American Association of Swine Veterinarians – February 24-27, 2024

Event

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) held its 55th annual meeting from February 24-27 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Program

The meeting drew more than 1,000 attendees, including veterinarians, veterinary students, and exhibitors. The theme was “Leading AASV into the Future.” On offer were 10 preconference seminars, two general sessions, three breakout sessions, a research session, three sessions from industry partners, a student seminar, and a poster session.

Veterinarians and students learned aboutdiagnostic data, disease preparedness, swine business, pig livability, biosecurity, influenza, field research, and nutrition. Speakers describeddisease elimination and eradication challenges, including a zombie apocalypse approach to biosecurity, biocontainment, and disease control and elimination.

Dr. Joel Nerem, chief veterinary officer at Pipestone, delivered the Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture, titled “Swine Veterinarians: Who Are We and Where Are We Going?” Dr. Chris Rademacher, clinical professor and swine extension veterinarian at Iowa State University, presented the Alex Hogg Memorial Lecture, titled “Past, Present, and Future Challenges for the Swine Veterinary Profession.”

The association held its annual business meeting and an awards presentation, and the association’s foundation held its annual fundraising auction.

Awards

Swine Practitioner of the Year

Dr. Matt Allerson (Minnesota ’09), Lakeville, Minnesota, won this award, given to a swine practitioner for proficiency and effectiveness in delivering veterinary service. Dr. Allerson works for Holden Farms in Northfield, Minnesota, where he leads a team of veterinarians. He is known for his work in disease control, health, and production.

Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year

Dr. Dylan Lape (Purdue ’18), Greenfield, Indiana, won this award, given to an AASV member for exemplary service and proficiency within five years of graduation. Dr. Lape works for Pork Veterinary Solutions in New Palestine, Indiana, where he oversees the production of approximately one million pigs a year. He has participated in several foreign animal disease planning and preparedness exercises.

Meritorious Service Award

Dr. Nathan Winkelman (Minnesota ’84), Sartell, Minnesota, won this award, given for outstanding service to the association. Dr. Winkelman co-owns Swine Services Unlimited Inc. A past president of the AASV, he chaired the association’s 50th anniversary annual meeting and has served on the AASV executive committee, AASV board of directors, and on several of the association’s committees. Dr. Winkelman has also been a member of the AASV Foundation board of directors, chaired the foundation’s Research Grant Committee, and established the first AASV Foundation legacy fund.

Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year

Dr. Rodger Main (Iowa State ’96), Ames, Iowa, won this award, given to an AASV member employed in academia who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service to the swine veterinary profession. Dr. Main is a professor and director of the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. He also serves as the principal investigator for the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan. Dr. Main is a member of the AASV Committee on Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.

Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year

Dr. Melissa Farber Billing (Ohio State ’05), Defiance, Ohio, won this award, recognizing veterinarians for proficiency and effectiveness in delivering veterinary service to companies and clients and for tireless service to the AASV and to the swine industry. Dr. Billing is a senior key account veterinarian in the swine division at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. In her role, she assists veterinarians and swine producers in a variety of areas, including vaccines, disease prevention, biosecurity, and food safety. Dr. Billing has served as AASV District 1 director for the past six years and has chaired the former AASV Operation Mainstreet Committee.

Howard Dunne Memorial Award

Dr. Paul Yeske (Iowa State ’85), Saint Peter, Minnesota, won this award given to an AASV member who has made important contributions and provided outstanding service to the association and to the swine industry. Dr. Yeske is a senior member of the veterinary team at the Swine Vet Center in Saint Peter. He is known for his work on mycoplasma and its elimination from a sow herd. Dr. Yeske serves on the AASV Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Committee and the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Elimination Task Force.

AASV Foundation Awards

Hogg Scholarship ($10,000): Drs. Ashley Johnson (Virginia-Maryland ’13) and Jana Morgan (Iowa State ’06); Dr. Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Scholarship ($7,500): Drs. Lauren Nagel (Illinois ’21) and Andrea Patterson (Guelph ’20). AASV Foundation-Zoetis Foundation Student Debt Relief Grants ($7,500): Drs. Justin Brown (Georgia ’16), Emily Fry (Ohio State ’15), Kayla Henness (Illinois ’19), Megan Kelly (Illinois ’20), Erin Kettelkamp (Illinois ’21), Evan Koep (Iowa State ’19), Miranda Medrano (Virginia-Maryland ’20), Kathleen O’Brien (Illinois ’19), Rachel Stika-Jensen (Iowa State ’21), and Katie Woodard (St. George’s ’14)

In addition, the foundation awarded more than $100,000 toward four research proposals; $25,000 in scholarships to 15 veterinary students; and stipends of $750 to veterinary students selected to participate in the oral session, sponsored by the Zoetis Foundation.

Also at the meeting, the AASV awarded $4,000 in scholarships to 15 veterinary students via the Veterinary Student Poster Competition, sponsored by United Animal Health, and Madeline Hall, a fourth-year student at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine was awarded the David A. Schoneweis Scholarship ($1,000).

Business

Dr. Angela Baysinger was elected president of the AASV (see obituary). Dr. William Hollis, AASV immediate past president and now acting president, reported on the association's membership and activities. Fourteen of the association’s committees met to discuss important issues in swine health, public health, pig welfare, and membership services.

Officials

Drs. William Hollis, Carthage, Illinois, acting president and immediate past president; Locke Karriker, Ames, Iowa, president-elect; and Rebecca Robbins, Amarillo, Texas, vice president