NSR Vice President of Global Technical Service Dr. Doug
Newcom spent a week in Vietnam promoting purebred swine genetics during an
agricultural trade mission held in conjunction with the US Grains Council’s 5th
Vietnam Swine Symposiums.
The symposiums, held in Ho
Chi Minh City and Hanoi, were two-day seminars
designed to provide technical information about genetics, health, management
and feed mill operations to Vietnam swine producers and allied-industry
partners, feed and nutrition companies.
More than 200 attendees participated in the events that
highlighted American production practices. Newcom presented on breed selection
and on-farm evaluation and herd monitoring and recording. In addition to
Newcom, other presenters included Dr. Bob Thaler, of South Dakota State
University; Dr. Barry Kerkaert, of the Pipestone Veterinary Clinic; and
Dr. Rommel Salobu, of the University of Philippines at
Los Banos.
The group also visited swine farms in Vietnam. Kerkaert and
Newcom toured the Vinh Tan firm, a 3,500-sow commercial producer with 20,000
finishing spaces. The group expressed interest in a 1,200-sow GGP/GP herd and
feed mill. Thaler and Salobu visited Viet Chau, a 300-sow farm and grains
importer, and Mr. Pham Van Bo who operates a 300-sow farm.
Newcom joined a discussion with Max Waldo, owner of Waldo
Farms, Inc., regarding a possible joint-venture operation in Vietnam, which
would continue to increase the influence of NSR’s purebred genetics abroad.
Finally, the group met with the new USDA Counselor for
Agricultural Affairs from the US Embassy in Hanoi.
Option 1) Metal “brite” tag. These are also referred to as “NUES tags” or “Pass Tags”. They come in two different sizes (pictured is the larger version). Most all large animal veterinarians will have these. State Departments of Agriculture should also be capable of sending these directly to their producers. ODAFF can only send these to OK producers.
