The three-day event, organised by the US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), took place in Des Moines, Iowa earlier this month (4-6 June) and attracted exhibiting companies from around the world.
Howard Hill, NPPC president, said: "World Pork Expo is a place where producers can get together, share ideas and see what’s new, whether it involves herd health and management, or technology and equipment. It’s a showcase of our business and, this year, producers had a truly positive outlook about what the future holds. Expo probably offers the best display of what modern pork production is all about."
At the heart of the event is the expo’s trade show, featuring over 310,000sq ft of exhibition space, showcasing products, service and technologies from across the board, And with record prices for hogs in the US, alongside lower feed costs, exhibitors said confidence in the sector is riding high, with producers planning for the future.
The expo also saw the creation of the world’s largest pork burger, with the final weight, including bun, recorded at 348 pounds, breaking a record set at World Pork Expo 2012.
Looking ahead to next year, NPPC announced the dates for the 2015 World Pork Expo — June 3-5, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
"World Pork Expo is certainly an event that everyone in pork production needs to put on their calendar," Hill added. "It is the place to learn about new innovations, designs and engineering that help us raise our animals responsibly wherever we farm."