Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
|
|
Extension Communications |
4/14/04
Contacts:
Locke Karriker, Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, (515)
294-2283, karriker@iastate.edu
Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-4496, shoyer@iastate.edu
New Swine Veterinarian Focuses on Helping Iowa Producers
Ames, IA - During his first six months as assistant professor of swine production medicine at Iowa State University (ISU), Locke Karriker has been in steady demand by producers, veterinarians, consultants and colleagues, and he couldn't be more pleased.
Karriker said he's always had an interest in research and teaching, and wanted to pursue those avenues after gaining practical experience. He came to ISU from Seaboard Farms, Inc. where he spent four years as production veterinarian. As a vertically integrated pork production company with a 225,000-sow base and a processing plant, Seaboard provided that initial practical experience. And when a swine position opened up at ISU, Karriker saw it as a way of continuing to work toward his professional goals.
"I get the opportunity to work on the same challenges that exist in industry practice, plus a variety of challenges that are specific to producers in other production systems or settings," Karriker said. "Also, there's a need for industry perspective in the academic setting because industry veterinary positions are a relatively new type of veterinary practice in the swine industry."
Karriker said he's looking forward to meeting more members of the state's swine industry, and encourages people to contact him.
"People should feel free to call on me directly with questions or needs or direct those through the Iowa Pork Industry Center," he said. "If I'm not the appropriate resource, I can help to find it. There is a new air of synergy among the swine resources at ISU that I am excited to be part of and look forward to contributing to in the coming years."
People can contact Karriker by phone at (515) 294-2283, through the Iowa Pork Industry Center's PORKLine at (800) 808-7675 or by e-mail at karriker@iastate.edu.
Karriker's focus is on teaching future practitioners the latest skills and research to support their efforts in the field, specifically aimed at finding swine management strategies to reduce the impact of disease on performance.
"Roughly forty percent of my time is to be devoted to service to the veterinarians and producers of Iowa, and my priorities center on improving the health of pigs which will in turn, improve the financial health of swine producers and agriculture as a whole," Karriker said. "The ideal scenario would involve a group approach to problems that involves the producer, their local veterinarian and me. Situations where producers and veterinarians have different priorities or agendas appear to me to be prime opportunities to facilitate some communication between the two."
-30-