The National Swine Nutrition Guide will be distributed and explained at a series of regional conferences beginning in February. The guide, consisting of nutrition fact sheets, nutrient recommendation tables and diet formulation and evaluation software, will be included with an US$80 conference registration or available for purchase separately for $125.

The National Swine Nutrition Guide, funded by a United Soybean Board grant, was developed in collaboration with land-grant universities, agri-businesses and the US Pork Center of Excellence.

The six regional training conferences will be held in: Moses Lake, Wash. on February 5; Raleigh, N.C. on February 11; Kansas City, Mo. on February 17; Indianapolis, Ind. on February 24; Sioux City, Iowa on March 5; and Owatonna, Minn. on March 11.

To register or learn more, please visit the US Pork Center web site [click here] or call (515) 294-2490. Conference registration will be open until two weeks prior to each session.

The training conferences will be administered by members of the National Swine Nutrition Guide Steering Committee. The sessions will focus on the use and application of the guide and also will include a demonstration of the Diet Formulation and Evaluation software program.

David Meisinger, director of the US Pork Center of Excellence explained: "This development effort has been a great collaboration between the US Pork Center of Excellence, several extension nutritionists and all the major feed companies. The result is a reference book and software that will be of great value to the industry for years to come."