Swine Medicine Education Center at Iowa State University

06/23/2026

Another successful VDPAM/SMEC 7478B Drug, Vaccination, and Treatment Management for Swine rotation is in the books! 🐷📚

It was exciting to welcome this group of fourth-year veterinary students a couple weeks ago as they started the clinical rotation portion of their veterinary education.

Throughout this rotation, students gained hands-on experience and expanded their knowledge of swine health, production, and treatment management. We look forward to following their progress and seeing all they accomplish during their clinical year!

06/22/2026

🔥🐷 Staying Warm is Serious Business! 🐷🔥

Newborn piglets are born with very little body fat, making it harder for them to stay warm. While piglets prefer temperatures around 95°F, their mothers are most comfortable closer to 60°F.

That's why piglets have access to heated lamps or heated mats on farms and at the Iowa State Fair Farrowing Display.

Want to know if a piglet is comfortable? Just watch its body language! Piglets that are too cold will huddle closely together, while piglets that are too warm will spread out. Comfortable piglets will rest calmly near one another on the heated mat.

Visit the Iowa State Fair Farrowing Display to see these cozy piglets in person and learn more about the journey from birth to barn!

Iowa Pork AMVC Management Services Iowa State Fair

06/19/2026

Meet the Piglet!

One of the biggest attractions at the Iowa State Fair Farrowing Display is getting to see newborn piglets up close! These curious, energetic animals are born ready to explore their world and quickly become crowd favorites.

Piglets play an important role in pork production, and their health and well-being are a top priority from the moment they're born.

🐽 Fun Piglet Facts:
🔸Newborn piglets typically weigh just 2-4 pounds at birth
🔸Piglets can stand and begin nursing within hours of being born
🔸Piglets are social animals and enjoy staying close to their littermates
🔸 In just a few weeks, piglets can double or even triple their birth weight

Be sure to stop by the Iowa State Fair Farrowing Display to watch piglets grow, learn about modern swine care, and experience one of the Fair's most popular educational exhibits!

Iowa Pork Iowa State Fair AMVC Management Services

06/17/2026

🌟Summer Work-Study Student Spotlight: Grace!🌟

"My name is Grace. I am from Glenwood, Iowa, where I grew up on my family's small swine farm, and I have been with SMEC for 3 years. I just graduated with my bachelor's degree in animal science this May and will be starting vet school this fall. When I graduate, I hope to practice large animal medicine."

We're grateful to have Grace as part of the SMEC team and can't wait to see what the future holds!

06/15/2026

Hydration Matters!

Did you know that a sow's water needs change dramatically as she prepares for and cares for her piglets?

During pregnancy, a sow typically drinks 2.5-4 gallons of water each day. Once her piglets are born and she's producing milk, that amount can nearly double to 5-9 gallons per day!

Just like nutrition, proper hydration plays an important role in keeping both sows and piglets healthy. Farmers carefully monitor water availability to help ensure sows stay comfortable and can provide the care their growing litters need.

Visit the Iowa State Fair Farrowing Display this August to meet a sow and her piglets and learn more about the daily care that goes into raising healthy pigs from day one. 🐽💧

Iowa Pork AMVC Management Services Iowa State Fair

06/12/2026

🐷🌟 Star of the Show: The Sow! 🌟🐷

When you visit the Iowa State Fair Farrowing Display, you'll see plenty of adorable piglets, but none of it would be possible without their mom!

A sow is an adult female pig that gives birth to and cares for her litter of piglets. Sows play a vital role in pork production and receive specialized care to help keep both them and their piglets healthy.

🐽 Fun Sow Facts:
• A sow's pregnancy lasts about 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days!)
• Average litter size is 10-15 piglets
• Sows communicate with their piglets through a variety of grunts and vocalizations
• Newborn piglets can stand and nurse within minutes of being born

Be sure to stop by the Farrowing Display at the Iowa State Fair to learn more about these incredible animals and the care they receive every day!

Iowa Pork Iowa State Fair AMVC Management Services

06/11/2026

🐽 Mark your calendars and save your seat! 🐽

The 2026 ISU James D. McKean Swine Disease Conference is just around the corner, bringing together some of the brightest minds in swine health to discuss the topics that matter most to today's pork industry.

From emerging disease threats to practical herd health strategies, you'll leave with knowledge you can put to work.

Veterinarians, looking to earn CEU credits? By attending this conference, you can receive up to 18 Veterinary CEUs. Register for the conference today!

📅 June 23-24, 2026
🔗 Register today: https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/swinedisease/

Tag a colleague who should attend! 👇

06/10/2026

Mark your calendars!

Iowa Swine Day is just around the corner, bringing together producers, researchers, veterinarians, students, and industry professionals for a day of learning, collaboration, and discussion on the issues shaping today's pork industry.

From the latest research to practical insights you can apply in the field, there's something for everyone.

🔗 Register today and learn more: ipic.iastate.edu/iowaswineday

Don't miss your chance to attend Iowa Swine Day! This one-of-a-kind conference offers the most current information on topics critical to today's pork industry.

Producers, industry leaders, and researchers will share their insights in applied and research-focused sessions throughout the day. Join us on June 25, in Ames, IA!

Register and learn more at ipic.iastate.edu/iowaswineday

We hope to see you there! 🐷

06/08/2026

🐷🎡 65 Days! 🎡🐷

As the Iowa State Fair celebrates "Fair Spirit" for America's 250th birthday, visitors can get an up-close look at one of agriculture's most unique educational experiences.

The Farrowing Display provides a chance to learn about modern swine care, piglet development, and the dedication of the producers, veterinarians, and animal care teams who help raise healthy animals every day.

Whether you're a lifelong fairgoer or experiencing the display for the first time, stop by to see newborn piglets, ask questions, and learn more about Iowa Agriculture.

We can't wait to see you at the Fair!

Iowa Pork Iowa State Fair AMVC Management Services

06/05/2026

🌏✈️ SMEC Around the World! 🌏✈️

Our next stop around the globe takes us to Japan, where Dr. Justin Brown recently served as one of the chaperones for the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences study abroad trip.

Throughout the trip, students experienced firsthand the connections between agriculture, food production, and international trade. Highlights included:

🍣 Learning the art of sushi making
🐷 Touring a pork packing facility
🔬 Visiting the National Institute of Animal Health
🍖 Enjoying a taste of home at Big Iowa BBQ in Tokyo
🌾 Visiting a rice farm and helping plant a rice field by hand
🌎 Meeting with the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the U.S. Grains Council
🐽 Touring Global Pig Farms, Inc.

Experiences like these provide students with a unique perspective on global agriculture, animal health, food systems, and the international partnerships that help drive the swine industry forward.

Thank you to Dr. Brown for helping provide this valuable learning opportunity and for representing Iowa State University abroad!

And with that, we've reached our final stop on this edition of SMEC Around the World! Thank you for following along as our team shared their experiences from across the globe. We appreciate you tuning in and look forward to seeing where the next journey takes the SMEC team!