INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PIG LIVABILITY

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Dianne has returned to Consulting after retiring from her position as Human Resources Manager and Controller for LB Pork in Northrop Minnesota, a position she held for over 10 years. In her HR capacity at LB Pork she brought over 100 foreign workers to the operation via 3 different types of work visas and also oversaw the Green card process for multiple valued employees.. Dianne has been involved in the pork industry for many years, she was President of the Minnesota Pork Producers Assn in 2022, served on the National Pork Board from 2003 to 2009 and chaired the Domestic Marketing Committee 2010 to 2012. Dianne also served a 2 year term on the NPB Nominating committee and is currently on the NPPC Labor Security Task Force. She remains active in her local and state pork organizations. 

Nicole has been with MetaFarms since January 2023, serving as Director of North American Swine. She brings 35 years of experience and relationships along with industry knowledge to the sales and marketing team. Prior to joining MetaFarms, she held sales and marketing roles in the feed, pharma, and pork industry associations (MN Pork and National Pork Board). She also taught Ag Education right out of college. She is able to leverage her strong connections and gain trust with producers at all levels by finding the unique value propositions that resonate back to them personally. Nicole grew up on a crop and swine farm in Southern MN and currently owns a contract finishing site. She holds production degrees from the University of MN and an Ag Education Degree from South Dakota State University. When not at work she enjoys training her Labrador Retrievers for field trial hunting competitions.

PJ Corns is the Technical Director for JBS Live Pork, Greeley, CO. Responsible for nearly 258,000 sows, boar studs and gilt development units across the Midwest. PJ has spent his entire career forging world class results with every step from managing large sow units in North Carolina, to working internationally with PIC and his own consultancy firm where his involvement in well over 2 million sows was driven by delivering results based upon proven protocols, system maximization, people development and biosecurity implementation and execution. PJ joined JBS in his current role in September, 2021. Besides the family's Century Farm near What Cheer Iowa that includes row crops and wean to finish operations, PJ resides with his wife and family in Ames, Iowa.

Speaker Bio

Dr. DeDecker received her Ph.D. in swine well-being at the University of Illinois in 2011 and then started her career with Smithfield Foods. Currently Senior Director of Research and Extension for Smithfield Hog Production, Dr. DeDecker oversees applied research in all disciplines of swine production with the goal to identify cost effective solutions that can be implemented at the farm level using Extension services and outreach.

Dr. Jack Dekkers grew up in the Netherlands and received B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Wageningen Agricultural University and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in Animal Breeding. From 1989 to 1997 he was on faculty at the University of Guelph, working closely with the Canadian industry on genetic improvement of dairy cattle. He moved to Iowa State University in 1997, where he currently is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Animal Science. Current research focuses on the genetic basis of feed efficiency and health in pigs and poultry, and on the integration of quantitative genetics and genomics in breeding programs.

Alexander Umbaugh has been with Iowa Select Farms for the last 7 years since his graduation at Iowa State University. His journey with Iowa Select Farms has been unique as he has held various roles within the company. Key roles during his time with Iowa Select Farms include helping start up a 7,500 sow unit and manage the breeding department, has worked as a Body Condition Specialist, evaluating sow condition scores and feed usage, while collaborating with farm staff on caliper implementation. He has worked as a Sow Retention Specialist helping train and educate Sow and GDU crew members on improving sow livability. He now holds the current position of helping facilitate depop/repop farm cleaning along with supervising one sow farm located in Northeast Iowa.

Speaker Bio

Jenelle Dunkelberger is a geneticist at Topigs Norsvin and is based in Minnesota, USA. She holds a PhD from Iowa State University where the focus of her research was to investigate the role of host genetics in response to viral disease in pigs. She continues to study this topic, and other health-related issues, as Head of the Topigs Norsvin Global Health and Behavior Research Platform.

Speaker Bio

Speaker Bio

Dr. Derald Holtkamp is  Professor in the Department of Veterinary Diagnostics and Production Animal Medicine (VDPAM) in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. Dr. Holtkamp's research focuses on managing infectious swine diseases, biosecurity, disease risk assessment, and the economics of animal health and disease. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications, is a frequent speaker in the U.S. and internationally with over 250 invited presentations, and has mentored over 275 professional and graduate students.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Clayton Johnson is a Veterinarian and the Director of Veterinary Services at Carthage Veterinary Services, LTD based in Carthage, IL. Clayton graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008, working for The Maschhoffs from 2008-2016 before joining the Carthage Team. Clayton and his wife Ali have two children, Nina and Jake and live in Quincy, IL.

