APC AGM
The Alberta Pork Congress Annual General Meeting has been rescheduled. It will now take place as a breakfast meeting Wednesday October 19th in Red Deer at the Sherton prior to the start of Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop. The breakfast meeting will commence at 7:30 am and go till 8:15 am, so still plenty of time to get registered for the workshop prior to the 9 am start.
During the AGM 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 Trade Show.
Contact Kimberly Nield today from ConventionALL to confirm your attendance. E: kimberly@conventionall.com or PH: 403.244.7821 TF 1.800.267.9180 •
Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop
The agenda is complete for the 2016 Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop. There is still time to register. Mark your calendars RDSTW will be held Wednesday October 19th in Red Deer at the Sheraton.
The one day workshop will begin at 8:30 with registration and program starts at 9. Once again will be a full day with interesting speakers with hands on advice.
The rate for the one day workshop is a low $90 with five people for $400, Walk-ins or late registrations $110..
For details, information or reserve your spots contact Kimberly Nield at ConventionALL Management at 403.244.7821 or email kimberly@conventionall.com •
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. •
Alberta Pork AGM
The Alberta Pork Annual General Meeting will be held Wednesday November 9, 2016 at the Carriage House Inn in Calgary AB. Please save the day for the 47th Alberta Pork Annual General Meeting in Calgary at the Carriage House Inn on Wednesday, November 9th. Our one-day event begins with registration 9:30 a.m. followed by speaker presentations a business meeting concluded with a reception. Further details will be available soon. Please save the date. •
SASK Pork Symposium
The program has been set for the annual Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium which will take place in Saskatoon November 15 & 16th. Featured speakers will cover a range of current topics, this will be the 39th installment of the Symposium.
For more information or to register please contact symposium co ordinator Kim Browne at 306.343.3506 or email kbrowne@saskpork.com . •
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. Prairie Livestock Expo features Canadas largest pork quality competition.
This one day show will be at the Victoria Inn and Conference Centre adjacent the airport. Online registration is now open at prairielivestockexpo.ca. A block of rooms are on hold at Victoria Inn and Conference Centre until December 1st. For details and information contact Dallas Balance at 204.475.8585 or email dallas@goodwinballance.ca •
Banff Pork Seminar
January 10-12, 2017 will be the next installment of the annual Banff Pork Seminar, once again to take place at the Castle in the Rockies. The draft agenda is available online at banffpork.ca Keynote speakers will include Dr Frank Mitloehner, Sandra Vijn, Terry O’Reilly and Dr Joe Schwarcz. Followed by many interesting breakout sessions. Thursday concludes with the ever popular Kevin Grier and Steve Meyer with a market outlook and economic update. A block of rooms has been set aside at the Banff Springs Hotel, reserve yours today.
On line registration now open.
Go to banffpork.ca For more details or information check out Banff Pork Website at banffpork.ca or email the conference co ordinator Ashley Steele at pork@ualberta.ca or call 780.492.3651 •
Manitoba Swine Seminar
Plans are well underway for the annual Manitoba Swine Seminar, which will take place in Winnipeg February 1 & 2, 2017 at the Victoria Inn & Conference Centre. For details or information please contact Dallas Balance at 204.475.8585 or email dallas@goodwinballance.ca •
Cramer Expo
Mark your calendars for the 7th Annual Cramer Livestock Expo. The one day show will be held in Swift Current at Kinetic park Thursday February 16th. Registration is now open, contact Kelly or Doug for a exhibitor package today.
For details and information contact show coordinator Kelly Turcotte at 306.737.6262 or email her at kelly_turcotte@hotmail.com •
New Alliance
PEAK Swine Genetics Inc. and Topigs Norsvin Canada Inc., after several months of negotiation, have reached a strategic alliance agreement. This agreement will allow PEAK Swine Genetics to participate in the world-class genetics program of Topigs Norsvin. Topigs Norsvin will also bring sales and support staff to the customer base of PEAK Swine Genetics. President of PEAK, Walter Preugschas, comments, “Participating with a world leader in swine genetics is exciting for us as a company, as it will be for our existing customer base and future customers. We have great confidence in Topigs Norsvin being able to accelerate our Alberta-based business. Having strong technical and sales support has always been the driver of our business and I am confident our customer base will benefit greatly from this alliance.”
Cam McGavin, general manager of Topigs Norsvin Canada, states, “As a major player in the Canadian swine genetics business we are excited to form this alliance with PEAK. The shareholders of PEAK have shown a long-term commitment to the swine industry and their standard of ethics is second to none. Several of their board members have been honored by the swine industry over the years and this gives us great confidence in working with this group. By having access to Topigs Norsvin’s world class R & D, this allows PEAK and its customers to move to the next level.” •
Subway Sourcing More Canadian Meat
Subway sandwich chain says it is now using Canadian-raised ham, turkey and shaved steak in its subs. It also intends to go all-Canadian for its roast beef, chicken and meatballs by the end of the year. The highly-successful chain, based in the United States, emphasizes fresh ingredients and low prices. It has also promised to stop using artificial colours, flavours and preservatives by next year, It says it has already removed artificial colours, flavours and preservatives from 28 menu items sold by its Canadian stores. It added turkey, chicken and roast beef this recently. Subway is pursuing goals that have become a huge food-industry trend, including elimination of growth promotants, antibiotics and GMOs from some products and eliminating gestation stalls for sows and cages for hens. •
— By Jim Romahn
CFIA to Farm Out Some Work
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is set to farm out delivery of some of its services. It says on its website this week that the Alternative Delivery System could mean services will be delivered by provincial or territorial governments or private contractors. The announcement gives no hints about which services might be involved. •
— By Jim Romahn
Missouri Researchers Better Pork
Missouri University has been testing hogs entered in the Missouri State Fair competition to determine which yield the tastiest pork. They have concluded that the leanest, palest pork is not what consumers prefer. They like the darker, juicier pork. For the last three years, Everett Forkner has won with his cross of Berkshire and Duroc breeds. He is also past president of the National Pork Board. The Missouri State panel judges pork on the basis of marbling, color, pH, tenderness and taste. •
— By Jim Romahn
Olympic Athlete Clara Hughes Headlines FCC Forum Speaker Series
Over the last 10 years, more than 50,000 people involved in Canadian agriculture have been inspired through Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Forums and this year promises more uplifting insight.
In the coming months, FCC Forums will feature presentations from Clara Hughes, six-time Olympic medallist and mental health advocate, Rex Murphy, social commentator, editorialist and distinct Canadian voice and Bruce Sellery, TV host, financial journalist and bestselling author of Moolala.
The cross-Canada events allow producers and other members of the agriculture community to hear from a lineup of high-profile speakers at no charge. Past participants say the events are a great networking opportunity and they leave feeling inspired, ready to set new goals personally and professionally. The FCC Forum, presented in English, stops at London, Ont. (December 6), Red Deer, Alta. (December 9), Winnipeg, Man. (February 28) and Moncton, N.B. (March 11). A fifth FCC Forum, presented in French, will be held in Drummondville, Que. (March 21). Catch Hughes and Murphy in Winnipeg or all three in London, Red Deer and Moncton.
FCC Forums are complemented by nine FCC Ag Outlook events 2017 across the country this fall and winter. The half-day learning sessions will bring leading industry experts to provide valuable insights and outlooks into the economy, commodity markets and more, and will be presented in Saskatoon, Sask. (November 29), Yorkton, Sask. (December 1), Morris, Man. (December 13), Swift Current, Sask. (January 31), North Battleford, Sask. (February 2), Camrose, Alta. (February 7), Taber, Alta. (February 9), Chatham, Ont. (March 2) and Newmarket, Ont. (March 16). Participants can register online at www.fcc.ca/events or by calling 1-888-332-3301. People are encouraged to sign up early to reserve their spot as these events fill up quickly. •
CPC Welcomes CPI’s New President
The Canadian Pork Council is pleased to welcome Greg Giokas as Canada Pork International’s (CPI) new President and CEO. Mr. Giokas succeeds Jacques Pomerleau who is retiring later this summer after 26 years of dedicated leadership. “We welcome Greg’s experience and leadership to the pork industry,” said Council Chair Rick Bergmann. “In his role as President and CEO, he will use the Canada Pork Excellence platform (CPE) to deliver on our industry’s strategic priorities of product positioning, market access and development, and member services at CPI.” “I would like to thank Jacques for his dedication to the industry as his leaving marks the end of an era for Canada Pork International,” added Bergmann. “He was one of the leaders to see the value of an international presence for our industry and advertising for our products. We are indebted to his vision and commitment for propelling the industry to our present position as a global pork exporter through CPI.”
