Here is a quick snapshot of the amazing talks that will be happening this year at the Allen D. Leman swine conference. We hope to see you there!
Opportunities in the Export Market – Randy Spronk, Spronk Brothers III, USMEF
A past president of the National Pork Producers Council and the Minnesota Pork Producers Association, Randy Spronk serves on the board of directors of Wholestone Farms and is president and managing partner for Spronk Brothers Holding, which includes operations that produce pork and feed grains, along with feed milling and delivery. Randy Spronk is chair-elect of the U.S. Meat Export Federation and he will provide an overview of the swine markets with an emphasis on opportunities in pork product exports.
Sustainable Veterinary Medicine – Tackling the challenges of a dynamic industry – Chris Richards, Apiam Animal Health
Dr. Chris Richards is the Managing Director of Apiam Animal Health Ltd, which through its 74 clinics (330 veterinarians) provide veterinary services across regional and rural Australia. He is responsible for the strategic direction of Apiam, which since 1998 has seen the development, acquisition and integration of production and companion animal veterinary clinics, veterinary product distribution, diagnostic and vaccine laboratories, and genetics services businesses into a fully integrated veterinary business. As part of his presentation Dr. Richards will talk about the evolving field of veterinary services outlining opportunities to enrich the lives of animals, people and communities.
Improving biosecurity through Bob Morrison’s legacy – Morrison Lectureship – Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, University of Montreal
Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, whose research interests include population medicine and biosecurity, is a Full Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Montreal. Dr. Vaillancourt has challenged the poultry industry to consider compliance of the biosecurity programs to be the success of any disease control and prevention program and is now doing the same for the swine industry. He will present his latest research and will challenge the industry on the importance of compliance and the understanding of human behavior to have a successful programs. His presentation will also reflect on the impact of Dr. Bob Morrison legacy in improving biosecurity in the swine industry.
Chasing a moving target: Rapid evolution and spread of PRRSV in the U.S. – Pijoan Lectureship – Kim VanderWaal, University of Minnesota
Dr. Kim VanderWaal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota. She is a disease ecologist and epidemiologist who has worked extensively on understanding transmission of pathogens in animal populations. Her research interests relate to the use of network analysis, mathematical modeling, phylogenetic approaches and animal movement data to improve surveillance, prevention, and control of infectious pathogens of agro-ecological systems. She also studies the causes and consequences of pathogen genetic diversity, with a particular focus on understanding how genetic diversity can be harnessed to track the spread of viruses and how evolution and immunology interact to drive the epidemiology and emergence of viral strains. During her presentation, Dr. VanderWaal will present the latest findings on PRRSV evolution and how factors such as immunity are shaping the emergence of new strains.
Beer and Bacon Conversations with Dr. Mike Eisenmenger
We hope you got your ticket to Sunday’s Beer and Bacon Conversations session sponsored by Elanco. Join us for a fun conversation with Dr. Mike Eisenmenger as he reflects on his professional career in the swine industry and his contributions in leadership, mentoring upcoming veterinarians and servicing swine producers.