MANHATTAN, Kan. — Registration is now open for a program that has provided relevant and accurate information for 14 years to those who own, manage or work in swine grow-finish facilities.
PorkBridge, a distance education series offered by Kansas State University since 2005, provides six opportunities each year to hear from industry experts on topics relevant to those in grow-finish operations.
K-State is one of 11 collaborating universities that developed the program. The 2019 session kicks off on Feb. 7, but those interested in participating must register by Jan. 15 in order to receive materials in time.
The registration form is available at KSUSwine.org.
“Producers and others in the industry can get the information they need without the hassle of traveling or giving up an entire day to attend a meeting,” said Joel DeRouchey, animal science professor and extension swine specialist. “PorkBridge participants can take part where it works best for them whether at home, in an office or in the swine unit. And all can listen later to the audio we record of each live session.”
Each session begins at 11:30 a.m. CST and lasts about 60 minutes. Session dates, speakers and their industry affiliations are:
- Feb. 7 – Patrick Webb, National Pork Board: “Foreign Animal Disease Awareness”
- April 4 – Melissa Wilson, University of Minnesota: “Current Manure Value: Getting the Most from Manure”
- May 30 – Jesse McCoy, Neogen: “Water Quality Considerations”
- Aug. 1 – Dusty Compart and Chris Murphy, Compeer Financial: “Contract Growing: The In’s and Out’s”
- Oct. 3 – Brett Ramirez, Iowa State University: “Controlling Barn Environment”
- Dec. 5 – Max Rodibaugh, AMVC: “Timely Intervention of Sick Pigs”
“We’ve lowered the registration price to $100 for the entire series and feel that the information provided is seen as high value for the program cost,” DeRouchey said.
He added that each subsequent registration from the same entity is half the cost, or $50. Each registration provides access to one phone line per session and all program materials for each registration, including audio recordings of the live session.
Participants from outside the U.S. are encouraged to contact Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center, at 515-294-4496 or shoyer@iastate.edu for more information.
More information, including session dates, topics, speakers and registration information, is available online at KSUSwine.org. Interested participants also may contact Hoyer, or DeRouchey at jderouch@ksu.edu or 785-532-2280.
The Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry department serves students, livestock producers and the animal and food industries through teaching, research and education.The K-State ASI department prepares students for careers in the animal and food industries. The curriculum includes the study of nutrition, reproduction, genetics, behavior, meat science, food science with production, management, and agribusiness skills. For more about the K-State’s ASI department visit asi.ksu.edu.
— Angie Stump Denton, K-State Research and Extension
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