“Given that we export well over two-thirds of our production, maintaining the markets CPI has built over the past twenty six years and developing new market possibilities help us to achieve the best overall return,” stated CPC Executive Director John Ross. “We look forward to continued collaboration and co- operation with Greg so that our industry can be competitive, innovative and a more profitable agricultural sector.” The Canada Pork Excellence platform (CPE) brings together the on farm food safety, biosecurity, animal care and traceability programs under one platform. The revised CPE program serves as the foundation for the Verified Canadian Pork (VCP) initiative launched by CPI earlier this year. The revised programs provide additional transparency while presenting the same proven content that has garnered respect and benefitted the Canadian pork industry in gaining market access internationally and domestically. •
DuBreton Marks Organic Week
DuBreton, Canada’s leading producer of organic pork and hogs raised under humane standards, is marking Organic Week by announcing it has now raised 58,486 hogs without using sow gestation crates. Another 36,880 will come aboard within a few weeks as commercial hog-farming suppliers transition to crate-free production. DuBreton has also been contracting with Old Order and Amish Mennonites in Waterloo, Wellington and Perth to supply its Quebec-based packing plant. “Consumers want to feel good about the food they eat and are choosing products that are raised in a more natural way,” says Vincent Breton, president, duBreton.
“DuBreton is proud to continue raising pigs under organic and Certified Humane® standards to ensure we can meet the increasing demand for ethically-produced pork that is raised locally in Canada.” DuBreton is a family-owned business. •
— By Jim Romahn
Hypor Customer Takes Maple Leaf Food’s Top Award
On July 20, 2016 at their annual award ceremony in Portage la Prairie, Maple Leaf Foods awarded Sunnyside Colony the 2016 Top Overall Signature Producer (Manitoba).
Award criteria includes: best average weights, loin sizes, loin premiums, indexes, yield percentages, health, and tattooing proficiency. This is an enormous accomplishment made even more impressive when considering the 1100 sow Manitoba farm’s live animal performance: in 2015, Sunnyside Colony weaned 31.77 pigs per mated female, marketed 30.18 pigs per mated female, wean to market growth rate was 0.778 kg/day and growing pig feed conversion ratio was 2.599 (whole herd 2.773). Hogs were marketed at an average of 121.6 kg live weight. It’s also very important to note that this is the third year in a row that Sunnyside Colony has won Maple Leaf’s top award while also having won Hypor’s Kenlis Cup for sow productivity in 2013 and again in 2014. So in addition to producing excellent finishing and grading hogs, they are also producing a lot of them, and they are doing so with great consistency – an excellent example of Hypor’s philosophy of Total System Profitability.
Sunnyside Colony produces their own Libra* parent stock gilts using the BioHypor in-house nucleus program and uses Hypor’s Magnus Duroc semen. Our heartfelt congratulations to Joe, Joseph Jr., Jonah, Elliot, Cort, and Damian! We’re also thrilled to acknowledge three full program Hypor customers recognized by Maple Leaf for top index at the same awards ceremony – #3 Sommerfeld Colony, #4 Skyview Colony, and #5 Sunnyside Colony. Again, our sincere compliments to these excellent producers. •
Olymel Investing Again in Pork
Olymel says it will spend $11 million to expand and modernize its pork further processing plant in St-Henri-de-Lévis on the South Shore of Quebec. The project involved new equipment that will boost production volume of smoked sausages and emulsions such as Bologna, pepperoni, salami, mock chicken, smoked ham, from 40 million to almost 60 million kilograms a year.
Ultimately, 3,000 square feet will be added to bring the building to 170,000 square feet. The expansion includes a smoker, chillers and production and packaging equipment to expand production of smoked products such as hams.
“To achieve its growth goals, Olymel has invested more than $250 million since 2015 in both its pork and poultry sectors,” said Réjean Nadeau, company president and chief executive officer. •
— By Jim Romahn
Dr. Tom Stein joins I-Novarum/Maximus Team
Dr. Tom Stein, the designer of PigChamp software, will be joining the I-Novarum/Maximus team. He is veterinarian who also holds a doctorate in clinical epidemiology from the University of Minnesota. He designed the PigCHAMP software in the 80’s and was the co-founder of MetaFarms in 2000. He is a leader in the design of management support software for swine production. The National Hog Farmer magazine chose him as one of the “Top 50” most influential people in the U.S. swine industry of the 20th century. In 2011, he received the Howard Dunne Award for his outstanding contributions to swine production and health, from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. “I am very proud to join the i-Novarum/Maximus team who shares a vision that I have promoting for my entire career: improving the welfare of animals and the performance of farm businesses through technological innovations,” said Dr. Stein. Part of his new role within the I-Novarum/Maximus team will be to promote its products internationally. He will also be tapped for his technical expertise and strategic advice. “This new association demonstrates the technological leadership of our company and reaffirms our determination to remain a leader in the agricultural sector,” said Mr. André Spilmann, engineer and executive chairman of i-Novarum/Maximus. •
CPC Congratulates Martin Rice on Being This Year’s Recipient of CMC’s President’s Award
The Canadian Pork Council(CPC) would like to congratulate Martin Rice on being selected by the Canadian Meat Council(CMC) to be this year’s recipient of CMC’s President’s Award. Mr. Rice received his award during a banquet at CMC’s annual conference in Ottawa which took place September 28th.
