Module Number: SMEC 478A (VDPAM 478A)
Course Description:
The VDPAM 478A course will give participants the opportunity to learn swine production management and consulting skills within a progressive swine production and management system. Time will be split approximately with half in-class discussion topics and half on-farm learning opportunities where students will visit a breeding farm, nursery facility, finishing facility, wean-to-finish facility, gilt developer unit, and a truck wash facility. Students will be responsible for their own transportation for traveling to and from Audubon and to site activities for this rotation.
Objectives:
- Develop an understanding of common swine consulting areas within pork production
- Learn about the interaction of veterinary medicine and swine commercial production
- Become familiar with key performance indicators and process improvement within commercial production
- Develop an understanding of how to work within a production system across multiple locations
- Gain experience working with daily animal caretakers and large production system owner/operators
Module Cost:
- Veterinary Students – $2,020
- Veterinary Students must be in second half of 3rd year or beyond in veterinary school to enroll.
- Veterinarians - $4,950
Module Availability:
- October 16, 2023 – October 29, 2023
- April 1, 2024 – April 14, 2024
- October 14, 2024 – October 27, 2024
- March 31, 2025 – April 13, 2025
- This course is subject to a minimum number of participants. A 30 day notice will be given if the minimum enrollment is not fulfilled.
- All international participants must complete an application and schedule a videoconference with the SMEC staff prior to enrollment.