SowBridge, the webinar series for those who work with sows, boars, and piglets, begins its next program year in early February 2025. Registration is now underway. The series is provided online through the Zoom platform and each session is recorded for later viewing.
Sarah Schieck Boelke, University of Minnesota Extension swine educator said, “Sow-Bridge 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. One exception this year: the fifth session is moved up one week to May 28 to avoid conflicts with World Pork Expo.
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/Sow-BridgeRegistration. Registration is due January 20 to ensure materials are received for the first session. Registration after that time will be accepted too.
SowBridge 2025 session dates and topics are as follows:
• Feb. 5 – H5N1 as it relates to pigs
• March 5 – Feeding frequency pre-farrowing: impact on farrowing duration
• April 2 – Your farm broke with PRRS/PED: Now what?
• May 7 – Overcoming barriers and understanding the psychological impact of pig euthanasia • May 28 - Iron status of sows: impacts on farrowing duration
• July 2 – How to manage gilts not cycling
• Aug. 6 – Diagnostic testing: essentials and interpretation
• Sept 3 - Depopulation preparedness • Oct. 1 – Where’s the draft coming from?
• Nov. 5 – Farrowing stall environment management
• Dec. 3 – Heat synchronization protocols
• Jan. 7, 2026 – Treating sows according to farm SOP For more information on the sessions or registration, contact Sarah 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 Lee Johnston of the University of Minnesota Extension serving as program coordinators. Iowa Pork Industry Center coordinates all registration and subscriber mailings.
----- For more news from U of M Extension, visit www.extension. umn.edu/news or contact Extension Communications at extnews@umn.edu. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Media Contact: Sarah Schieck Boelke, Swine Extension Educator, U of MN Extension Regional Center, Willmar — (320) 235-0726 Ext. 2004, schi0466@umn.edu.