Fred Kuhr, Director of Production at Dykhuis Farms, 17,000 sow farrow to finish in Hamilton, MI. This is his 48th year in swine production. Married 32 years, 5 daughters, and 15 grandchildren. Previously, Director of Production at the Carthage System. Graduate of Executive Pork Producers Program from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Graduate of Dale Carnegie Management Training. Articles in the National Hog Farmer Science. Talks on Webinar Series sponsored by Merck Animal Health. 

Speaker Bio

Speaker Bio.

Christine Mainquist-Whigham is the Director of Health for Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics, where she oversees the system health and biosecurity and serves on the research and development team. She grew up on a farm outside Stanton, IA, fostering her passion for science and agriculture. She earned a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2012, followed by a DVM and an M.S. in veterinary preventive medicine from Iowa State University in 2016. Christine currently resides in Columbus, Nebraska, with her husband Alex, and their children Callum and Lilly.

Amy Maschhoff earned her veterinary degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2015 and began her career as herd veterinarian for The Maschhoffs in one of their commercial regions - based in Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma. She transitioned to work to the Technical Operations region focusing on veterinary support for research sites and Acuity's (AcuFast) genetic herds for three years. Now she serves as the Director of Health and animal care for the Maschhoffs. Amy has participated in the NPPC Swine Veterinary Public Policy Advocacy Program and serves as the AASV representative on the AVMA legislative action committee. 

Speaker Bio

Dr. Chris Rademacher is a Clinical Professor and Swine Extension Veterinarian at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine as well as the Associate Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University. In December, 2014 he joined the faculty at Iowa State University after serving for 16 years as a Director of Health for New Fashion Pork and Director of Production Improvement for Smithfield Foods.

Dr. Tom Rathje is the Chief Technical Officer for DNA Genetics. He attended Iowa State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in animal science. He then continued his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, receiving his Master of Science and Ph.D. in genetics and an MBA. Dr. Rathje has been with DNA Genetics since the company was founded 30 years ago and has championed the development and implementation of a range crucial investments to create a strong competitive breeding program. He has dedicated his career to ensuring a continued and sustainable food supply through genetic innovation in the livestock industry and is honored to have played an integral role by pioneering science, technology and insight-driven solutions within an applied setting.

Dr. Carlos Roudergue began his career as an independent practitioner working with swine producers in Chile, before serving as a Swine Veterinarian at Agrosuper, a leading company that manages 140,000 sows and produces approximately 4 million hogs annually. In 2012, he joined Boehringer Ingelheim as the Swine Technical Manager for South America. In 2018, Dr. Roudergue moved to the U.S. to work with Country View Family Farms (CVFF), starting as Sow Production Manager before advancing to Training and Development Manager. In 2022, he earned his Green Belt Lean Six Sigma Certification at Purdue University and in 2023, served as the Prop 12 Project Manager. Since 2024, he has held the role of Director of Technical Services at CVFF, overseeing Veterinary Services, Genetics, Research & Innovation and Continuous Improvement. 

Dr. Siever's is a veterinarian at Swine Vet Center where he has practiced since graduating Vet School from Iowa State University. He works with mid-sized producers across Iowa in all three stages of production. Dr. Siever's currently resides in Storm Lake, Iowa, and is blessed with three boys that enjoy the outdoors with him.

Speaker Bio

Speaker Bio

Speaker Bio

Noel H Williams. PhD, Swine Nutrition, Iowa State University. Currently Senior Vice President for Live Operations, Seaboard Foods overseeing live operations and renewable gas operations across 5 states. Prior to Seaboard Foods, was Chief of Operating Officer at Iowa Select Farms for 10 years, General Manager, PIC North America for 10 years and started career with Land O'Lakes in the Nutrition and Live Production Business. Noel and his wife Jacque have 7 children, 4 of which who work in the Ag Industry and three younger children who currently are in middle and high school at their home in Stratford, Texas.

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