Swine in Minnesota

Best of Leman: Abigail Jenkins – Managing large litters: Practical strategies for split‑suckling and teat optimization

This is our most popular series on the blog. Once a month, we are sharing with you a presentation given at the Allen D. Leman swine conference, on topics that the swine group found interesting, innovative or that lead to great discussions.

Want more? Find previous presentations in our Best of Leman archives.

This presentation was given by Abigail Jenkins of Kansas State University and Tosh Farms during the 2025 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference.

Last chance for DVM Students to apply for the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize at this year’s Leman Swine Conference! Apply by Saturday!

Veterinary students: Did you shadowing a swine practitioner this summer or have you been involved in an interesting clinical case investigation? Did you work on your veterinary skills by designing a differential diagnosis list or working on a treatment plan? Did you investigate a problem by analyzing production records? Share your work at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference to win the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize!

Explorating Routes of ASFv Entry into and Spread from Two Pork Harvest Facilities in the US

Today, we are sharing a recent publication from the Secure Food Systems team at the University of Minnesota, in which they are performing a proactive analysis regarding transmission pathways that African Swine Fever could potentially take in pork harvest facilities.

Start your learning early and earn extra CEs by attending pre-conference sessions at the Leman Swine Conference

George Foxcroft Reproduction Workshop: Closing the gap – Why the top 20% of farms outperform the average

The genetic potential of contemporary commercial dam lines sets the bar for outstanding performance, yet many herds fail to realize this potential. Closing the gap between the average breeding herd and the top 10-20% remains an opportunity for industry improvement. This workshop explores the critical aspects of breeding herd management that support excellent productivity. Achieving this requires a multifaceted approach to navigating the everyday challenges and opportunities that address everything from gilt and sow management, to herd health, the role of the boar stud, data management and more.

Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Workshop: Swine necropsy

Vaccines developed with pig models hold the key to tackling the global threat of flu

As the world continues to grapple with evolving infectious diseases, scientists are increasingly turning to pigs in the fight against influenza.

A team of international researchers, including experts from the University of Minnesota, believes treatments and vaccines that prove effective in pigs are more likely to succeed in humans compared to those developed using traditional small-animal models.