Swine Health was the focus of a significant event recently at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis as swine industry partners and swine producers gathered for the National Junior Summer Spectacular (NJSS) and Summer Type Conference (STC). The event was held at the end of June in the Fall Creek Pavilion and included a Swine Health Briefing that featured swine industry and veterinary medicine leaders including Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh, who also had an opportunity to provide an update on the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Attending the National Summer Type Conference Swine Briefing was an outstanding opportunity to connect with leaders across the swine industry and reinforce Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s commitment to advancing animal health and supporting food animal agriculture,” Dr. Marsh said. “Representing the College in this setting highlights the important role veterinarians play in collaborating with producers, industry partners, and researchers to address today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities. These conversations strengthen relationships and ensure Purdue remains a trusted partner in serving Indiana and the livestock industry.”
The NJSS and STC are premier national swine shows and educational events hosted by the National Swine Registry (NSR) and the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA). An excerpt of Dean Marsh’s comments during the panel discussion about swine and animal health issues is available here.
The National Swine Registry serves as the purebred breed association for the Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Yorkshire breeds of swine. Moreover, NSR is home to the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA), the nation’s largest youth livestock association. Every year, the NSR/NJSA hosts the National Junior Summer Spectacular and Summer Type Conference for junior members and breeders alike to participate. This year marked the first time the event was hosted in Indianapolis at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The event proved to be the largest in its 30 year history with 684 exhibitors from 27 states and over 1,675 head.
“The Swine Health Briefing was a great way to engage exhibitors and families in a very pragmatic way,” said Clay Zwilling, chief executive officer of the National Swine Registry. “We find there are a lot of great resources, but often challenging to discern or share with the masses.”
Zwilling further explained, “Our goal was to bring awareness of some of the swine health challenges to the showpig sector but also allow breeders and families to know they are critical pieces of swine health. It can be intimidating asking questions or gathering information so our goal was to create an environment of learning and openness for our participants.”
