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 5thVietnam 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.