By Scout Nelson
The second annual South Dakota Swine Summit, held on June 13 at South Dakota State University, provided a platform for young swine enthusiasts to delve deeper into the industry.
Organized by SDSU Extension and the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, the event attracted 25 participants, primarily aged 12 to 18.
The summit offered a comprehensive overview of swine production, encompassing animal health, biosecurity, nutrition, and carcass evaluation.
Participants also received hands-on training in showmanship and daily care for show pigs.
“The overall goal was to capture the young people who are involved in showing pigs or have a couple of pigs at home, but weren’t considering the swine industry as a career,” said Christina Bakker, SDSU assistant professor and Extension specialist in meat science. “We gave them a glimpse of what a career in swine production might look like for them.”
The event featured a lineup of experts including SDSU swine faculty, a livestock judging coach, and a veterinarian. Additionally, members of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council shared their industry insights.
Participants gained practical experience through tours of modern swine facilities, learning about biosecurity protocols firsthand.
They also participated in carcass evaluation sessions at the SDSU Meat Lab, enhancing their understanding of meat quality and consumer preferences.
The success of the summit has prompted plans for the third annual event in 2025.
The final part of the day was held at the SDSU Meat Lab classroom for instruction on measuring yield of lean meat and what that means for live analysis prior to sale. “The meat lab experience helps the participants become better consumers as well, judging cuts and tenderness levels that will result in the best experiences they can have as a consumer,” Bakker said.
Photo Credit: istock-srdjan-stepic
Categories: South Dakota, Livestock, Hogs