SowBridge, the distance educational series for those who work with sows, boars and piglets and who work with genetic and reproductive issues, begins its next program year in early February.

Registration is already underway for the series, which is provided online through Zoom and recorded for later viewing.

“SowBridge is a great opportunity for participants to hear from experts on relevant topics and network to assist in solving on-farm problems as they arise,” says Taw Scaff, North Dakota State University Extension swine specialist.

Sessions generally are held on the first Wednesday of the month and run from 11:15 a.m. to about 12:15 p.m. The fifth session moved up one week to May 28 to avoid conflicts with the World Pork Expo.

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

A flyer with information and a registration form is available at ndsu.ag/sowbridge25.

The 2025-2026 program session dates and topics are as follows:

• Feb. 5 — H5N1 as it Relates to Pigs
• March 5 — Feeding Frequency Pre-Farrow: Impact on Farrowing Duration
• April 2 — Your Farm Broke with PRSS/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
• 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

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

For more information on the sessions or registration, contact Scaff at 701-231-4292 or taw.scaff@ndsu.edu.

SowBridge is provided through a cooperative effort of 15 colleges and universities from the nation’s major swine-producing states.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Jan. 23, 2025

Source: Taw Scaff, 701-231-4292, taw.scaff@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu