Porkapalooza
Alberta Pork is happy to be the title sponsor for the 3rd instalment of Porkapalooza. This year the festival weekend is expanding to encompass a concert series.
What is Porkapalooza you might ask ? Porkapalooza BBQ Festival is a FREE community event organized by Alberta Pork, Passion for Pork (the domestic marketing arm of Alberta & BC Pork) and our event team, Misson Consulting, that offers Edmontonians the art and culture of BBQ. At its heart, it is a BBQ competition but encompasses all the components of a festival with local food trucks, beer gardens, a Kids Zone playground, food demonstration stage, and plenty of entertainment.
Taking place June 17 - 19 at Clark Park and Stadium in Edmonton. This is a great way that Alberta Pork is promoting pork with the urban population. Check out www.porkapalooza.ca for complete details and information. •
Alberta Pork Congress
The dates for the 42nd annual Alberta Pork Congress are next week June 15 & 16, 2016 at Westerner Park in Red Deer.
Swine & Cheese will take place on trade show floor following set up Tuesday June 14th 6 – 8 pm. Trade show floor open Wednesday June 15th 9 – 4:30 and Thursday June 16th 9 – 4 pm.
For details, information and to order your banquet and BBQ tickets contact Kate Cheney or Kimberly Nield at 403.244.7821 or email kate@conventionall.com or kimberly@conventionall.com •
Ontario Pork Congress
The dates for the 43rd annual Ontario Pork Congress are June 22nd & 23rd. The congress features a trade show, live hog show, rib eating contest and a hog job just to name a few. For complete details check www.porkcongress.on.ca •
Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop
Early planning has begun for the 2016 Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop. Mark your calendars will be held Wednesday October 19th in Red Deer at the Sheraton.
More details will be available in future editions. •
APC AGM & GT
Save the date ! The Alberta Pork Congress Annual General Meeting will once again be held in mid September in conjunction with the Annual Golf Tournament. Wednesday September 14th. AGM will be held at which time elections will take place for new members for the Board of Directors.
Once the meeting has concluded this will be the first opportunity to book your booth space for the 2017 Alberta Pork Congress Tradeshow.
Location and time will be confirmed. Watch your inbox and the next edition of Prairie Hog Country for details. •
Aherne Awards
Do you know of an innovator who should be recognized? Someone who has developed an original solution to answer a pork production challenge? Or found a creative use of a known technology?
The Banff Pork Seminar is proud to offer a chance for you to “strut your stuff” as a technology innovator and show the rest of us how to put it into practice!
The Dr. FX Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production recognizes innovators involved in the pork industry who are making a difference by applying new technologies or management techniques.
Innovators can win valuable prizes and free registration to the 2017 Banff Pork Seminar, January 10-12; you’ll be recognized by your peers and the pork industry and have a chance to present your solution at the 2017 Banff Pork Seminar.
Please nominate yourself, or apply on behalf of an innovator that deserves to be recognized. Help us to find these innovators and encourage them to apply for the Dr. FX Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production. Specifically, we are looking for innovators who are capable of taking a new research concept, a technology, or even a management concept and apply it successfully in the production of pork. Innovations may be related to, but are not limited to, one of the following areas: Productivity, Profitability, Working Conditions, Animal Well Being, Reduced Environmental Impact, Pork Quality and Safety.
Anyone who has developed a solution to a pork production challenge may enter. Innovations must be relevant to North American pork production but do not necessarily have to be currently in use in Canada at the time of application. Application and more information will be available online at www.banffpork.ca.
Applications must be received by October 31, 2016. Apply today!
Please contact Conference Coordinator Ashely Steele at pork@ualberta.ca with questions. •
SASK Pork Symposium
Mark your calendars for the annual Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium which will take place in Saskatoon November 15 & 16th. More details will be available in future issues. •
Prairie Livestock Expo
The second annual Prairie Livestock Expo will be held Wednesday December 14th in Winnipeg, MB. Similar to 2014 the Expo will welcome all areas of the livestock industry, however hogs seems to continue to be the largest represented sector. This one day show will be at the Victoria Inn and Conference Centre adjacent the airport. Exhibitor package information will be sent out in the months to come.
