Alberta Livestock Expo
Plans are underway for the Alberta Livestock Expo to take place in Lethbridge October 6 & 7, 2021.
Booth bookings now open on the expanded floor space. As of press time booths are 65% sold, so do not delay book today online at albertalivestockexpo.com. Subject to restrictions, hope to have a hot lunch buffet on Thursday plus have the returning Pork Quality Competition, will be confirmed closer to the show.
Should the show not be able to proceed due to restrictions because of COVID 19, all exhibition and sponsor fees will be refunded. For details or more information please contact Kaite at 431.337.8726 or
E: katie@albertalivestockexpo.com or
W: albertalivestockexpo.com •

Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop
Mark your calendars for the 22nd annual Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop, which is scheduled for Wednesday October 20th, 2021. RDSTW returns to the Cambridge Hotel & Conference Centre this year.
With doors opening and registration starting at 8am, then a full one day agenda. See ad on page 18 for more details on speakers and topics. Early registration cost remain the same at $90/person or $400/5 people, (until September 27th), then $110/person.
Online registration, booth bookings and sponsorship opportunities, and all the latest details will be under swine tech tab on the albertapork.com website.
For more information contact Charlotte Shipp at Alberta Pork 780.491.3528 or email charlotte.shipp@albertapork.com •

Alberta Pork Congress AGM
The Alberta Pork Congress AGM will be held Wednesday, October 20th prior to the Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop. Located at the Cambridge Hotel & Conference Centre in Red Deer, AB.
This will be followed by the launch of the 2022 Trade Show! Join us and book your space!
If you were registered for 2020 and did not cancel/receive a refund your booth is confirmed! We will re-send your confirmation email this fall prior to the AGM.
Watch your inbox and the October issue for more information. •

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 will be recognized by their peers and the pork industry and have a chance to present your solution at the 2022 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: Production, Transportation, 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, 2021. Apply today! Please contact Conference Coordinator Ashely Steeple at pork@ualberta.ca with any questions. •

Saskatchewan Pork Symposium
The dates have been selected for Saskatchewan Industry Pork Symposium at the Saskatoon Inn November 16 & 17, 2021. They are planning for a in person event, subject to provincial health guidelines at that time.
See ad on page 36 for complete list of speakers and sessions.
Check out our website for latest updates saskpork.com
For additional information on Symposium contact the Symposium Co ordinator at 306.343.3506 or email info@saskpork.com. Full program registration ad sponsorship will be available on line in mid August at www.saskpork.com •

Brandon Hog & Livestock Expo Cancelled
The Brandon Hog & Livestock Expo committee have made the decision to cancel the 2021 show.
Due to the uncertainty of what provincial restrictions will be in the months to come, including mass gatherings.
For any companies that had already pre registrer or bought sponsorship all monies will be returned.
Contact Rhonda Coupland tradeshow Coordinator for further details. 204.534.0722 or email
info@hogdaysbrandon.com •

Banff Pork Seminar
Plans are proceeding to a back in person event at the Castle in the Rockies for the next Banff Pork Seminar, scheduled for January 11 – 13, 2022.
Watch future issues for further information. Online registration will start in September.
A block of rooms are now available at the Banff Springs Hotel for BPS 2022 starting at $159/night plus taxes and fees for single occupancy. Space is limited so book early. Must book by December 1, 2021 to receive the special conference rates (while space is available). Reservations can be made through the Banff Pork Seminar website.
Latest updates are found on the website, banffpork.ca
For more information contact Ashley Steeple, Conference Coordinator, PH: 780.492.3651 or Email: pork@ualberta.ca •

Saskatchewan Livestock Expo
Formally known as Cramer Livestock Expo, the rebranded trade show will take place in Swift Current on February 17, 2022
The one day show will be held at Kinetic Exhibition Park in Swift Current, SK.
Registration now open. Check the website for downloadable form at
www.cramereventmanagement.com
A block of guest rooms will be held at the Days Inn (formally BW) 105 George St W, Swift Current, SK until Feb 1st, so reserve early, call 306.773.4660. Please inform front desk that you are attending Saskatchewan Livestock Expo.
Latest details can be found on website cramereventmanagement.com For more information contact Lisa Doyle with Vibrant Event Management 403.305.1563 or email lisa@vibranteventmanagement.ca •

German Farms Catch African Swine Fever
Another case of African swine fever has been found in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, German authorities said.
The farmer had four pigs. They have been slaughtered, along with the previous farms and strict quarantines are in place.
The first two cases were another farm with only a few pigs and an organic-standards herd of about 200 pigs.
African Swine Fever is spreading within the wild boar population and German farmers have been trying to keep it out of domestic herds because its highly infectious and deadly.
It claimed about half of the pigs in China before the country brought it under control and is now well along in rebuilding its hog-production industry.
There have been 1,267 cases of wild pigs with the disease, prompting China to ban pork from Germany in 2020.
Germany built a fence to keep pigs from crossing from Poland where African Swine Fever has been in the wild boar population.
However, there have been a few new cases of African Swine Fever reported in China. •
— By Jim Romahn

