WSU Swine Center
The WSU Swine Center is one of the only hog facilities at a college in the western United States. The Swine Center provides pigs, facilities, and supervision for the conduct of basic and applied research and extension activities to address important issues impacting the swine industry in the Northwest. The Swine Center also actively contributes to the teaching programs within the Department of Animal Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Located about 5 miles from campus, the Swine Center is a well-equipped farrow to finish operation that was built in the late 1970’s. Over the years we have selected and bred for high litter size, exceptional milking ability, and superb meat quality. In particular, our sows have become much more prolific, thus meaning more pigs. Farrowing occurs every month and we market pigs year round. The Swine Center generates over 2000 pigs a year, finishing out about half and selling the other half as feeder pigs, research pigs, and show pigs.
Mr. Asa Timm is the Swine Center Manager. He employs about 6 part-time students and oversees the Student Swine Cooperative (SSC) throughout the school year. SSC is a group of students that own about 10 sows and their offspring. The members of SSC are responsible for feeding, caring, breeding, and marketing of their pigs.
The Swine Center is a self-supporting facility and therefore the management pays close attention to the ever-rising production costs just like the industry.
The Swine Center has 7 different marketing channels:
- Seltice Livestock Association Pool
- WSU Meats Lab
- University of Idaho Meats Lab
- Research companies
- Show pigs for 4-H and FFA kids
- Lewiston Livestock Market
- Feeder pig contract
The Swine Center is very concerned with bio security. It has a closed herd, meaning no animals are brought in, just semen. Semen is purchased from an AI company to generate replacement gilts and boars.
The Swine Center welcomes tours; please contact the manager in advance.
Mr. Asa Timm
WSU Swine Center Manager
attimm@wsu.edu
509-335-2287
Fax: 509-335-1082
PO Box 646310
Pullman, WA 99164-6310
Mission
The Swine Center at Washington State University provides an integrated program for advancing swine education for students and industry and government personnel; promoting swine research on genetics/genomics, nutrition, reproduction, meat quality and safety, animal well-being and behavior, environmental management and biomedical application; and developing outreach programs for practical swine production technologies to better serve the needs of Washington State and Pacific Northwest pork producers.
Research
The WSU Swine Center assists in several research protocols of faculty and graduate students in the WSU Department of Animal Sciences. "The management philosophy of the center is to meet the requests of the individual researchers" (WA Swine Information Day Proceedings, Vol. 12, 1997).
Current Research
Jan R. Busboom, Ph.D
Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at WSU.
Extension Meat Specialist.
Dr. Busboom is working in conjunction with Dr. Nelson on the proposed research protocol entitled, Effect of grain source on growth performance and quality of pork from pigs fed barley- or corn-based growing and finishing diets.
Zhihua Jiang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Research Area: Genetics/Genomics
Current Projects:
Genetic and Functional Genomic Approaches to Improve Production and Quality of Pork.
Contact Information: Phone: 509-335-8761; Fax: 509-335-4246; Email: jiangz@wsu.edu; Website: http://www.ansci.wsu.edu/People/jiang/faculty.asp
Derek J. McLean, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Research Area: Reproductive Physiology
Current Projects:
Investigation of the basic mechanisms regulating Sertoli and germ cell differentiation during development of the pig testis.
Contact Information: Phone: 509-335-8759; Fax: 509-335-4246; Email: dmclean@wsu.edu; Website: http://www.ansci.wsu.edu/People/mclean/faculty.asp
John P. McNamara, PhD
Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at WSU.
Dr. Mcnamara is currently proposing a research protocol entitled, Sympathetic and adrenergic regulation of adipose tissue lipid metabolism during lactation
Mark L. Nelson, PhD
Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at WSU.
Dr. Nelson is currently proposing a research protocol to involve the use of swine and the swine center. The proposed research project is entitled, Effect of grain source on growth performance and quality of pork from pigs fed barley- or corn-based growing and finishing diets.
Ruth C. Newberry, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Research Area: Animal Behavior/Well-being
Current Projects:
Maternal behavior and piglet responses to weaning.
Environmental enrichment for swine.
Contact Information: Phone: 509-335-5059; Fax: 509-335-4246; Email: rnewberry@wsu.edu; Website: http://www.ansci.wsu.edu/People/newberry/faculty.asp
Publications (1998-2007)
Microsoft Word | Adobe Acrobat
Teaching - Courses that use Swine Center
AS 101 – Introductory Animal Sciences
Course topics include the types and breeds of livestock, livestock terminology and methods and management systems. Student take part in a laboratory conducted at the Swine Center to get hands on experience with management practices.
AS 178 – Swine Management Laboratory
The course is designed as an introduction to the management practices associated with a swine enterprise. The course uses the Swine Center for students to get hands on experience with all aspects of swine management.
AS 260 – Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation
The course provides students with the basic principles of live animal and carcass evaluation. Pigs from the swine center are used for student evaluation.
AS 313 – Feeds and Feeding
Students learn about the utilization, practices, requirements and calculations for rations for animals. The laboratory section uses the Swine Center for students to gain experience with feed preparation for a swine enterprise.
AS 350/351 – Physiology of Reproduction/Laboratory
The course covers the anatomy and physiology of reproductive physiology in livestock and companion animals. The laboratory section uses the Swine Center for students to learn the reproductive management of swine and to gain hands-on experience with semen collection and artificial insemination.
AS 378 – Advanced Livestock and Meat Selection and Evaluation
The course teaches the principles and practices of livestock and meat selection and evaluation. Field trips to the swine center for swine evaluation are conducted.
AS 399 – Practicum: Student Swine Cooperative
Students that are members of the Student Swine Cooperative (SSC) register for variable credits of AS 399. Hands on experience in all aspects of a swine enterprise. May be repeated credit up to 12 credits.
AS 454 – Artificial Insemination and Pregnancy Detection
Students learn the techniques for semen handling, insemination and pregnancy in livestock. The course is primarily focused on cattle although students use gilts at the swine center to learn artificial techniques in swine.
AS 478 – Swine Production
This course covers the principles of breeding, feeding, management and marketing of swine. Not currently taught.
Swine Extension
Washington Pork Producers Newsletter
Tri-annual distributed Dec/Jan, April/May, Sept/Oct.
Edited by Sarah Smith with input from producers and extension specialists.
Current mailing list of 700 people.
Contact Sarah Smith to be placed on the mailing list (509) 754-2011 x413 or e-mail at smithsm@wsu.edu
WSU Show Pig Sales1/12/08, 8:00 am
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Links ( Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required )
- Environmental Management of Young Pigs During Cool Weather
- Feeding Food Wastes to Swine
- Handling and Management to Prevent Stress in Show Pigs
- Meat Quality
- Points to Remember in the Ring
- Summer Management of Growing Finishing Swine-Including Show Pigs
- Youth Booklet - Raising and Showing a Market Hog
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