Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada
New generation of cutting-edge nutritional strategies to be showcased at Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada, May 2-3, 2018 in Edmonton
A new wave of cutting-edge nutritional innovation is emerging to power the animal agriculture and feed industries in Canada and beyond, helping them to meet today’s challenges while supporting a strong future.
Participants across the animal nutrition industry – including researchers, nutritionists, feed industry specialists and other industry partners – can learn about the latest progress and perspectives from top experts, as the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC) hosts the second annual Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada (ANCC), May 2-3 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Those wishing to attend can register at www.animalnutritionconference.ca)
The ANCC brings together the former ANAC-hosted Western Nutrition Conference and Eastern Nutrition Conference into one united national event, featuring top speakers, hot topics and the latest science-based knowledge and progress, along with outstanding discussion and networking opportunities. The inaugural ANCC was held last year in Quebec City.
The animal nutrition industry across Canada has entered a pivotal time of evolution in 2018, driven by a host of developments including new rules and expectations around antimicrobial use, fast-changing marketplace and customer demands, increasing links to sustainability issues, and major shifts in the regulatory environment.
Conference speakers include a ‘who’s who’ of top animal nutrition scientists and researchers from Canada, the U.S. and further abroad. Full program details, ongoing sponsor opportunities and registration information are all available at www.animalnutritionconference.ca.
The Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC) is the national trade association of the livestock and poultry feed industry, with over 170 members including feed and ingredient manufacturers and distributors as well as suppliers of a wide range of goods and services to the feed industry. Learn about ANAC at www.anacan.org. •
World Pork Expo
The annual trade show will be held in Des Moines IA June 6 – 8th.
Check on line at worldporkexpo.org for details and information. •
Alberta Pork Congress
The 44th annual Alberta Pork Congress will be held in Westerner Park in Red Deer June 13th & 14th.
As of press time the trade show booth space is 90% sold, so do not delay book your space today. Online registration is open at albertaporkcongress.com.
Following set up on Tuesday June 12th Swine & Cheese will take place on the trade show floor from 6 – 8pm.
The trade show floor is open Wednesday June 13th from 9am – 5pm, followed by annual awards banquet. Reception at 5:30 dinner at 6:30pm.
Thursday June 14th the trade show floor is open 9am – 4pm, with the BBQ taking place from 4-6pm.
Should you have any questions or to order your BBQ, lunch and banquet tickets please contact the Kate or Kimberly in the office at 403.244.7821 or email kate@albertaporkcongress.com or kimberly@albertaporkcongress.com •
Porkapalooza
The 5th annual Porkapalooza BBQ Festival will once again be hosted and organized by Alberta Pork. Located at Northlands Park in Edmonton June 16th & 17th.
The Porkapalooza BBQ Festival is a community event showcasing the art and culture of BBQ.
It is organized by the Porkapalooza BBQ Festival Society with generous financial support from Alberta Pork and other sponsors. At its heart, it is a BBQ competition, but it encompasses all the components of a festival: local food trucks, beer gardens, food demonstration stage, a Kids Zone playground and plenty of entertainment.
The BBQ festival charity society in the past has supported local charites Ronald Mcdonald’s House, Youth Empowerment & Support Services and AdaptAbilities. Check out their website for more details porkapalooza.ca for more details. •
Ontario Pork Congress
The annual Ontario Pork Congress will be held in Stratford June 20th & 21st. Details available on their website at porkcongress.on.ca •
Alberta Livestock Expo
Save the date the 2nd annual Alberta Livestock Expo will take place in Lethbridge at Exhibition Park October 10th & 11th. Details will be available in future issues. •
Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop
The annual Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop will be held in Red Deer Wednesday October 24th at a new location in the Parkland Pavillion at Westerner Park. Stay tuned to the June edition for details on speakers and registration. •
Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium
The annual Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium will take place November 14 & 15 at the Saskatoon Inn. •
Prairie Livestock Expo
Mark your calendars for Prairie Livestock Expo, which will be held at the Victoria Inn and Conference Centre Wednesday December 12th in Winnipeg. Details and exhibitor packages will be available in months to come. •
TPP Signed
Canadian Pork Industry Statement on the Signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
Canadian Pork producers welcomed the signing of The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Canada’s Minister of Trade, François-Philippe Champagne and trade representatives from the 10 CPTPP countries signed the deal in an official ceremony recently in Santiago, Chile.
