WPX 2015 in pictures – main theme: antibiotics

The gradual disappearance of antimicrobials as growth promoter was definitely the main theme at this year’s edition of World Pork Expo, in Des Moines, IA, USA.

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There was the usual hustle & bustle in the Varied Industries Building – perhaps even more so in 2015 since outdoor constructions are underway to allow fur further exhibition space.
The Cattle Barn was filled well.
Main theme this year was... no, not PEDv. It still was discussed in various symposia and indeed both Harrisvaccines (pictured) and Zoetis were present to display their PEDv product range, but it wasn't the main theme that everybody was talking about.
This was confirmed by Dr Steve Meyer, economist. He pointed to 2014 being an exceptional year due to a low pig supply leading to high prices. PEDv did not affect the US pig population as hard last winter and he doesn't expect to see that to happen in the early months of 2016.
Main theme – antibiotics. NPPC president Dr Ron Prestage flew in from Washington, DC just the night before WPX. At the White House he had attended a roundtable with representatives from both human and veterinary science to see how jointly the risk of antibiotic resistance could be reduced.
On top of that, at the same day the Food and Drug Administration announced that the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), requiring veterinary oversight for all antibiotic usage in animal production, will become law. That comes on top of already existing FDA regulations stating that antibiotics can no longer be used for growth promoting purposes as from 2017. A challenging job to National Pork Board's Jennifer Koeman to explain how her board can help pork producers deal with the challenge.
More attention undoubtedly will go to proper prevention of health problems, so Fancom's Cough Monitor could not be showed at a better time. This unit comes with one or two microphones and can pick up cough sounds early, assisting producers in finding lung problems sooner.
Interestingly, the US agricultural industry would like to be heard, hence the initiative was taken to make the film 'The Ivy League Farmer'. The initiative, supported by various parties from the US ag industry, tells the story, the challenges, dreams and goals of a dairy farmer in a Hollywood concept.
Of course there's always the usual entertainment that makes WPX a unique show in this world. Many participants did their best to make their pigs look good – here are people at work showing their Chester White breeds.
And never skip lunch at WPX!