PSC Celebrates 25
The Prairie Swine Centre is celebrating 25 years. Turning science into knowledge. The PSC strives to find efficient and sustainable solutions that improve returns to pork producers, and sustainability of the entire Pork Value Chain in Canada. There are 50 graduate students now involved in the industry. Twenty eight percent increase in herd productivity in the past 25 years. Currently producing more then 30 psy. On average, their research has generated $4.10 a hog every year for the past 15 years. One dollar of funding has generated four dollars of research results. Check out www.prairieswine.com for more details. •
Rising Demand for Welfare Friendly DeStress Additive Fuels Team Expansion for Country Junction Feeds
As a new year emerges with fresh opportunities for innovation in farming and ranching, a growing demand for new ‘welfare friendly’ feed additives is fueling a team expansion for rising feed company Country Junction Feeds, which is broadening its market presence in Canada and the U.S. Livestock industry veteran Ernie Kimak joins Country Junction Feeds to help lead the market expansion of DeStress, a pioneering nutritional therapy additive. Nutritional therapy involves the application of nutrition science to promote health, welfare and peak performance with the animals. A major focus with DeStress, manufactured by DeStress Nutritional Technology, is to protect animals from the damaging effects of stress experienced in a variety of situations, such as transport, handling, regrouping, parturition, weaning and performance. DeStress is backed by a substantial and growing body of data and peer-reviewed science, including key foundational studies led by veteran agriculture research scientist Dr. Al Schaefer, based in Lacombe, Alta., Canada. Schaefer was among the first wave of researchers internationally to explore stress impacts in livestock as well as stress mitigating nutritional approaches. •
Fast Expands Team
Recent hires in both Canada and the US have added to the Fast Team.
Fast Genetics hired Dr. Brad Belstra as Manager of Reproductive Services in order to assist with the implementation of low dose and sex sorted sperm into the North American swine industry. Dr. Belstra will join Dr. Kilby Willenburg and the reproductive physiology team in further developing Fast Genetics’ low dose and sex sorted sperm programs, specifically overseeing their commercial implementation. Dr. Belstra will be based out of Fast Genetics’ Swine Reproductive Center near Madison, Wisconsin. The inclusion of Dr. Belstra to the reproduction team is strategically aligned with Fast Genetics’ vision to lead the industry in pig reproduction and assisted reproductive technologies.
Also added recently are two gentlemen to help with sales. Rick Barva will be based in southern AB. Don Herzog was added to cover the Montana region. •
New Alberta Pork Production Staff
As part of Alberta Pork’s new Strategic Plan, developed in 2016 and discussed at the November 2016 Annual General Meeting, they will be focusing greater attention and resources toward on-farm support. Some of the key areas to support pork producers will include: Canadian Pork Excellence, Swine Codes of Practice needs, bio-security, bio-containment, production practice education and training (i.e. Euthanasia technology usage, transportation certification (TQA/CLT), updates on new research, etc.), Farm Safety, labour support, Growing Forward application support, and cost of production. In order to address some of these issues Alberta Pork is happy to announce that two new employees will be joining our team to help provide more service support to our producers.
Mr. Felipe Silva will be joining the team as the new Production Coordinator. Felipe was previously employed as a veterinarian in Columbia and over the past few years has been working on his Master’s Degree at the University of Alberta. Felipe has a very good understanding of biosecurity protocols and animal science in general.
Mr. Bill Mullen will be joining the team on-a-part-time bases as the new Production Support. Bill is no stranger to the Alberta pork industry and has for many years worked for both Alberta Pork and the Western Hog Exchange. He will bring knowledge and experience in the transportation certification programs as well as lend a supporting hand to deliver some of our many programs. Both Felipe and Bill will operate under the supervision of our Production and Quality Assurance Manager, Javier Bahamon. •
CBS INC. Strengthens Nutrition Team
New opportunities to harvest stronger value and performance benefits from dairy and beef feed are the focus as Canadian Bio-Systems (CBS Inc.) welcomes a new addition to its expanding nutrition team. Nutritionist Sabrina Zettell, based out of Guelph, Ont., joins CBS Inc. with an initial focus on servicing North American markets. Zettell adds to the company’s rising focus on advancing innovative feed technology solutions for the dairy and beef sectors, including through optimized delivery of the new CBS Inc. REP5 (Ruminant Enhancement Program 5) initiative. She will also support additional livestock sectors. •
