Program Overview

“Investigation of High-Fever Disease in China -- December 8-23, 2007” Dr. Dick Hesse and Dr. Butch Baker
A team of scientists from academia and industry recently returned from China after conducting an investigation of High-Fever Disease in the country. The National Pork Board, American Association of Swine Practitioners, and Tetracore, Inc. sponsored participants in an investigative trip that included visits to the Veterinary Research Institute in Shanghai, the China Agricultural University in Beijing, the Swine Diseases Division of the Veterinary Medicine Institute in the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine at the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Fuzhou. The team’s was goal was to help Chinese scientists diagnose the disease that has stricken the pig population and to assist them with technology and techniques to understand and control the disease. The team’s findings will be presented.

“Economics of disease and evaluating swine health interventions in an era of high feed costs” Dr. Derald Holtkamp
Information that will help veterinarians and producers make better decisions about whether to invest in interventions to improve swine health will be presented.  The economic return to health interventions depends upon the expected improvements in productivity.  How the economic return to these productivity improvements changes when feed costs are high will be explored.

“Common Mistakes I’ve Seen in Wean-Finish Facilities” Dr. Mike Brumm
Mistakes in wean-finish facility management include: 1. Drinking water availability; 2. Feed budget management; 3. Temperature management; 4. Ventilation management.  This presentation will include a discussion of these mistakes and recommended solutions which address these issues relating pig health and production.

“Current Issues Regarding Swine Ventilation" Dr. Joseph Zulovich
Some fundamentals will be addressed about mechanically ventilated swine facilities to provide a knowledge foundation.  This foundation will be used to address air filter systems and how they may be incorporated into mechanical ventilation systems.  Causes of mechanical ventilation failures will be examined and the probable cause of pig deaths will be predicted and items to avoid ventilation failures explored.  Finally, some ventilation troubleshooting tips will be incorporated based on the ventilation system fundamentals.

“Pork Industry Economic Outlook and Issues” Dr. Steve Meyer
Pork producers are trying to adapt to unprecedented costs amid large hog supplies.  This session will discuss key drivers of key economic variables, their impact on producers and possible techniques to help producers survive and thrive.

“Porcine circovirus vaccine trials: from the laboratory bench to the field” Dr. Raymond (Bob) R. R. Rowland 
Many PCV2 diagnostic tests and vaccines are currently available for use in the field. This talk will describe in detail the results of one of the first and perhaps most thorough PCV2 vaccine field trials. Additional information will be related to thoughts and ideas on how diagnostic tests are used in tandem to optimize vaccine performance. 

"Field experiences and effects of PCV2 vaccine on the clinical presentations of PCVAD" Dr. Jeff Okones
Clinical and sub-clinical PCVAD have been reported and documented.  Dr. Okones will describes these presentations of the disease and discuss the use of PCV2 vaccine to effectively control and prevent PCVAD in the field.

"Circovirus Vaccination Protocols:  What We Have Learned" Dr. Jeff Feder
Dr. Feder will use case studies to discuss circovirus vaccination protocols along with performance data.  He will also review different circovirus vaccination protocols that were used in the past and protocols that are still being used today.

Location:
Marina Inn, Fourth & B Streets, South Sioux City, NE. 402-494-4000 or 1-800-798-7980