bullet?”
Jason Ross, assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State, will provide a technology update, present information on a “summer heat impact on fertility” study and offer ideas to improve reproductive performance.
Extension swine specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will provide awareness of the sow caliper, a tool to accurately manage sow body condition scores and manage feed costs. The tool was developed by Mark Knauer, North Carolina State University Extension swine specialist. Dave Stender will present at the Le Mars location and Mark Storlie will present at the Waverly location.
Workshop cost is $30 per person, which includes lunch and materials. A multiple-attendee discount is available by contacting the swine specialist associated with for the specific location. Preregistration is strongly encouraged to assure an accurate meal count. More details and a registration form are available in the Le Mars location brochure and the Waverly location brochure.