Decoding Livestock Diseases, Strengthening Skills—Elevating Farming Quality to Drive Development

The fourth session of the third training program concluded successfully.

From October 10 to 12, 2025, the third Advanced Class, fourth session of Saint-Ao Business School was successfully held and concluded smoothly.

This training session specially invites Professor Xie Xinggang and Associate Professor Zhou Dong from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Northwest A&F University to serve as the keynote instructors. The two experts will focus on "Digestive System Diseases" The three core topics—*Porcine Reproductive Diseases* and *Bovine Reproductive Diseases*—provided participants with a systematic and in-depth exploration of critical areas such as animal digestive health and reproductive system disease management.

Professor Xu Xingang is lecturing the course "Digestive System Diseases." He begins by addressing common digestive disorders found in livestock farms, then systematically explains topics such as calf diarrhea and piglet Digestive dysfunction Professor Xu emphasized that digestive health is the foundation for animal growth, development, and feed conversion efficiency. He highlighted the importance of adopting a comprehensive prevention and control strategy that encompasses multiple dimensions—such as feeding management, diet formulation, environmental hygiene, and pathogen control—to effectively address various digestive system diseases, including those affecting the fore-stomach of ruminants. During the course, he analyzed key cases to illustrate early detection and intervention strategies for digestive disorders, helping participants develop a holistic "nutrition-management-prevention" approach to digestive health management. This, in turn, will enhance ranches' overall capacity to prevent and control digestive-related diseases in practical production settings.

Associate Professor Zhou Dong delivered a special lecture on "Swine Reproductive Diseases." Starting from practical issues in reproductive management at pig farms, he systematically analyzed the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of common reproductive disorders, emphasizing the comprehensive impact of nutrition, environment, and management factors on reproductive efficiency. Professor Zhou pointed out that many reproductive challenges are not caused by a single factor alone, but rather result from the combined effects of multiple interrelated elements. Through real-life case studies, he shared essential insights into managing the entire process—from estrus regulation and pregnancy diagnosis to postpartum care—and advocated for a proactive prevention strategy focused on "early detection and timely intervention." This approach aims to help participants enhance their farm’s reproductive management practices, ultimately boosting both quality and productivity.

"Bovine Reproductive Diseases" is also continued to be taught by Associate Professor Zhou Dong. The course provides an in-depth analysis of the major diseases affecting dairy cows' reproductive performance, along with their multifaceted underlying causes. It highlights that the onset and progression of these issues often involve the synergistic interplay of factors such as nutrition, infection, management practices, and metabolism. Professor Zhou outlines a phased, targeted prevention and control strategy, emphasizing the importance of establishing a comprehensive "Prevention-Monitoring-Treatment" integrated system for reproductive health management. He particularly stresses the critical role of reproductive tracking and data management in early detection, urging participants to pay close attention to the dynamic changes in herd reproductive indicators and to implement timely interventions—ultimately minimizing economic losses caused by reproductive challenges.

After the training, participant Zhang Kai shared: "Through this systematic learning experience, I not only mastered the key knowledge and technical essentials related to digestive system diseases as well as reproductive disorders in pigs and cattle, but also gained a deeper understanding of the management philosophy that 'prevention is better than cure,' along with the critical importance of integrating theory with practice. Moving forward, I will adhere to the principles of 'prevention first, precise intervention,' applying the methods and techniques I’ve learned flexibly while staying attuned to industry trends. This approach will enable me to tackle farming challenges with scientific thinking. Beyond enhancing my professional skills, this training has also strengthened my sense of responsibility as a livestock professional. I’m committed to safeguarding animal health with systematic knowledge, contributing actively to the sustainable development of our industry."

Saint-O College of Business is innovating its curriculum system by deepening brand engagement, strengthening job-specific skills, and enhancing product awareness—all aimed at driving the growth of the animal protection industry, cultivating versatile, high-quality technical talent that meets the demands of modern agri-pastoral economic development, and helping agri-pastoral enterprises achieve leapfrog, high-quality advancement.