For details and information contact Dallas Balance at 204.475.8585 or email dallas@goodwinballance.ca •
Banff Pork Seminar
Initial planning is underway for the 2017 Banff Pork Seminar. Mark your calendars January 10-12, 2017. More information will be in the August/September edition. •
Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival
About 300 bacon lovers are expected to be on hand in Kipling June 18 to take part in the annual Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival. The annual Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival, scheduled for June 18 in Kipling, was organized as a way to raise money for local youth charities.
Proceeds from the event will be will help cover the costs of refurbishing the outside of the local youth centre and a portion will go toward the community’s BMX park. Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival organizer Scott Kearns explains ticket purchasers have the opportunity to sample a wide range of dishes, the only stipulation being they must include bacon in some way, shape or form.
This is family friendly event which is unlike a lot of bacon events and we have everything from toddlers to very senior citizens attend. Kearns says, in addition to the great food, the event features a bouncy slide and face painting for the kids and live musical entertainment. He notes ticket sales are capped at 300 and are available at several local business or they can be ordered by calling 306 736-2442 or 306 736-9124 and additional information can be found by searching “Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival” on Facebook. •
ALMA Faces Economic Reality
Words from Gordon Cove
As I look back over the last 8 years, ALMA has truly developed as an agency. We went from being a start-up with a few knowledgeable and driven individuals, to a reputable, fully-integrated member of Alberta’s agriculture industry. Today, we boast a team of dedicated and talented people who truly care about helping industry achieve success and sustainability.
A key part of this growth was the cultivation of many strong relationships with Alberta’s livestock and meat sectors. This was a result of our commitment to ask industry “what do you need” and “how can we best work with you”. The relationships our staff made, the initiatives ALMA supported, and the partnerships we built, all led to some outstanding projects and results.
However, as an agency of the Alberta government, we too are subject to economic realities, and that time has come. Over the next six months or so, ALMA programs and services will transition to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. However, with our budget of $24 million, we encourage industry to continue submitting proposals and applications directly to ALMA throughout the transition. All projects will continue as contracted and our staff will ensure projects are executed to our usual highest standards.
As we work with the Ministry to ensure a seamless transition, we will do our best to inform our applicants and partners of any changes or updates to our processes. Rest assured, the Alberta government is committed to fulfilling ALMA-industry grant contracts. While the transition of ALMA is bittersweet, I want to thank the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for allowing ALMA to be a catalyst in the development of a profitable and competitive Alberta livestock and meat industry. I also want to thank ALMA’s industry partners for trusting in ALMA’s vision and supporting the agency throughout the years. To ALMA’s existing and past board members: each of you provided invaluable expertise in multiple areas, helping ALMA determine the best initiatives to promote industry growth.
Finally, I can’t say enough about how privileged I am to have worked alongside the ALMA staff, as the programs and services are only as good as the people delivering them. Although there are tough days ahead, we will continue to help industry address opportunities and confront challenges until the ALMA doors close. And until that day, I borrow a phrase from Kim McConnell: the journey continues… •
Bayer Bids $81 Billion for Monsanto
It’s official now. Bayer AG of Germany has made a $62-billion (about $81 billion Cdn) all-cash bid to buy Monsanto. It’s offering $122 (about $158 Cdn) per share.
If the deal is approved, it will create the world’s largest farm chemicals and seeds company. It will dominate markets in North America, Europe and Asia. • — By Jim Romahn
Disease-zoning Deal Signed
The United States, Australia and New Zealand have signed an agreement to recognize geographic zoning in the event of an outbreak of a foreign animal disease, such as foot-and-mouth disease, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, highly-pathogenic strains of avian influenza or African Swine Fever.
