July 3, 2007

USGC swine seminars aim to increase China's grain usage

The US Grains Council (USGC) is striving to reinforce the swine industry in China which will eventually lead to a greater demand for US grains with its recently-sponsored seminars to familiarize Chinese swine farmers with practical herd management to promote greater feed consumption.

The seminars-- held from June 10 to June 20 in Henan and Guangdong provinces--were led by Todd See, professor and swine community coordinator at North Carolina State University and also a consultant for USGC. Topics included sow body conditions, estrus detection and semen quality evaluation.

USGC's ongoing trainings in China's hog industry are seen to result in increased sow productivity to 17.5 pigs weaned per sow per year and decrease birth to finish mortality by 13.9 percent.  The full implementation of management techniques is expected to stimulate an increase in China's grain use to 80,000 tonnes.