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Registration is now open for SowBridge, the webinar series for people involved in managing or caring for sows, and/or their litters, and boars, including operation owners, caretakers, technicians, managers and technical service providers. The series will be provided online through Zoom, although participants will be able to use a call-in option instead if they prefer.

Sarah Schieck Boelke, University of Minnesota Extension swine educator, said, “SowBridge provides all participants with the opportunity to hear directly from experts, and to contact those experts following the individual sessions.”

Sessions are generally scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Central Time. Two exceptions this year: the fifth session is moved up one week to May 29 to avoid conflicts with World Pork Expo, and the final session is on Jan. 8, 2025, which is the second Wednesday.

During each session, participants can ask questions of the industry expert presenter from the comfort of their home, office or swine unit. Each registration provides access to one Zoom connection per session and all program materials provided by presenters.

The cost for the series is $200 for the first registration from a farm entity and half the amount for each subsequent registration from the same farm entity.

Registration information for SowBridge can be found on the University of Minnesota Extension webpage under courses and events at z.umn.edu/SowBridgeRegistration. Registration is due Jan. 20 to ensure materials are received for the first session. Registration after that time will be accepted too.

SowBridge 2024 session dates and topics are as follows:

• Feb. 7: Best and worst of audits: Preparing for success.
• March 6: Managing sows in pens for alternative housing from weaning to breeding.
• April 3: Barn equipment and ventilation fan maintenance.
• May 1: Issues with successfully breeding gilts and sows.
• May 29: Herd veterinarians: What do they want to know?
• July 3: Implementing precision feeding in the sow herd.
• Aug. 7: Sow foot care.
• Sept. 4: Feed biosecurity for the sow herd.
• Oct. 2: Replacement gilt management and selection for group vs. stall gestation.
• Nov. 6: P1 Sow development.
• Dec. 4: Managing nurse sows.
• Jan. 8, 2025: Sow shoulder wounds: causes and treatments.

For more information on the sessions or registration, contact Schieck Boelke by phone at 320-235-0726 ext. 2004 or email schi0466@umn.edu.
SowBridge is provided by a group of 15 universities with Sarah Schieck Boelke and Johnston of the University of Minnesota Extension serving as program coordinators. Iowa Pork Industry Center coordinates all registration and subscriber mailings.