“Canada is a globally competitive producer and exporter of pork and pork products. We have worked hard to develop our reputation as a reliable supplier of safe, wholesome, high-quality pork. The key to building on our success, however, is the ability to access a wide variety of markets,” stated Canadian Pork Council Chair Rick Bergmann.
“This deal will provide our industry stability in vital markets like Japan and opportunities in emerging markets like Vietnam. Canadian pork producers can rest easy knowing that their livelihood and that of thousand other Canadians in rural and urban communities who work in the pork industry is supported by this newest trade deal,” Bergmann adds.
This agreement will secure preferential market access to the FTA partner countries through tariff elimination and reduction with the most noticeable gain for Canadian pork being Japan. According Global Affairs Canada’s Office of the Chief Economist, Canadian pork exports to Japan are projected to increase by $639 million or 36.2% under the CPTPP.
In light of the CPTPP being signed and in anticipation of its timely ratification and implementation, a team of pork producers from across Canada were in Japan this week for to see firsthand the new opportunities being created by the signature of the CPTPP. Pork producers saw how their product is marketed to buyers in Japan and noted the importance they placed on on-farm assurance programs.
The pork industry is an important part of Canada’s agriculture and agri—food sector. Canadian pork production amounts to close 2 million tonnes per year and over two thirds of this is exported. In 2017, over 1.2 million tonnes of pork, valued at $4 billion was exported to over 100 different countries. Canada is the third-largest pork exporting country in terms of both value and volume and represents 20% of the world pork trade. •
China Sets Tariff on U.S. Pork
Canada’s pork industry could be side-swiped by the U.S. trade war because China has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on U.S. pork.
The U.S. has been exporting $1.7 billion worth of pork per year to China, it’s third-largest pork export market. If the U.S. wants to retain the Chinese market it will have to cut prices and that would impact the Canadian market.
China also imposed tariffs on U.S. fruits and nuts and other items worth about $3 billion, far short of the much bigger impact the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum are having on China. Now the world awaits the reaction of U.S. President Donald Trump who, if he hits China again, is likely to trigger a much bigger Chinese response. Trump also threatened on the Easter weekend to leave NAFTA. •
— By Jim Romahn
$2 Million Investment to Study Animal Welfare
The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) was pleased to learn of the recent federal investment into an Industrial Research Chair for animal welfare announced by the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The funding was awarded to University of Saskatchewan researcher Dr. Yolande Seddon who will be working with multiple industry partners studying the welfare of farmed pigs.
“Pork producers recognize the importance of animal welfare and the need for research for continuous improvement. Pork producers pride themselves on the care they provide for their animals. Animal welfare directly impacts the sustainable and ethical production of pork and the quality of the meat produced” explains Rick Bergmann, CPC Chair. Animals that are well taken care of and that are not subject to stressful environments and practices produce higher-quality meat that is in high demand in international markets.
“We are pleased that pork producers from across Canada chose to contribute to this research and will be directly involved. Collaboration between researchers, producers, processors and packers are key to a highly successful Canadian pork sector that creates jobs and contribute to the Canadian economy,” adds. Mr. Bergmann.
As producers rely on the CPC to create and maintain on-farm programs based on research and scientific facts, the Canadian Pork Council is proud to support this research and looks forward to exploring its findings. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) provided $837,750 with Canada’s swine industry matching the funding and providing in-kind support worth $128,000. The University of Saskatchewan will also provide $305,000 funding over the five-year term of the chair. •
Canadians Aren’t Eating Enough Meat
Most Canadians are not eating enough meat to meet Health Canada guidelines, according to an analysis of data collected during the Statistics Canada census.
