As I am typing this note on a beautiful +9 Friday afternoon, the snow, what is left, is melting at a fast pace.
All of us associated within the pig industry or sector are keeping track on the latest ASF updates, as Dr. Egan Brockhoff has said many times “it terrifies me.” The Canadian Pork Council applauded the Federal Government for their additional funding for Detector Dogs. As you will read in articles included in this issue it will hopefully help in the ongoing battle to keep the horrible disease, which would cripple our industry, out.
A little closer to home another battle continues, PED, to keep it contained to only the four affected farms in Alberta. Alberta Pork has been grateful to Manitoba Pork for all their help, offering information which worked for them. Alberta Pork hosted a teleconference in mid-March to share more details on the ongoing cases. Some very good information was passed along from both Dr. Keith Lehman and Dr. Julia Keenliside, thanks to Alberta Pork for hosting said calls. As Dr. Keenliside said “Disease doesn’t respect evening or weekends,” if something does not seem right or normal call your vet, don’t wait.
Kudos to Chris Tokaruk, who together with Brent Taylor came up with the idea of having a meeting to verify facts. The speakers at the meeting in Lethbridge volunteered both their time and travel expenses to help get the information out fast.
Alberta Pork is also reminding those of us who reside in Alberta to know your constituencies for the upcoming Provincial election. Some ridings have a higher producer population then others, some have new candidates and some areas have even had electoral boundary changes.
On a lighter note Cramer Expo was a success again, with the biggest winners being the charities reaping the rewards, over $50,000 donated in monies and pork to various charities. Congratulations to all the Cramer Cup series winners, especially Earview Colony that took home top honours in the Carcass competition.
Also in this edition is coverage from Manitoba Swine Seminar, once again a solid line up of speakers doing interesting sessions. We learn that the Canadian sow inventory has remained basically flat for the last decade, down from a high in 2005.
As well, included in this issue in the very centre is our annual readership survey, please take the time to fill out and return. It is one of the ways we can ensure that we doing the best job that we can, plus ways to improve. Your opinion counts!
Thinking ahead to the June issue we will be promoting our annual photo contest, so get those cell phones and cameras snapping. You can send them in early if you like as well, but please remember only positive reflections of our industry and animals.
As always, I am only a phone call or email away. Prairie Hog Country, Box 5536, Leduc, Alberta T9E 2A1, 780.986.0962, fax 780.980.9640 or email: hogcountry@shaw.ca
Talk to you in June. •