3/26/04

Contacts:
James McKean, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-6301, x2mckean@iastate.edu
Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-4496, shoyer@iastate.edu

Iowa Pork Industry Center Seeks Swine Welfare Assessor Training Program Participants

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) at Iowa State University (ISU) is offering veterinarians and others in Iowa's pork industry the opportunity to become Certified SWAP[SM] Educators under the National Pork Board's Swine Welfare Assurance Program[SM] (SWAP[SM]). The certification process includes attending a daylong training session and passing an exam at the conclusion of that session, and was first provided in Iowa in August 2003.

James McKean, associate director of IPIC and ISU Extension swine veterinarian, said the success of that first training and continued interest in the program led to the decision to offer more certification training. These sessions are conducted by McKean and other ISU faculty who have been certified as educator training instructors through the SWAP[SM] program.

"We were approached by several Iowa veterinarians recently about offering this training so they can become Certified SWAP[SM] Educators, McKean said. "We're working on scheduling now, so we can accommodate as many qualified applicants as is practical for them and our staff."

To be eligible to submit an application, people must meet the following qualifications:
1. Be a veterinarian, extension specialist or ag educator (defined for this program as a person who spends full time in adult education or at least half time in production training) AND
2. Have a D.V.M. or B.S. in animal science (or equivalent) AND
3. Have two years of recent documentable swine production experience.

McKean said the week of May 10-14 has tentatively been reserved for SWAP[SM] certification training, and that applicants should indicate their interest, availability, location and preferred dates no later than April 15. The training programs would be held in locations across Iowa based on participant location and availability. Cost for the training and certification will be based on number of participants and locations.

"We need about 15-20 participants per site for logistical and economic reasons," he said. "If you're interested, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make decisions."

Those interested in the certification training should contact IPIC by e-mail at janerun@iastate.edu or by phone at (800) 808-7675 in Iowa.

The Swine Welfare Assurance Program[SM] is a program designed by an international team of welfare experts and producers to objectively benchmark and track welfare on the farm. Modeled after Pork Quality Assurance PQA[TM], this Pork Checkoff program consists of nine Care and Well-Being Principles that give pork producers the tools to evaluate welfare, aid in efficient production and potentially maintain access in a demanding market. SWAP[SM] has been developed with a basis in sound scientific principles to promote the industry's tradition of responsible animal care. For more information on SWAP[SM], contact the National Pork Board at 1-800-456-PORK, or go to www.porkboard.org.

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