AASV gears up for March meeting

Des Moines, Iowa-Swine veterinarians will go "Back to the Basics" for the 35th annual meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), scheduled for March 6-9, 2004 at the Marriott hotel in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.

Dr. John Waddell, AASV president-elect and program chair, will introduce the general session presentations that address disease and other basic issues facing today's swine practitioner. Waddell will also lead a full afternoon session devoted to PRRS topics.

Dr. Robert Desrosiers, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, is slated to present the prestigious Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture. His message will focus on the epidemiology, diagnosis and control of swine diseases.

Presentations on the potential effect of swine zoonosis on the global pork market, national strategies for disease control and biosecurity, and ethics in modern swine practice will follow.

Concurrent sessions on emerging technologies, research topics, production issues and diarrheal diseases in growing pigs will provide meeting attendees with plenty of continuing education options. Twelve preconference seminars will be offered on topics including reproduction, facility design, welfare, nutrition, emerging diseases, applied medicine, skills for practitioners and PRRSV.

As in the past, the AASV Foundation is sponsoring a seminar on protecting financial resources, and a seminar designed for veterinary students and recent graduates is planned as well.

Registration is limited to veterinarians and veterinary students. To make hotel reservations, contact the Des Moines downtown Marriott at (515) 245-5500 or (800) 228-9290. Online meeting registration will be available on the AASV Web site in late December and registration materials will be mailed to all AASV members at that time. For more information, contact the AASV office: (515) 465-5255; fax: (515) 465-3832, e-mail: aasv@aasv.org or www.aasv.org/aasv/annmtg/.