PORK INFORMATION GATEWAY SPOTLIGHT 

Register Now For SowBridge Breeding Herd Education Series

The first year of the SowBridge Breeding Herd Education Series just finished, and registrations are now being taken for the next year of the program, which will begin November 5th. 

“The SowBridge program provides valuable information on the daily care and management of the sow herd from breeding through lactation, as well as piglet care” states, Mark Whitney, swine Extension specialist with the University of Minnesota.  “We have brought together national industry experts to discuss options for key issues affecting this segment of the pork industry”

The distance learning program is designed for owners, employees, technicians, managers, and technical service providers involved in managing or caring for boars, sows, and/or their litters.  Several university Extension programs have developed and are providing this program.  Each month a new program is presented, lasting approximately 45 minutes. 

Presentations are mailed on a CD to participants one week prior to the program.  Participants follow along with the presentations on their computer while listening to the presenter via a toll-free telephone line.  “Many breeding/gestation units have utilized the program to have employees view and listen over their noon break, utilizing a speaker telephone” states Whitney. Click here for a complete list of program topics and speakers.

Registration and program information are available at www.extension.umn.edu/swine.  In order to receive materials in time for the first program, registrations must be received by October 20th. 

Phone registrations can also be completed by calling Sherry Hoyer at (515) 294-4496.