“This recognition is well deserved” says Council Chair Rick Bergmann. “The Canadian Pork Council, and indeed, the entire Canadian pork industry, has been a major beneficiary of Martin’s service and support during his time as CPC executive director.” After nearly 30 years with the CPC as executive director Martin Rice retired in April of this year.
Martin dedicated his services to the CPC first as executive secretary then as executive director, overseeing the council’s growing engagement in program delivery and policy development. During his time with the CPC, Martin was involved in numerous initiatives including helping to establish allied organizations such as Canadian Pork International. He was a strong proponent for the industry on numerous issues including free trade, exports, Country of Origin Labelling and health and safety. Martin has also served as director of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society and the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council. •
No Advantage to Antibiotic-Free-Raised Meat
There is no safety difference between conventional and antibiotic-free raising of livestock and poultry, says a food safety expert from the University of Manitoba. He led a team that researched the status of meat and poultry raised under the two different standards. The finding is similar to other research that has found little or no difference in pesticide residues between food raised to organic standards and the conventional use of pesticides. The antibiotic-free movement is increasing rapidly as interest groups pressure processors and retailers to ask suppliers for animals and birds raised without using antibiotics. Canadians had until September 14 to comment on Proposed Changes to Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations Related to Antimicrobial Resistance. Dr. Rick Holley, a professor emeritus with the University of Manitoba, says there is no difference in the safety of meat and poultry raised using antibiotic free protocols or convention practices.
Holley says the real concern is not antibiotic residues in meat and poultry, but that widespread continued use of relatively low doses of antibiotics on farms will increase the population of bacteria resistant to antibiotics. That has implications for using antibiotics for human health. Dr. Holley acknowledges the value of the use of antibiotics in both human medicine and animal agriculture has been substantial, reports Bruce Cochrane of farmscape •
— By Jim Romahn
Right Now Price, Demand, Currency, Feed Prices, and Currency Exchange
There are more details in other articles in this issue but Tyler Fulton, director of risk management with h@ms Marketing Services says the typical seasonal increase in hog numbers combined with faster growth rates is taking a toll on live hog prices. Live hog prices have faced increasing downward pressure over the last couple of weeks. Fulton says, more than anything, producers are shipping heavier hogs and resulting in a bigger supply of hogs coming in, which is fairly typical at this time of year.
“We start to see larger numbers that follows the normal seasonal trend but also the other factors that come into play are fresh corn making its way into market hog rations that tend to spur faster growth and cooler temperatures that also contribute to faster growth,” he said. “The combination of those three things has supply growing at a fairly quick pace which has put a lot of pressure on cash markets over the past two weeks or so. As it sits right now we’re approaching the lowest levels for the year so far but, what’s kind of unique about this is that, packers in the United States are arguably still in an excellent position. Their profit margins are very strong.” Fulton says pork price are high in terms of wholesale values but packers are benefitting from the fact that there’s this heavy supply. They don’t really need to compete heavily for the live animals and that’s resulted in really wide margins for them.” “In terms of slaughter capacity, we’re still in good shape with the weekday slaughter generally being filled and the excess being added onto a Saturday kill, where the excess is generally placed in the fall months,” he said. “If the trend continues as is, we might see some weeks over the two months were hog numbers max out capacity, which would be troubling.” •
— By Harry Siemens
Hog Farmers Urged to Join Survey
Pork producers in Canada and the United States are being encouraged to take part in a survey which is looking at how behavior is used to select pigs for group housing. It wants to find out what farmers are doing and hopes the information will be useful for those who either have housed, or plan to house, sows in groups rather than stalls. The survey is organized by Dr. Sarah Ison, a post-doctoral fellow in the Animal Science Department at Michigan State University. Ison says the aim of the project is to reduce production losses by identifying pigs that are best suited for group living. “It doesn’t matter what type of farm. This survey is designed for all different types of farms. If they have breeding sows or not, it doesn’t matter. You’ll be directed to correct part of the survey,” she says. The study involves researchers from Michigan State University and from Scotland Rural College in Edinborough and is based on a lot of research in the past in this area, Ison says. ‘The whole project is going to use data from multiple projects to get some really good strong results on this subject,” she said in an interview with Bruce Cochrane. She hopes to gather responses from at least 500 producers. For more information on the survey or to participate visit msupigbehavior.questionpro.com . •
— By Jim Romahn
