SowBridge educational series promotes learning flexibility and convenience

Don’t have a lot of time to attend a seminar or conference, but are still interested in staying current with new technology, research, and management techniques related to breeding, gestation, and/or farrowing management?  An educational series, entitled “SowBridge”, allows sow unit owners, managers and employees to increase their knowledge and skills without needing to leave the comfort of their home or farm office, and is designed to aid in day-to-day activities and enhance profitability of their herd or unit. 

The SowBridge Breeding Herd Education Series is a new distance learning program modeled after the popular “PorkBridge” grow-finish series.  The program combines electronic information viewed on computer with live oral presentations via phone by national experts in topic areas.  Subject material is designed to cover topics and issues applicable to modern operations and systems of all sizes.

The week before each session, subscribers receive a CD containing that session’s presentation, along with information on accessing the live speaker presentation.  Subscribers call into a toll-free conference line to listen to and interact with presenters.  Each program is 45 minutes in length, while cost for participating in this series of 12 programs is $250. 

“Many producers or employees can take participate in the programs together under one registration” says Mark Whitney, University of Minnesota Swine Specialist and program co-leader.  “We anticipate farm managers and owners to sign up for the program and have several employees take in the presentations over their noon break.  This program should also promote interaction within the group afterward, stimulating discussion on how subject matter presented during the session affects them and their operation.”

The SowBridge program is sponsored by the University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, University of Nebraska, Ohio State University, and South Dakota State University.  Mark Whitney and Lee Johnston of the University of Minnesota are coordinators for the program.  Those interested in registering or learning more about the program can contact Whitney (507-389-5541), Johnston (320-589-1711), Ken Stalder (IA, 515-294-4683), Don Levis (NE, 402-584-3816), Dale Ricker (OH, 419-523-6294), or Steve Pohl (SD, 605-688-5662).