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Carly Bates, a third-year student at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, received the 2023 Morrison Swine Innovator Prize, an award given to veterinary students who want to specialize in swine medicine.
The award was presented on Sept. 18 at the annual Allen D. Leman Swine Conference hosted by the University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine. All North American veterinary students interested in swine health and production were eligible. 
Bates was chosen for this award by a jury of three swine practitioners for her presentation, “How low should the pH go? How pH levels affect E. coli growth.”
In her project, Bates tested the growth of F18 Escherichia coli at various pH levels. F18 E. coli typically affects post-weaning pigs around 10-12 weeks of age and has a mortality rate between 50 and 90 percent. Bates found a pH of 4 or lower prevented the bacteria from growing. This information will be helpful for producers when considering the acidification of water to prevent the proliferation and transmission of pathogens.
“The jury felt like Carly was really confident in her delivery, had ownership of the content, and understood her project well. Her findings could easily be applied to a farm and had a clear take-away message,” says Dr. Perle Zhitnitskiy, the UMN professor who coordinates the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize.
Bates received a cash award of $5,000 plus complimentary registration and travel costs to attend the Leman Swine Conference. The Morrison Swine Innovator Prize honors the legacy of the late Bob Morrison, DVM, PhD, MBA, who coordinated the conference for many years. The prize is sponsored by leading swine producers, veterinary practices, and industry partners.
The Allen D. Leman Swine Conference is an annual educational event for the global swine industry. It is internationally acclaimed for bringing science-driven solutions to the complex challenges facing the industry. Hundreds of participants from more than 20 countries attend each year, including swine veterinarians and other professionals working in swine production and animal health management. Next year represents the 40th anniversary of the conference, and it will be held September 23–24, 2024.
September 22, 2023 - University of Minnesota
