Oct 15, 2003 12:00 PM,
by Joe Vansickle, Senior Editor (952) 851-4670; jvansickle@primediabusiness.com
The 11th annual Iowa State University Swine Disease Conference for Swine Practitioners is Nov. 6-7 in Ames, IA.
The two-day program includes sessions on the impact of swine influenza virus diversity on vaccine development, human vs. animal diseases and their relationships, lessons of 15 years of multi-site production and successes and pitfalls of parity segregation.
Other talks cover gut edema disease and Haemophilus parasuis in grow-finish pigs, the National Pork Board's (NPB) new Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP), risk assessment for swine disease control strategies and unconventional reproductive disease in sows.
Several presentations will look at porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS): the costs to a commercial operation, immunity, eradication protocols and the Pork Board's 15-year PRRS initiative.
To register, e-mail confreg@iastate.edu or phone Peg Uthe at (515) 294-6222.
There was a lot to be positive about in the pork industry the last week of October. I realize it is difficult to be optimistic when you are still losing $25 to $30/head. I also realize that positive news at this point could be as dangerous as it is welcome. But facts are facts, and we must recognize them.
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As I begin this week's column, I"m reminded of two different "flip side" statements that may help characterize the topic at hand. The first is the old Archie Campbell schtick - "That's good - no that’s bad," which I have used before. The second reflects President Truman's frustration with economists' incessant use of the qualifier - "on the other hand" - to introduce the contrary opinion on a given topic. President Truman once demanded in his usual colorful language: "Will someone please find me a *!&%$*?>