Canada has been lobbying for years to win acceptance for an East-West split, with West Hawk Lake, Manitoba, near the border with Northwestern Ontario, as the dividing point. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the deal was signed during a meeting of the World Organization for Animal Health.
Canada also signed two other agreements at the conference. One is to share Foot-And-Mouth Disease vaccine in the event of an outbreak. Mexico is an additional partner in this deal.
The third deal is an agreement to share resources in the event of an outbreak of a foreign animal disease. Those signing this deal are Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States. •
— By Jim Romahn
Hog Industry Lobbies for Less Phosphorous
Canada’s hog farmers are lobbying the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to scrap a regulation that results in too much phosphorous in rations and therefore more in manure.
Environmental regulations aim to reduce phosphorous in streams, ponds and lakes, believing that would starve algae of an essential nutrients and keep the water better for fish.
The CFIA feed recommendations are based on the amount of phosphorous needed in rations to get enough into pigs’ systems for efficient growth. But they extract only some of the phosphorous in rations, passing the balance through in manure.
More recently, researchers have found that phytase enzyme helps pigs extract a higher percentage of phosphorous from feed. That means less is required and less passed into manure. More specifically, the hog farmers, led by Manitoba, want the CFIA to scrap Table-4 requirements.
Manitoba has virtually stopped new hog barn construction for more than a decade because of environmental concerns. Only recently has permission been granted for a few barns.
The Ontario Pork marketing board provided funding for years for research at the University of Guelph that genetically engineered pigs that produce phytase in their saliva and therefore need less phosphorous in their rations and put less into manure.
That advance is, however, sitting on the shelf because of expensive and indefinite regulatory demands in the United States and Canada. All of the research that has been done has verified the genetic engineering has not harmed the health and wellbeing of pigs nor has it changed the wholesomeness of pork from those pigs. •
— By Jim Romahn
Zoetis Champions Swine Health In Canada With PigCare.ca
Zoetis is proud to announce the launch of PigCare.ca, the new online community for Canadian swine producers, designed to promote animal health and provide resources which respond to the varied needs of a strong community, a vital component of the country’s agricultural landscape.
Engaging with a strong community As a comprehensive online resource centre for swine producers, PigCare.ca seeks to provide essential information, tools, and services—updated on an ongoing basis—to serve as a central hub for all users.
“‘The user experience is at the heart of PigCare.ca and the website is designed to keep producers on top of the latest industry news and updates. It’s immediately intuitive and inviting,” explains Walter Heuser, DVM, Swine – Business Unit Director at Zoetis. “Canadian producers can access an easy-to-navigate site, find valuable resources that will make a difference in their busy lives, a tangible support in their care of pigs”. The portal houses a wide range of training tools— such as vaccine care and handling, an anti-infective calculator, ABC pig training brochures, swine health management videos and give access to a wealth of Zoetis services. PigCare.ca also aims to foster industry relations with producer testimonials and links to industry associations.
Focus on animal health solutions and the responsible use of antibiotics Zoetis understands that fostering animal health protects and enhances human health. Comprehensive, updated disease factsheets are an integral part of PigCare.ca. “By providing detailed information on swine diseases and appropriate products to prevent and treat them, we believe swine producers coast-to-coast will feel supported and better informed”, said Dr. Heuser. Zoetis also places the responsible use of antibiotics at the core of the PigCare.ca initiative. By stewarding the responsible use of antibiotics, Zoetis seeks to increase awareness and support producers, veterinarians, and animal health stakeholders through science, dialogue, education, and action.
In an ever-evolving world, Zoetis remains constant in its commitment to championing animal health and supporting the needs of the people who care for animals. The PigCare.ca community is an example of Zoetis’s dedication to deepen its bond with all parties involved in the animal health sector. •
Portable Assay Could Deliver Faster PEDv Detection
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) is a highly contagious swine disease that causes devastating losses. When the outbreak in the United States occurred a few years ago, the Canadian industry came together to develop better mitigation strategies. While PEDv cases did arise in Eastern Canada, the effort paid off, as the spread eventually slowed down. However, improvements to PEDv detection and prevention methods are vital to continuing these efforts.