On average, Canadians consume 41 grams of cooked fresh meat per day, which includes 28 grams per day of prepared poultry and red meat, or roughly two slices of deli turkey or ham. That’s short of the recommended one serving per day.
Health Canada has noted that women are at risk of inadequate intakes of iron, zinc and vitamin B12, all essential nutrients found in red meat.
A September, 2017, online poll of 1,003 Canadians conducted on behalf of the Canadian Meat Council found that 72 percent ate three or fewer servings of meat per week. Even so, three out of four respondents said that they understood the important role that red meat plays in getting essential nutrients for health.
“Canadians understand that meat is nutrient dense and plays a key role in balanced diets and even has benefits when added to diets that are largely plant-based by helping the body absorb nutrients, like iron and zinc,” said Mary Ann Binnie, a nutrition expert with the Canadian Meat Council. •
— By Jim Romahn
Advancing Women in Agriculture
The Government of Canada recognizes the important role women play in the agriculture and agri-food sector, as well as the Canadian economy at large.
This is why Budget 2018 launched the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy to better support women entrepreneurs, to help them grow their businesses and to remove barriers to their success.
Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, and his wife, Frances MacAulay, attended the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference in Calgary, where they spoke to participants about their experiences as dairy and potato farmers, and the importance of leadership roles for women in agriculture. Minister MacAulay emphasized the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to helping women build capacity in the agriculture and agri-food sector. The Minister also took the opportunity to highlight the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriDiversity program, a new federal program was launched on April 1, 2018, as well as a number of steps taken in Budget 2018 to support women in agriculture.
The Minister spoke of the contribution of women in the agricultural industry: It was an honour to be able to attend this conference with my wife, Frances. Women make a vital contribution to the agriculture and agri-food sector and the Canadian economy, which is why our Government continues to support the full participation of women in science, business and other areas that are essential to growing the sector. Gender equality is not only the right thing to do for Canadians; it’s the smart thing to do.
Quick facts, Budget 2018 builds on the ambitious growth agenda for agriculture set out in last year’s budget, which included many significant ongoing investments to help farm families and agri-food processors excel, including the $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
This year’s budget launches the federal Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which includes:
• $1.7 billion for next generation of science researchers – part of which is targeted to increase the number of women and underrepresented groups;
• $1.4 billion over three years in new financing for women entrepreneurs through Business Development Canada;
• $105 million to the regional development agencies to support investments in women-led businesses;
• $250 million, through Export Development Canada for women-owned and women-led businesses to take advantage of export opportunities;
• $19.9 million to pilot an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women;
• a new lending product designed specifically for women entrepreneurs through Farm Credit Canada.
As reported by the AAFC •
Ties Strengthen With Japan & Korea
Canadian minister of agriculture and agri-food strengthens agricultural trade with Japan, South Korea
Budget 2018 reaffirms the Government of Canada’s commitment to actively deepening trade relationships, through modern, progressive free trade agreements, including in new, fast-growing markets in Asia.
Building on Canada’s strong trade relationship with these trading partners will help grow Canada’s middle-class by creating good, well-paying jobs, and will help the government reach its ambitious target of $75 billion in agricultural exports by 2025.
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, concluded a recent week-long trip to Japan and South Korea. There he met with the Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr. Ken Saito, and the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Mr. Katsunobu Kato, to highlight Canada and Japan’s longstanding and collaborative trade relationship, and to reaffirm its importance in the context of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was officially signed March 8th in Santiago, Chile.
The CPTPP will provide enhanced market access to key Asian markets, including Japan. This landmark agreement will give the Canadian agricultural industry preferential access to all CPTPP countries and will provide new market access opportunities for a wide range of Canadian products, including meat, grains, pulses, maple syrup, wines and spirits, seafood and agri-food.
