Preview: Iowa welcomes World Pork Expo

The event, held June 8-10 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, is presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). The event likes to brand itself as ‘the world’s largest pork-specific trade show’, offering educational seminars, national youth swine shows, open shows and sales, as well as grilled pork and more. Producers, exhibitors and media from about 48 countries are expected to attend the 2016 event.

The trade show is the centerpiece of expo, giving pork producers a one-stop venue to compare products, services and technologies for their businesses. Companies based in North America, Asia and Europe will fill exhibit space that spans about 29,000 m2 (more than 310,000 square feet).

Educational seminars at World Pork Expo

The expo offers more than a dozen free educational seminars, to be held in the Varied Industries Building on June 8 and 9. Experts will address business management, production technologies and future developments that will impact pork producers.

The Pork Academy is presented by the Pork Checkoff and provides practical and forward-looking information. The sessions will address matters as adapting to upcoming changes in on-farm antibiotic use, preparing for a Common Swine Industry Audit, addressing cybersecurity and much more.

Speakers at the Pork Academy include:

• Dr Sam Holst, Swine Vet Center
• Lane Arthur, John Deere
• Emily Erickson, New Fashion Pork
• David Bentley, Bentley Farms
• Jason Ross, Iowa State University
• Richard Sellers, American Feed Industry Association
• Karen Hoare, National Pork Board
• Ceci Snyder, National Pork Board
• Becca Nepple, National Pork Board
• Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University

Business seminars

Business seminars will present ideas for producers to maximise their competitive advantages from the farrowing house to the global marketplace.

On Wednesday, June 8, from 9.30 am to noon, Hamlet Protein will feature experts in piglet nutrition and gut health discussing the development of the post-weaning gut and how to optimise performance. They will delve into the role of weaning age and the implications of ingredient selection, as well as whole-diet-formulation targets.

Tonisity and Boehringer Ingelheim

On Wednesday from 1 to 2 pm, and again from 3 to 4 pm, Tonisity will present insights into preparing piglets at birth for a successful, low-stress weaning. Researchers will share on-farm trial results of a new isotonic protein drink that helps suckling pigs stay hydrated, which in turn can decrease pre-weaning mortality, increase weaning weights, improve gut function and digestion, and more.

Completing the business seminar lineup on Thursday, June 9, from 8.30 am to noon, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, will host ‘Join the Race – Maximize Your Competitive Advantage’. Presenters will discuss opportunities in a global market, how to anticipate and respond to changing conditions and how on-farm strategies impact current and future success.