The programme is designed as a continual training and learning programme for people involved in managing or caring for boars, sows, and/or litters, according to Joel DeRouchey, livestock specialist with K-State Research and Extension. Participants may be operation owners, managers, employees, technicians or technical service providers. Past participants have been from the United States, Canada, China, Ireland, Australia and West Indies.

Topics for the 2014 SowBridge include: Preventing or Managing Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus at the Farm; Feeding/Management of Sows in Pens; Inducing Sows to Farrow; Determining the Right Time to Cull Sows; Gilt Development and others.

"One real advantage to this comprehensive agricultural professional development programme is that there’s no travel required," Dr DeRouchey said. "The sessions are taught by experts from all over the country and those who register participate from their home or farm office."

Twelve monthly sessions take place throughout the year. All sessions start at 11:30 a.m. Central time and last for 45 minutes, which includes time for questions. The programme is offered by subscription at a cost of $250 for the first registration from a business and $125 for each subsequent subscription from the same operation. Registration provides access to one phone line per session and all programme materials for each session. Prior to each session, participants receive a CD with the session’s presentation, along with information to call a toll-free conference line to listen to and interact with presenters.

The anticipated deadline for registration is 15 January 2014. More information and a full programme brochure is available here or by contacting DeRouchey at 785-532-2280 or [email protected]. For a sampling of previous SowBridge programmes, visit www.ipic.iastate.edu/sowbridge.html.

SowBridge is sponsored by a group of 11 state universities, including Kansas State University. The Iowa Pork Industry Center coordinates all registration and subscriber mailings.