A record 280 participants attended the third annual London Swine Conference, held at the London Convention Centre on April 9-10. Featured speakers included Peter Brooks of University of Plymouth, Paul Schnieder of Elite Swine and Jens Peter Nielsen of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark.

The combination of excellent speakers, information that can be put to use on Ontario's farms, and an opportunity to talk with other producers made the conference one that shouldn't be missed.

"The caliber of speakers with a broad subject matter allowed for everyone in the room to learn something that they could apply to their home farms," says Dr. Cate Dewey, University of Guelph. "This has become the place for Ontario's swine industry to meet and get information that will push the industry to become better."

Paul Mistele, a pork producer from Elgin County and executive member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, says, "A program such as this makes you take a broader perspective of the industry while expanding your knowledge base."

Topics addressed during this year's conference included health management, reproductive management, the latest production practices and emerging competitors in the pork industry. Bev Hill of Hill and Hill Farms in Varna said that the session on group sow housing was very informative.

"I was made aware of the issues that are present in the pork industry," says Hill. "The session on group housing of sows allowed me to explore an opportunity that I could use when I farm."

Steve Halley from PIC Canada, a sponsor of this year's conference, says, "I was present last year and was impressed with the line up of speakers and topics as well as the industry and producer turnout. This year is no different."

The conference was organized by Ontario Pork, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the University of Guelph, and aims to provide the swine industry with high quality information, accelerate the implementation of new technologies, facilitate the exchange of ideas and to improve the Ontario swine industry.

Source: Ontario Pork, 15th April 2003