INTRODUCTION
• The VIDO Swine Technical Group (VSTG) is comprised of people with expertise in many aspects of pork production. The group has previously published numerous practical production publications and has now developed an on-line database of information that focuses on economically important swine diseases.
• The ability to access new information is a key determinant in a successful business.
• This new internet-based information tool provides detailed information from credible sources including scientific journals, proceedings, and technical papers.
• Topics you will find in the DISEASE MATRIX include economically important diseases to the industry with six major areas of concern including understanding the disease, environmental controls, nutrition, pig management, prevention & treatment, and economics.
• Attendees at the Banff Pork Seminar 2006 will receive the first public access to this new information tool that can improve the speed and accuracy of pertinent information whether you are developing your disease management strategy, or dealing with a crisis when access to facts is critically important.

VISION
Linking knowledge to practical solutions

PURPOSE
• The purpose of the “Information and Technology Transfer Platform” is to provide a practical resource to the pork production industry to assist in identifying and implementing treatment, prevention, control of disease; improving productivity and managing health.
• This website is intended for use by primary producers. The presentation style, ease of understanding, low-jargon level all recognize the variation in disease experience that the pork producer, feed reps, genetics reps, pharmaceutical reps, veterinarians and veterinary students may have with regards to economically important swine diseases.
• The content will be a science-based information source of how to control swine disease by providing data, peer-reviewed articles, and photos of practical application, discussion and opinions of experts.
• This will translate science into practical management and demonstrate the inter-relation of a variety of aspects of disease control.
• VSTG will add to the value of the data by “vetting for relevance” and making comments about the application of the information to swine producers in Canada.
• This ‘one-stop shop’ for practical disease information can also serve as a link to health products suppliers by offering to host scientific information available from their research and development. This is an opportunity to provide links to others who provide similar relevant swine production information – with an appropriate fee.
• Web-based presentation only, no printed document will be produced at this time.

METHODOLOGY
• Information (data, peer-reviewed articles, photos of practical application, discussion and opinions of experts) will be critically evaluated for relevance prior to posting

FUNDING

• Alberta Funding Consortium
• Human Resources Development Canada