The Minister also attended FOODEX Japan 2018, Asia’s largest professional trade show for food and beverages. The event hosted over 80,000 buyers from a variety of businesses including food services, distribution and trading. Minister MacAulay used the opportunity to promote Canada’s world-class agricultural products and highlight trade opportunities. Canadian industry representatives reported qualifying more than 1169 leads, 20 percent of which they believe will lead to future business. In terms of sales, industry representatives reported some $7.2 million in on-site sales, and $15.5 million in anticipated sales, over the next year.
Minister MacAulay, along with a delegation of Canadian industry stakeholders, met with representatives from Costco Japan. The Minister discussed the success of Canada’s high-quality pork exports and congratulated Costco on their decision to exclusively import Canadian pork at all of their Japanese stores.
In South Korea, Minister MacAulay met with government officials, as well as representatives from a range of domestic industry groups. This included retailer Lotte Mart, an East-Asian superstore operating 122 branches in the country, and the Korean Meat Importers Association, which operates closely with the South Korean government to facilitate trade. The Minister underlined Canada’s role as a world leader in meat exports, and encouraged further increases in trade volume between our two countries. •
Researchers Develop Robot Pork Grading Machine
Scientists at North Dakota State University and the University of Arkansas have developed a computer vision system (CVS) that uses an artificial intelligence (AI) prediction model to objectively measure pork loin color and marbling quality at online speeds in the processing plant.
Using color images of whole boneless pork loins acquired from a CVS, the research team identified more than 100 marbling, color and texture features.
These, along with various control measurements and subjective color and marbling scores, were used to create the AI prediction model, or support vector machine.
When compared to traditional subjective scoring or measurements, the AI-boosted CVS achieved a more objective quality measurement with a higher prediction accuracy.
The results showed that a CVS with support vector machine modeling reached the highest prediction accuracy of 92.5 percent for measured pork color score and 75 percent for measured pork marbling score. •
— By Jim Romahn
Pork Glut is Possible
The global market is on the verge of a pork glut, warns a report from Rabobank. China is ramping up production, planning to build several hundred large hog farms. But the United States, Canada and Brazil are also planning on exporting more pork to China and hog farmers in Europe are increasing production. That extra pork may instead depress global pork prices, says the report from Rabobank.
U.S. pork production is forecast to increase by 4.3 percent this year, and strong exports at the beginning of 2018 have “intensified the competition for market hogs to the detriment of packer returns,” Rabobank said in its Pork Quarterly report.
Slowing imports into China are the “most significant story” in global pork markets, the bank said, but imports should pick up somewhat over the rest of the year.
Reuters reports on the big production increase in China, saying the big farms are to replace hundreds of thousands of backyard pork farms.
However, challenges including higher feed costs, new environmental laws and an insufficient number of adequately trained workers may allow imports to China from other countries to continue at current levels for at least this year, says Reuters. •
— By Jim Romahn
Purina Reformulates Hog Rations
Purina Animal Nutrition has reformulated its UltraCare nursery feeds to lower prices and improve performance.
The company also has added swine nursery feeds formulated without antibiotics or animal byproducts as an option to the feeds line, which is part of the wean-to-finish Progress to Profit Program, the company said in a news release.
“Our research shows end-of-nursery weights are the best predictor of finishing weights,” says Dan Moran, senior director, swine feed marketing at Purina Animal Nutrition. “We have worked to further develop nutrition to support nursery performance so you can get the best possible return on your investment.”
The company incorporated a better taste and in trials pigs ate twice as much. Results showed a 4.1 per cent improvement in average daily gain and a two-pound advantage at day 42 post-weaning plus other improvements. •
— By Jim Romahn
CPC Encourages Trade
Canadian Pork Council reiterates the importance of trade in front of the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on International Trade.
