Projects
The USPCE was formed with the mission to add value to the pork industry by facilitating research and learning for U.S. pork producers through national collaboration. Our many projects are helping to do just that. Click the links below for more information.
The Pork Information Gateway (PIG) contains a PIG Library with peer-reviewed Factsheets, How-To’s, Questions and Answers, and other references; a calendar of educational, pork-related events; a listing of pork industry internships; descriptions of careers in the pork industry; and images, definitions, research results, and much more.
The Swine Science Online Program is funded by a Higher Education Challenge Grant and is intended to help replace the disappearing swine science curriculum at our universities. The Swine Science courses will be delivered via Distance Education through Ag*Idea with resident lab instruction. This program is currently beta-testing and will launch in the Fall of 2010.
The National Swine Nutrition Guide is a collaborative effort among the USPCE, land grant universities, and feed companies. The guide will contain thirty-five Factsheets on all aspects of swine nutrition, as well as diet formulation and evaluation software. Regional conferences will be held beginning in February 2010 help producers and consultants learn to use the guide. The National Swine Nutrition Guide is funded by a grant from the United Soybean Board.
The Sow Lifetime Productivity Guide is a producer guide on increasing lifetime productivity in swine breeding herd females. The units in the guide will be:
- Managing Replacement Gilts
- Managing the Young Sow
- Managing the Mature Sow
- Housing Options for the Swine Breeding Herd
- Addressing the Sow after Productive Lifetime is completed (salvage, euthanasia, mortality disposal methods)
This document was developed in collaboration with National Pork Board and is an exhaustive needs assessment on air and water quality. Soon, we will begin an assessment on nutrient management.