Progressus AgriSchools Concludes Swine Management Course: Highlighting Resilience, Biosecurity, and Economic Survival in Bangkok

Progressus AgriSchools, a leader in agribusiness training and consultation, successfully concluded its intensive four-day Swine Production and Management AgriSchool (SPM 2025).

Held from October 14th to 17th at the Four Points by Sheraton Sukhumvit 15 in Bangkok, the specialized course gathered swine professionals from across Asia, including Malaysia, India, and Thailand, to address the most critical factors influencing profitability and herd health in the modern swine industry.

One participant, a Director from a fully integrated farm in Asia, praised the program, noting that the overall experience was "really good". He added that the course offered a "nice sort of, combination of, topics that has been covered," including nutrition, health, biosecurity, and economics.

Optimizing the Economic Engine: Nutrition and Longevity

A significant portion of the curriculum, led by Dr. Tony Edwards, focused on the Breeding Herd, emphasizing that Sow Productivity (Pigs Weaned Per Sow Per Year) is the key driver of profitability. Participants were trained on implementing a whole-of-life nutritional plan to ensure sow longevity, a critical factor given that sows typically do not cover their initial costs until they reach the third parity.

Dr. Tony Edwards commented on the foundational role of feed: "Nutrition is not a cost center; it is the ultimate profit driver. Especially in the breeding herd, where productivity hinges on longevity, the quality of the diet—from gilt preparation to lactation—is the non-negotiable base for achieving maximum economic output and surviving market volatility.".

Advanced Biosecurity and Resilience in the Face of ASF

The final day delivered intensive sessions on safeguarding the herd and managing market risk:

• Health Defense: Experts provided an Advanced Approach to dealing with African Swine Fever (ASF) and the principles required for the elimination of other Transboundary Diseases. A critical theme was Integrated Biosecurity, extending protective measures to inputs like Feed and Water as a Nutrient, complemented by a practical Water Testing Workshop.

• Production Discipline: Training detailed Programmed Production concepts to eliminate costly downtime, specifically minimizing Non-Productive Days (NPDs), which drain farm revenue.

  
  

One participant underscored the importance of this focus, stating: 'At the moment, the obvious issue with the swine industry is African Swine Fever. Because in Asia, I think lots of farms have closed down because of that. So we need to make sure our productivity is there.

The Economics of Pig Production segment concluded that maximizing productivity is the single most powerful strategy available, ensuring both high profits when markets are favorable and the lowest possible cost of production during cyclical downturns.

Next Steps for Industry Professionals

Progressus AgriSchools continues its mission of transforming the future of agribusinesses through specialized training. Registration is now open for the 2026 Swine Production and Management AgriSchool.