One of the known challenges is the lack of reliable on-farm detection methods. Currently, PEDv samples are sent to a lab for testing. This adds significant wait time to confirm the presence of on-farm PEDv.
In partnership with the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA), a research team led by Dr. Aruna Ambagala developed a rapid pen-side assay that can be performed on a user-friendly and field-deployable instrument to test fecal swabs, truck washes and environmental samples.
“In preventing outbreaks, timing is of the essence,” said Dr. Ambagala, a Research Scientist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary. “Getting the necessary results in a shorter time frame can significantly prevent the spread of this disease and increase animal health on swine farms.” Based on the results of this initiative, the new assay has an approximate run time of one hour, which allows infected farms to implement biosecurity controls more efficiently. The team also found that it is less expensive than sending the samples to the lab.
“The cost of each test was a very important factor in creating this assay. It has to be affordable or else industry may hesitate to adopt the technology,” said Dr. Ambagala.
The assay’s combined benefits of reduced costs, high sensitivity and specificity, with a smaller and portable design allows the tool to be used across the supply chain and anywhere in Alberta. By having the device at locations like border stations and slaughter houses, industry could monitor the disease closer than ever.
The team also considered other swine enteric viruses in their research including porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV). These viruses present similar clinical signs as PEDv and need to be distinguished from each other. Like PEDv, PDCoV and TGEV are currently detected and differentiated through laboratory diagnosis. By creating a rapid on-site assay for PDCoV and TGEV, this research also ensures that the right disease is diagnosed and the right measures are taken.
“The less time it takes to diagnose the presence of PEDv, the more likely that an outbreak can be avoided,” said Dr. Susan Novak, ALMA’s Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives. “Disease outbreaks can have a devastating impact on animal health, farm profitability and operator stress. If we can avoid these challenges, then there is less risk to the province’s hog industry.” •
Innovad Appoints Agribution
Innovad NV/SA (Antwerp, Belgium) and Agribution Canada Ltd. (located in Steinbach, Manitoba) have announced that Agribution will market and distribute the Innovad product line in Western Canada. “We are excited to add a strong product line like Innovad to our growing product portfolio as we develop our business” said Norm Paisley, President of Agribution. “Innovad is a highly regarded leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of specialty feed additives throughout the world”
“Innovad looks forward to working closely with Agribution as we further develop our product offering in Western Canada” said Ben Letor, Director of Innovad. “Agribution’s philosophy of connecting value with performance as a trusted partner in the marketplace aligns well with our core values of working with people and creating trust.” Innovad develops, manufactures and markets innovative additives for the global animal feed, aquaculture and pet food nutrition sectors. Innovad manages all their manufacturing from a single location in Belgium and supplies their products in over 45 countries. Innovad has built a business that embraces openness, shares ideas and opens up innovation in a sustainable and profitable manner.
Agribution Canada Ltd is a new company located in Steinbach, Manitoba that specializes in the sourcing, marketing and distribution of products for livestock production. Agribution serves the livestock industry thru a business to business sales channel. •
New Partnership With Tempel Genetics to Expand Hypor´s Breeding Program in U.S.
Hypor recently has entered into an agreement with Tempel Genetics to execute and expand Hypor genetics in the U.S. market. “We are very happy to make this announcement, which is a significant step for our growth in the market,” says Hypor America General Manager Luis Prieto.
Hypor Landrace great grandparent (GGP) gilts from one of Hypor’s nucleus facilities in Saskatchewan, Canada will be moved to the Tempel Genetics’ nucleus facility in Indiana, U.S., in the coming weeks. “Through the last 30 years we have been developing high quality genetics for the U.S. and the international market,” says Tempel Genetics owner Bill Tempel. “At this point, newer technology and bigger populations are needed in order to keep being competitive in the global genetics market. Current customers of Tempel Genetics will benefit by receiving the full potential of Hypor’s genetics on their farms.
