2025 Swine Disease Conference: Save the Date Announced
The premier gathering for swine health professionals across North America has proclaimed its calendar position for the coming year. Mark your calendars for June 24-25, 2025, as the ISU James D. McKean Swine Disease Conference unfolds at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This cornerstone event promises a rich tapestry of knowledge exchange among veterinarians, producers, and researchers dedicated to the porcine health landscape.
The conference structure offers an enticing blend of specialized workshops and comprehensive sessions. Before the main event commences, attendees will have extraordinary opportunities to delve into specific disease challenges. June 24th features two specialized pre-conference workshops hosted at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine campus. Morning hours belong to the International Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Eradication Workshop, which gathers luminaries from both American and European contexts to share battlefield wisdom on eliminating this persistent respiratory antagonist. They will illuminate surveillance tactics, medication protocols, and the economic considerations that underpin effective eradication campaigns.
The afternoon transitions into equally valuable territory with the International PRRS Management Workshop. Graduate students will unveil their research breakthroughs on projects like POMP, LVI, and cross-fostering initiatives that have been simmering in academic laboratories. The Danish approach to PRRS control receives spotlight attention, offering a global perspective rarely encountered in domestic discussions of the disease. U.S. practitioners will counterbalance with their indigenous experiences regarding testing regimens, vaccination strategies, and the intricate dance of designing field-based investigations.
June 25th ushers in the main conference at Gateway Hotel. Topics flourish across an unexpected spectrum – from talent acquisition challenges with recent graduates to the economics of swine production with their inevitable ebbs and surges. The Danish experience with PRRS control makes another appearance, suggesting its profound relevance despite initial presentation in the pre-conference workshop. Afternoon sessions branch into specialized tributaries of knowledge through breakout sessions. Sapovirus research, PEDV elimination techniques, and experimental insights into HPAI infection in swine await curious minds. Lessons extracted from Strep suis vaccinology will certainly provoke thoughtful contemplation among attendees.
Applied case studies during which practitioners share their triumphs in reducing sow mortality and implementing successful batch farrowing systems will provide concrete strategies for immediate implementation. PCV3 vaccination approaches and technology-enhanced biosecurity measures round off the practical offerings.
This year’s event coincides with several pivotal shifts in the industry. Recruitment challenges have intensified as veterinary programs produce fewer graduates with swine emphasis, creating a talent vacuum that threatens herd health management. Economics of production face unusual pressures from regulatory changes and market fluctuations that demand adaptive strategies from producers.
Conference organizers have seeded an exciting development for 2025 – poster presentations with competitive recognition. Students submitting abstracts can vie for prizes awarded to the top three submissions, incentivizing fresh research and its effective communication. This addition elevates the scholarly dimension while providing tomorrow’s leaders a platform for visibility.
Behind the formal sessions, the conference consistently delivers on its dual mandates: empowering practitioners to guide producers through a globally interconnected production environment while enhancing decision-making tools for disease control, animal welfare, and food safety issues. The combination leaves animals healthier, clients more profitable, and consumers more confident.
For those wishing to extract maximum value from their journey to Ames, an additional opportunity awaits on June 26th with the ISU Swine Day. The connection between these events allows attendees to journey from disease-specific challenges through to broader production innovations in a logical progression.
The winds of change sweeping through swine medicine create perfect conditions for this gathering of minds. Those wishing to stay ahead of the curve would be remiss to skip this chance to absorb cutting-edge information alongside colleagues equally committed to advancing porcine health.