2025 Leman Swine Conference Program

Saturday, September 20

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Swine production through data science

This workshop explores how production outcomes in swine systems can be improved by shifting from traditional reductionist approaches to systems-level thinking. Swine farms operate as complex biological, economic, and logistical systems—yet many common productivity metrics (e.g., growth rates, feed conversion) fail to capture the broader drivers of profitability and sustainability.

The morning session focuses on identifying current limitations in swine production and reproduction practices. A lineup of leading researchers and practitioners will present challenges observed in the field—from lactation feed intake patterns and nursery pig survival to gestational nutrition and gilt management—and highlight how conventional metrics and strategies may fall short under modern farm conditions.

The afternoon session then builds upon these insights, introducing tools and concepts from data science and artificial intelligence that can help reframe how problems are studied and solved. Participants will explore how improved experimental design, modern data collection, and algorithmic modeling can be applied to make more informed, predictive, and resilient decisions.

Chairs: Pedro Urriola, University of Minnesota and Mark Schwartz, University of Minnesota and Schwartz Farms

Precision reproduction: Genetic and economic optimization in sow herds
Juan Carlos Pinilla, AcuFast
Feeding patterns in lactation: Big data insights to enhance sow and litter performance
Jorge Estrada, Carthage Veterinary Service
Managing large litters: Practical strategies for split‑suckling and teat optimization
Abigail Jenkins, Kansas State University and Tosh Farms (Sponsored by the National Pork Board)
Programming for performance: Sow feeding systems and early‑life nutrition
Lee J. Johnston, University of Minnesota
Digital transformation in pork production: From manual systems to smart data
David Rosero, Iowa State University

Chairs: Christian Ramirez-Camba, University of Minnesota and David Rosero, Iowa State University

From the barn to the spreadsheet: Making sense of production data
Guilherme Milanez Preis, Topigs Nosvin USA
Beyond p‑values: Embracing complexity in animal science inference
Mark Schwartz, University of Minnesota and Schwartz Farms
Assumptions vs. adaptation: The evolution of data analysis in animal agriculture
Christian Ramirez Camba, University of Minnesota
Closing the loop: Integrating carcass metrics with on-farm decision-making
Peter Ter Linde, Lee-O

1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Geeks to Geeks: Towards a fit-for-purpose approach: Rethinking scenario-based assessment of POCT tools

Rapid, field-ready diagnostics are transforming animal health surveillance. As the use of point-of-care testing (POCT) expands, there is an increasing need to evaluate test performance in the context of real-world epidemiological and regulatory scenarios. Join CAHFS and guest experts for a dynamic session exploring diagnostic innovations, usability challenges, and scenario-based assessment tools to support effective disease prevention and control.

Organized in collaboration with the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety

Chair: Andrés Perez, University of Minnesota and Lucia Hunt, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Co-Chair: Maria Sol Perez Aguirreburualde, University of Minnesota

Welcome and introduction
Evaluating ASF point of care: Evidence, gaps, and opportunities
Maria Sol Perez, University of Minnesota
Interactive exercise: Test match: Fit for purpose
Guillermo Arcega, Rachael Schulte, and Michelle Schultze, University of Minnesota
Piloting a tool to assess the usability of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT): A case study from Thailand
Richard French, Consultant
Field performance of a point-of-care PCR test for influenza in growing pigs: A domestic case study
Andreia Arruda, The Ohio State University and Ting-Yu Cheng, Michigan State University
Supporting outbreak and peri-outbreak response: Insights from the Dominican Republic experience
Wendy Gonzalez, Dirección de Ganadería, República Dominicana
Bridging local and central systems: A case study of Uganda’s ASF diagnostic pipeline
Sylvester Ochwo, University of Minnesota
Interactive exercise: (continuation): Test match: Fit for purpose
Guillermo Arcega, Rachael Schulte, and Michelle Schultze, University of Minnesota
Final discussions and remarks

5:15 - 6:45 p.m.

