New Resources Available Online

The Pork Checkoff has created two new resources for pork producers that are available online at pork.org.

The first brochure is Alternative Feed Ingredients in Swine Diets. With increasing feed costs and a potential shortage of feed grains, producers must consider the use of alternative feedstuffs in their pigs' rations. This brochure lists ingredients that can cover animals' energy and protein needs when corn and soybeans are not easily available or when their use is not economically feasible. Special considerations for the alternative ingredients, including maximum inclusion rates in swine diets are included.

This brochure was edited by Mark Boggess of the Pork Checkoff, Joel DeRouchey of Kansas State University and Hans H. Stein of the University of Illinois and is available online at pork.org.

The second brochure is Selenium Toxicity in the Western United States' Industry. Cases of selenium toxicity have been confirmed in herds in some western states. This brochure will help producers identify selenium toxicity if it is a problem on their farm and take measures to correct it. The information was adapted from a report by Don Mahan of the Ohio State University.

Transportation Biosecurity Summit
The Transportation Biosecurity Summit has been programmed for July 15-16, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Kansas City International Airport. The summit is geared to an audience of pork producers, livestock transporters, veterinarians and allied industry interested in topics relating to:

Biosecurity in transport
Transport design
Transport use
The summit includes updates on disease transfer through transport vehicles, best practices in cleaning and disinfecting transport vehicles, vehicle design, etc.

Online registration and a full program are available at pork.org. The program is organized by Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the Pork Checkoff. For a detailed agenda and registration visit pork.org.

What Is a Distance Learning Course?
The Pork Checkoff’s Distance Learning courses are interactive programs that can be executed in a variety of ways.

Available now:

Production Series # 08185

* English and Spanish Versions
o Farrowing Management Revised 2006
o Nursery Management
o Grower Finisher Management Revised 2006
o Your Role as a Swine Caretaker
o Biosecurity in Pork Production
o Effective Handling of Pigs
o Pork Production Safety System

* English Versions
o Breeding and Gestation Management
o Ventilation Management
o On Farm Euthanasia of Swine
o Pig Husbandry and Stockmanship
o Swine Disease Recognition and Treatment

Manager Series #08186

* People Development
o Swine Caretaker
o Human Resources Management
o Pork Production Safety System Course
o Pork Production Safety System Supplemental materials

* Decision Tools
o Sow Housing Alternatives Calculator
o Financial Analysis Tool
o Troubleshooting Production and Financial Benchmarks

Other Titles

* Pork Quality Assurance #08142
* Youth Pork Quality Assurance #03576

* Swine Welfare Assurance Program #8144
* Segregated Early Weaning #08143

Take the farrowing management course as an example. The farrowing management course gives a step-by-step tutorial on farrowing sows. Topic areas include pre-farrowing management, the farrowing process, processing piglets, managing a lactating sow and managing piglets.

The combination of a narrator and visual aids helps the learning process. The ability to cross reference with related topics, plus a supplemental fact sheet at the end of each chapter, allows producers access to a wide variety of information.

The courses are targeted for caretakers in the barns. The training materials are ideal for those with little or no experience, as well as for those who need a refresher course on certain subjects. The courses are user friendly, designed so even computer novices will find something they can use. Each Distance Learning course includes:

* a main menu of the entire course and specific topics,
* a reference section, which links to related materials and information on the topic,
* a search function for quick access to specific information,
* a help option for any problems you might have with the course, and
* a print option for a hard copy of the information.

Order Distance Learning Courses (Free to U.S. Pork Producers) from the Pork Store!