PorkBridge is a distance education series that provides relevant and timely information for people involved with grow-finish swine operations, according to the Iowa Pork Industry Center.  It combines electronic information viewed on a computer with live presentations by topic experts via phone on an every-other-month basis for a total of six times during each program year.

Since its inception in 2005, the series has reached producers and industry professionals across the United States and around the world. Sessions are recorded and the audio provided to subscribers as it becomes available. For some sessions listed here no audio is available.

See information on the 2014 PorkBridge distance educational series. View and download the 2014 PorkBridge brochure with registration form (pdf); the topics are listed below:

Below see the list of topics, speakers and presentations (pdf), and listen to available audio (.wav ) from the program’s first few years. This list is updated as files are available. Please note that information was correct and appropriate as of the presentation date. No guarantee is made of accuracy of any of the information since that date.

PorkBridge 2010-2011

June 2010: Bob Thaler, South Dakota State University, “Mycotoxins: What We’ve Learned and What We You Need to Know” Audio file

August 2010: Larry Jacobson and David Schmidt, University of Minnesota, “Current Understanding on Pit Foaming, Barn Explosions and Safety Precautions” Audio file

October 2010: Mike Brumm, Brumm Swine Consultancy, Inc., “Preparing Your Ventilation and Heating Systems for Winter’s Challenges” Audio file

December 2010: Alan Evers, Cooper Farms, and Matt Ritter, Elanco Animal Health, “Going Hot-Shot Free: Tips to Improve Hog Handling” Audio file

February 2011: Michelle Sprague, DVM, AMVC Management Services, “Euthanasia Techniques, Tools, and Protocols” Audio file

April 2011: Liz Wagstrom, DVM, University of Minnesota, “Pork Producers and the Issue of Antibiotic Use” Audio file

PorkBridge 2009-2010
March 2009: John Waddell, DVM, Sutton Veterinary Clinic, “Current Swine Health Challenges and Solutions” Audio file

May 2009: Tom Guthrie, Michigan State University, “Managing Water” Audio file

July 2009: Jay Harmon, Iowa State University, “Energy Use and Conservation for Swine Barns” Audio file

September 2009: John Lory, University of Missouri, “Manure Value and Alteration of Composition” Audio file

November 2009: Collette Shultz-Kaster and Roger Johnson, Farmland Foods, “Packer Prospective on Quality of Hogs” Audio file

January 2010: Mike Tokach, Kansas State University, “Marketing Your Hogs at the Ideal Weight” Audio file

PorkBridge 2007-2008
December 2007: Glen Arnold, The Ohio State University, “Swine Manure Application and Crop Responses” Audio file

February 2008: Steve Moeller, The Ohio State University, “Pork Quality – What Producers Should Know” Audio file

April 2008: Rodney “Butch” Baker, DVM, Iowa State University, “Porcine Circovirus – What Do We Know and What Can We Do?” Audio file

May/June 2008: Lee Whittington, Prairie Swine Centre, “Use of Large Group Pens and Auto-Sort Technology” Audio file

August 2008: Jeff Feder, DVM, Swine Vet Center, “Properly Walking Pens” No audio file

October 2008: Stephen Pohl, South Dakota State University, “Ventilation Basics, Adjustments and Maintenance” Audio file

PorkBridge 2006-2007

October 2007: Dick Nicolai, South Dakota State University, “Odor Basics & Reducing Technologies” Audio file

August 2007: Steve R. Meyer, Paragon Economics, Inc., “Ethanol, DDGS’s, and the Cost of Raising Hogs” Audio file

May 2007: Mike Brumm, Brumm Swine Consultancy, Inc., “What We’ve Learned About Out-of-Feed Events” Audio file

April 2007: Locke Karriker, DVM, Iowa State University, “Why do I have to sample so many pigs for accurate serology results?” No audio available.

February 2007: Mark Whitney, University of Minnesota, “Pig Handling Techniques and Options to Maximize Productivity” No audio available.

December 2006: Jay D. Harmon, Iowa State University, “How do ventilation controllers communicate with variable speed fans?” No audio available.

PorkBridge 2005-2006

October 2006: Lee Johnston, University of Minnesota, “Pig Welfare – What are the basics for grow-finish facilities?” No audio available.

August 2006: Alex Ramirez, DVM, Iowa State University, “The Basics of Grow-Finish Biosecurity” No audio available.

June 2006: Bob Thaler, South Dakota State University, “Keeping Pigs Eating in Hot Weather” No audio available.

April 2006: Rick Stowell, University of Nebraska, “Managing the Pig Environment: Using Your Ventilation Controller” No audio available.

February 2006: Locke Karriker, DVM, Iowa State University, “Swine Postmortem Techniques for Grow-Finish” No audio available.

December 2005: Mike Brumm, University of Nebraska, “Feed & Water as Predictors of Tomorrow’s Performance” No audio available.