Biosecurity workshops for pork producers offered in northeast Iowa
The recent spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China has elevated the importance of biosecurity to reduce the risk of a domestic or foreign animal disease entering the farm. The no-cost workshop “Biosecurity Best Practices for Pork Producers” is for swine producers, employees, veterinarians and industry partners to learn, develop and prioritize biosecurity practices.
Derald J Holtkamp, ISU Vet Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine associate professor, said “Biosecurity can become complex and overwhelming. In the workshop we focus on carrying agents and risk events to help individual operations evaluate their own situation. Operations are different; the workshop may help identify the “low hanging fruit” which can reduce the entry or spread of disease.”
Session topics will include: diseases of concern, carrying agents, risk event, intervention strategies, prioritizing farm risk, creating a biosecurity culture and Secure Pork Supply. Workshop also includes round table discussions and a demonstration of how disease may pass a clean/dirty line. An ISU Extension Swine Field Specialist will lead the program with Dr. Holtkamp joining the Manchester and Nashua locations.
Northeast Iowa sessions:
November 29: 2-4 p.m, Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Horticulture Bldg., Cedar Rapids
Pre-registration: contact Colin Johnson 515-291-9287
December 5: 1-3:30 pm, Delaware County Extension, 1417 N Franklin St., Manchester
Pre-registration: contact Mark Storlie 563-425-3331
December 11: 1-3:30 pm, Borlaug Learning Center, 3327 290th St. near Nashua
Pre-registration: contact Russ Euken 641-231-1711 or Mark Storlie 563-425-3331
The workshop is free with pre-registration and will be available until the day before the workshop date, only if space remains. Attendance is limited to 30, with a minimum of 10 registrations required to hold the workshop. For additional information or to preregister, contact the listed Swine Field Specialist.
The programs are sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa Pork Industry Center.
