The breeding herd is the life blood of U.S. swine operations, and producers are continually looking for ways to improve on the productivity of the herd’s females.

Kara Stewart, Purdue University associate professor in Animals Sciences, and Aaron Gaines, a managing partner with Ani-Tek, will bring their perspective to a webinar — Management Considerations to Improve Breeding Herd Productivity — at 1 p.m. Central July 11, the latest in the Science Talks. webinar series brought to you by National Hog Farmer and sponsored by Merck Animal Health.

Stewart and Gaines will present fresh ideas on how to increase gilt pool utilization and longevity, by focusing on feeding, facilities and management strategies to decrease non-productive days and maximize fertility of the sow herd.

As summer gets into full swing, producers know very well the impact that heat can have on seasonal fertility. The panel will discuss strategies to blunt the impact of seasonal infertility. Anyone who manages or works with sows will find this webinar an excellent primer to increase productivity.

National Hog Farmer Senior Staff Writer Kevin Schulz will moderate this July 11 webinar.

Stewart received her bachelor’s degree from Purdue in 2001 and her master’s and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University with Billy Flowers in 2004 and 2008, respectively. She taught in the Animal Science department at NCSU for two years before returning to Indiana to work for Cook Inc., a human medical device company. In July of 2013, Stewart accepted a faculty position in reproductive physiology in the Animal Science Department at Purdue University. She carries a majority Extension appointment working across several species, predominantly swine, and teaches a reproductive management and a reproductive physiology course for undergraduates. Her recent research has focused on mitigation strategies for heat stress in boars and sows. Additionally, she is investigating biomarkers of fertility in seminal plasma from boars and vaginal samples from weaned gilts.

Gaines completed his bachelors in Agriculture, masters in Animal Science, and doctorate in Animal Science degrees at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Prior to Ani-Tek, Gaines held positions at Professional Swine Management, United Animal Health and The Maschhoffs. Gaines has been in the swine industry for nearly 20 years and as managing partner of Ani-Tek, he is focused on product development and supporting new products into the marketplace for livestock.

Register today for this hour-long webinar. This registration link will also allow you access to previous Science Talks. webinars. Not able to attend? Register anyway! Archived versions of National Hog Farmer webinars are available to watch On Demand shortly after broadcast. You will receive an email with login instructions as soon as the replay is available.