Portuguese session

Chair: Fabio Vannucci, University of Minnesota

Eliminação de Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae : Oportunidade única para indústria brasileira
Maria Pieters, University of Minnesota
Contaminação ambiental viral ao redor de estruturas de remoção de mortalidades em granjas suínas
Rafael Medeiros, University of Minnesota
Benchmarking progresso no controle de doenças: Exemplo POMP
Ana Paula Poeta Silva, Iowa State University

Desafios actuales en la industria porcina de Estados Unidos (Spanish session)

Chair: Marcello Melini, University of Minnesota

Convivir o eliminar: El desafío del PRRSV endémico del nacimiento a la finalización
Ana Paula Poeta Silva, Iowa State University
Desafios actuales en sitios 1 en Estados Unidos: Una mirada critica
Juan Orozco, PIC
Comparacion experimental de la excrecion aerogena de varias cepas de PRRS
Juan Mena, University of Minnesota

Sunday, September 21

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Carlos Pijoan SDEC Symposium: Is it really worse? A comparative overview of PRRSV infections, past and present

Chairs: Maria Pieters, University of Minnesota and Mark Schwartz, University of Minnesota and Schwartz Farms

Production parameters in PRRSV infected farms over the years
Daniel Linhares, Iowa State University
Severity of PRRSV pathology
Matt Sturos, University of Minnesota
Comparison of immune response to circulating PRRSV isolates
Mike Rahe, North Carolina State University
The perfect storm: Converging factors that fuel PRRS epidemic waves
Kimberly VanderWaal, University of Minnesota
Panel discussion: Successes and opportunities regarding intervention strategies for the control of PRRSV
Mark Wagner, Fairmont Veterinary Clinic; Luc Dufresne, Demeter Veterinary Services, Inc.; Laura Bruner, Swine Vet Center; Adam Schelkopf, Pipestone Veterinary Services

1:00 - 2:45 p.m. Clinical cases and problem-solving skills by DVM students

Chair: Perle Zhitnitskiy, University of Minnesota

Finalists for the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize will present their work during this session.

Evaluating high-dose oxytocin as an intervention to increase immunoglobulin transfer to piglets
Bryn Anderson, University of Minnesota
Dry fog for PRRSV and salmonella inactivation
Lindsey Britton, North Carolina State University
An estimation cost calculator to assess the economic impacts of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae disease
Kaydance Hinn, University of Minnesota
Hemoglobin in boars: Impacts on libido and sperm production
Seth Reicks, University of Minnesota
Caught in the trough: The interplay between mitigants and feedback
Rachel Kontz, University of Minnesota
What is functional teat?
Nikki Villalon, Iowa State University
Blue, goo and a tube: A novel feedback delivery system
Emma Zwart, Iowa State University

3:00 - 5:15 p.m. Research highlights

Chairs: Igor Paploski and Rachel Schambow, University of Minnesota

Assessing the probability of detection of Salmonella between oral fluids and fecal sample methods under commercial conditions
Mariah Negri Musskopf, Iowa State University
Effects of high soybean meal inclusion on the gut microbiome of finishing pigs
Angel Martinez, South Dakota State University
Signals and snags: Leveraging large language models for near real-time swine disease surveillance
Valeriia Yustyniuk, University of Minnesota
Identifying the experience, skills and professional goals of the TN-visa workers in the U.S. swine industry
Magdiel Lopez-Soriano, University of Missouri
Sudden death in sows: Patterns across parity and production stages
Laura Solis, Iowa State University
Assessment of trailer contamination at the harvest facility
Lucas Ferreira, University of Minnesota
Comparison of in vitro and in vivo detection methods for identification and discrimination of infectious African swine fever virus in heat-treated samples
Janine Simmons, SAIC, Plum Island Animal Disease Center
Early detection of African swine fever and classical swine fever in swine processing fluid following oronasal inoculation
Kalhari Goonewardene, National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Investigating waterless decontamination and application potential in transportation biosecurity
Erin Kettelkamp, Swine Vet Center
Swine influenza virus introduction in pig farms: A semi-quantitative risk assessment in Northern Italy
Alessia Rusinà, University of Turin

Monday, September 22

Tuesday, September 23

12:10 - 1:00 p.m. Bacon basics and beyond

Hormel Foods and The University of Minnesota Meat Laboratory brings the classroom to you to conclude the Leman Conference with a “belly focused” discussion on modern pork marketing. Join Dr. Ryan Cox, University of Minnesota Extension Meat Specialist and Dr. Jerry Cannon, Development Leader at Hormel Foods Research & Development, as they demonstrate the most common methods for fabricating fresh pork cuts, but with special focus on the production of bacon. Participants are welcome to join for the entire presentation or any portion of interest, and the program offers an opportunity to ask questions and discuss pork marketing in real time as the products are displayed and discussed.

This presentation is supported by Hormel Foods and the University of Minnesota Meat Science Laboratory.

2025 Leman Swine Conference Program

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Breakout Session

3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Breakout Session

Allen D. Leman Swine Conference

Contact

2025 Leman Swine Conference Program

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Breakout Session

1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Breakout Session

3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Breakout Session

Allen D. Leman Swine Conference

Contact

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