Back on February 1st at a House of Commons’ Standing Committee on International Trade meeting, Canadian Pork Council (CPC) Second Vice-Chair René Roy outlined how trade plays a vital role in the industry’s prosperity and how it impacts the Canadian economy.
“Over 70% of Canadian pork is exported and pork producers are steadfast supporters of initiatives that contribute to opening and expanding market access” explains CPC Second Vice-Chair René Roy. “We can’t insist enough on the importance of the timely ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Transpacific Partnership in addition to moving forward with the Pacific Alliance negotiation and the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement.”
The purpose of the CPC’s appearance in front of the committee was to share the perspectives of Canada’s pork producers on a potential trade agreement between Canada and the Pacific Alliance (Peru, Columbia, Chile, Mexico).
The potential agreement between Canada and the Pacific Alliance provides an opportunity to improve market access in three areas:
Decreased tariffs;
Increased quota levels and a streamlined quota allocation process;
Recognition of the Canadian swine heard as trichina-free, permitting exports of chilled pork. •
University of Manitoba and Topigs Norsvin Partnership
Since its inception in 1906, the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba has been a leader in the agri-food industry in Manitoba. The standard of excellence it has attained in its teaching and research programs is recognized across Canada and around the world.
With the support of Manitoba Pork Council, Growing Forward 2, New Standard Ag and the University Research Support Fund, approximately $100K in upgrades has been completed in the swine facility this year. This includes the addition of electronic sow feeders to the farrowing unit and reorganizing of the breeding unit to allow for more pig interaction and the use of electronic sow feeders.
The unit received 188 TN70 gilts donated by Topigs Norsvin (Canada) in January 2018 and is in the process of growing them and getting ready to start batch breeding, with first farrowing expected in June. The TN70 gilts were supplied by Mayfair Colony Farms near Killarney, Manitoba. Phillip and Paul Gross, along with their dedicated staff, made it possible to supply each TN70 with full pedigreed history for detailed studies going forward. The gilts will be bred to high-indexing, single-sire Tempo terminal semen. With this combination, Topigs Norsvin and the University will collaborate on many joint research projects and data capture. •
The Affair of The Missing Stamp
A trucker’s oversight has cost Olymel the loss of more than 24,000 pounds (11,000 kilograms) of fresh pork.
Late in January, a shipment from Red Deer that was destined for distribution in the United States was somehow able to cross the border without having the required inspection by the US Department of Agriculture.
The slip was noticed by a USDA official looking for the inspector’s stamp on the load manifest, said Richard Vigneault, head of corporate communications for Quebec-based Olymel SEC.
A portion of the meat, roughly 3,000 pounds (1,300 kg), had already been distributed and consumed, said Vigneault.
He could not confirm whether part or all of the shipment was destined for US military facilities.
The balance of the shipment was recalled and destroyed – an expensive lesson in the need to follow procedure, he said. At no time was there any question of a problem with the product. It was simply a matter of having missed the border inspection, an essential step in allowing the load into the US. Olymel co-operated fully with the USDA on a subsequent inquiry and learned that there had been an error on the part of the commercial carrier hired to haul the load.
Since then, Olymel has reviewed procedures with its carriers, ensuring that all truckers are made aware of the need to follow procedure and that there will not be a similar mistake in the future. While the error was very costly for Olymel, the clients who had ordered the load also suffered a loss, said Vigneault. He said he is confident, however, that the error has not harmed their confidence in Olymel’s line of pork products, since that was never the issue. “Everyone understands that there was nothing wrong with the product and no fault to Olymel,” he said. •
— By Brenda Kossowan
Hawaii Pigs
Stay tuned to the next issue to see coverage from Kona Hawk Farm. Plus get to find out more about Tomari (1.5 years), Lefty (about 4 months) and Crouton a 1 year old Duroc cross Boar. Thanks again to Doug Pittman who allowed us to tour his farm. •
