2024 Australian Pig Veterinarians Conference wrap up

The Australian Pig Veterinarians (APV) Conference was held at the Novotel in picturesque North Wollongong from 4-6 September. The program featured an extensive array of topics including measurement of welfare, appropriate antimicrobial use, JEV infection and fluid sampling, swine diseases and data analysis, as well as case studies on zooepidemicus and salmonella. Several research projects, both currently recruiting and finalised, were presented with sequencing technologies producing quality data projections.

APV was fortunate to have acclaimed Professor Eric Burrough, Diagnostic Pathologist and Pathology Section Leader from Iowa State University of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, as keynote speaker. Professor Burrough presented innovative analytical data on porcine respiratory and gastrointestinal pathology and diagnostics whilst using aggregated data to monitor disease. Professor Burrough’s 4 presentations were highly regarded by the delegates.

^{L-R, Dr Raymond Chia, keynote speaker Prof Eric Burroughs, Dr Yvette Pollock}

The APV held its Annual General Meeting during the conference, in which the Committee members and delegation thanked Dr Andrew Morris for his hard work over the past year as President. The APV welcomed new President Dr Sandy Adsett and President-Elect Dr Kate Savage.

^{Incoming APV President Dr Sandy Adsett with outgoing APV President Dr Andrew Morris}

Key sponsors Boehringer Ingelheim rallied competitive engagement from delegates with a Nutri Bullet competition to see who could blitz the fastest! Dr Jon Bartsch took home the prize.

^{Dr John Bartsch with Adam from Boehringer Ingelheim}

^{Sponsors Boehringer Ingelheim}

^{Sponsors MSD Animal Health}

The conference dinner was a resounding success. Pranav Narayanan and Stefanie Ng, the 2 recipients of the Student Scholarship Program sponsored by Sunpork Group, did a stellar Q&A presentation to a panel of experienced peers. They asked some challenging questions with an enjoyable balance of humour, which erupted the audience into bouts of laughter. A very entertaining evening was had by all.

^{Q & A Panel}

The 2024 APV Conference was an exceptional combination of excellence in veterinary care of pigs, knowledge sharing, networking and mentorship of students and new graduates. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring to the forefront issues faced by the production community, with a diligence to work together for a successful future.