“We fully trust the capability and willingness of Tempel Genetics to execute Hypor’s breeding program and to supply current and future customers with top quality genetics,” Prieto says. The partnership will give Hypor access to a system of 1,900 GGP/GP sows in nucleus/multiplication helping to expand Hypor´s Landrace sow base.
Due to this agreement, Tempel Genetics will end its current relationship with PureTek Genetics over the next 10 months. The clear synergy between both company’s selection philosophy for balanced-animals ensures a long-lasting and stable relationship.
“Based on Hypor’s portfolio and the products that are currently under development at Hypor, we are very confident with our agreement decision,” Tempel says. After considering different possibilities for their future and the future of their customers, Tempel Genetics chose to partner with Hypor based on Hypor’s selection philosophy, gene pool, and technology to produce balanced-animals—which will better serve US pork producers.
“Profitability in the pig chain and balanced breeding—the basis of Hypor’s genetics—have always been paramount ideas in our breeding program,” Tempel says. “That’s why we think Hypor aligns very well with us and with our customers.”
Hypor values the ethics, the level of expertise and the knowledge in the breeding field that Tempel Genetics brings to the swine industry, and sees Tempel Genetics as a reliable partner for growing Hypor lines in the U.S. market. “One of Hypor’s strategic pillars is collaboration. Under this idea, we are always exploring win-win situations,” Prieto says. “And this partnership with Tempel Genetics is clearly one of them.” •
CFA Supports Efforts to Keep the Canadian Family Farm Intact
A private member’s bill tabled recently – Bill C-274 – is taking on the inefficient tax treatment of intergenerational transfers for small businesses, addressing a major issue for family farm and fishing businesses. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is pleased to see MP Guy Caron’s bill propose amendments to the Income Tax Act that would ease the tax burden on farmers seeking to transfer their businesses to the next generation.
“Over $50 billion in farm assets are set to change hands over the next 10 years as farmers age and future plans are made. In order to ensure the continuation of family farms in Canada, urgent efforts are needed to address the barriers hindering farm transfers to family members. We are pleased to see this issue move forward in Parliament and are hopeful it receives the political profile and priority it deserves,” said CFA President Ron Bonnett.
CFA regularly hears from farmers across the country encountering significant and costly obstacles when attempting to pass their businesses on to family members. Specific tax rules pose disincentives to keeping farms within the family and actually incent sales to non-family members. In many instances, farmers find it markedly less costly to sell their farms to outside buyers.
“Simply put, if taxation barriers aren’t addressed, we will see fewer and fewer family farms in Canada. We support Mr. Caron and his colleague’s commitment to addressing these tax burdens that could cause significant administrative burden, cost, and ultimately disruption to what looks to be the most significant period of farm transfers in the history of Canadian agriculture,” added Bonnett.
At this point, 98% of Canadian farms continue to be family-owned and operated and CFA is committed to working with government, and all parties, to ensure the Income Tax Act supports the continuation of this successful and valued farming tradition. •
SAIT’s Charcuterie Program Provides Unique Student Experiences and Opportunities for Success
Since the start of the 2014/15 academic year, SAIT’s Butchery and Charcuterie Management (BCM) Program has undergone adjustments to keep training current with consumer demands, retail trends and industry requirements. So far, it has experienced strong application numbers and the campus butcher shop, The Butchery, is thriving from the products made by BCM students.
“Through a recent partnership with the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA), SAIT enhanced the BCM program by upgrading equipment in the campus’ Meat Lab.
SAIT also understands the importance of building industry networks in domestic and international markets. One way to accomplish this is through upcoming student trips to Europe, which will help students grow their business and culinary skills, learn about new products and establish key contacts. As Alberta companies often bring in master sausage makers and specialists from Europe, these connections will help SAIT’s students when they are out in industry. •