VIDO Resumes Work on ASF Vaccine
VIDO-InterVac has resumed its work on a vaccine for African Swine Fever .
It was paused when VIDO-InterVac started work on a vaccine for COVID-19.
Dr. Andrew Van Kessel, the Associate Director Research, said the challenge is extremely complicated.
“It’s a virus with a large genome, like 160 genes which is quite unusual, quite large terms of the viral world and developing a vaccine that A is capable of protecting and infection and B, particularly in North American markets where the virus has not yet arrived, if we’re going to use a vaccine strategy, we definitely need to be able to differentiate a vaccinated animal from an infected animal so a vaccine needs to have that capability.”
“Another challenge is that right now growing the virus requires us to harvest cells from pigs and grow those primary cells from pig lung, pig macrophages in fact and grow them in the laboratory,” he added. •
— By Jim Romahn

B.C. Packer to Slaughter SK Sows
Cull sows from Saskatchewan will no longer need to travel to the United States for slaughter because Donald’s Fine Foods of British Columbia is hoping to handle them.
It plans to renovate the former XL Beef plant in Moose Jaw and convert it into a pork processing facility.
The company has obtained a $12.7 million building permit for the work at the XL Beef plant that closed in 2010.
The main XL plant at Brooks, Alta., is now owned by JBS USA.
The new pork plant will employ 100 people and will be Donald’s fifth processing facility.
Donald’s added they are finalizing all details and more information will be confirmed in time for next edition. •
— By Jim Romahn

Meat Packers Have Image Issue With Workers
Workers are shunning jobs in meat-packing plants because the industry has a negative image, labour-market analysts told a recent seminar.
“It isn’t that hard to find well-educated people for the meat alternatives but it is hard to find people for the more classic, the meat protein industry,” said Michiel Dekkers, a food recruitment consultant with Dutch agency DUPP.
“We noticed that people make active decisions not to work in meat-processing plants,” he said, referring to the Dutch job market.
Dekkers, along with experts from Denmark and Canada spoke during Manitoba webinar “The Future of Labour in Protein”.
The average Canadian food and beverage processor has six vacant positions, said Kevin Elder of Food Processing Skills Canada. In Manitoba, that’s about 1,500 vacancies.
“Each of those vacant positions… costs $190 net per day to carry,” Elder said. This leads to a $3-billion-per-year loss for the Canadian industry, he said.
Pressure on labour, particularly ‘unskilled’ labour like packing and light processing “is acute and finds its basis in our ability to plan and invest in future general production workers,” said Denise Allen, president and CEO of the Food Processors Association of Canada.
In the Netherlands, meat processors have an image problem more than a people problem, said Dekkers. Meat production is seen as bad for animal well-being and has been wracked by scandal. •
— By Jim Romahn

Manitoba Pork Applauds New
Legislation to Protect Biosecurity
 As the Manitoba Legislature rises for the summer, Manitoba Pork commends the Manitoba government on the passage of Bill 62, The Animal Diseases Amendment Act, and Bill 63, The Petty Trespasses Amendment and Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act. These two pieces of legislation are critical for agricultural producers across the province when it comes to maintaining biosecurity and the integrity of our food system.
“Trespassers and unwanted visitors on our farms and in our barns threaten the delicate work of maintaining biosecurity,” Manitoba Pork chair Rick Préjet said in early June. “This new legislation will better protect our animals from diseases or other contaminants and will better protect farmers and producers by discouraging confrontation by placing action in the hands of law enforcement.”
 Farmers restrict contact with the outside world by carefully limiting access to only those who provide animal care. Industry-led biosecurity requirements, like showering when entering and exiting hog barns, as well as wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, are key to limiting disease and contaminants that could force entire herds to be culled.
 “We want to thank the provincial government for their dedicated consultation process on this legislation, and for their work to better protect the agriculture and food system in our province,” Préjet added. “We recognize their commitment to ensuring our food supply continues to be safe for everybody.”
Manitoba Pork looks forward to continuing our strong working relationship with the provincial government on trespassing and biosecurity issues, including in the development of necessary regulations and toward the proclamation of this legislation. •

Sows Short of Milk
First the challenge was to increase litter size and that was met by genetic advances that increased litter sizes by about 50 per cent.
Now the challenge is getting sows that produce enough milk to feed them.
Dr.Chantal Farmer, a researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Sherbrooke, Que., said it’s important to get enough milk to piglets for their growth.
She said Swine Innovation Porc is exploring various strategies to increase sow milk production. •
— By Jim Romahn

China is Buying Pork for Reserves
China has switched from releasing pork from reserves to dampen prices to buying pork to bolster prices.
It used its reserves when African Swine Fever wiped out about half of the country’s hogs.
Now that herds are rapidly being restored, hog prices have collapsed by 65 per cent since the beginning of the year and many of the new and large production companies are losing money.
China’s state planner said today that central and local governments will start buying pork. •
— By Jim Romahn

Technology Protects Livestock In Transport
Technology that monitors environmental conditions inside livestock trailers will contribute to improved animal welfare, according to a two-year research project that tested remote wireless sensors. The Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) partnered with Transport Genie Ltd., an Ontario-based technology company, to conduct the research that wrapped up this spring.
 “Electronic monitoring is a step forward in providing livestock transporters with the tools they need to be able to monitor their loads effectively,” says Jennifer MacTavish, CAHC chair. The Coalition, whose objective is to work towards better welfare for all livestock and poultry, spearheaded the national research project with funding from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership AgriAssurance Program.
 The Transport Genie system uses smart sensors to monitor temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions inside stock trailers, providing critical information to drivers, dispatchers and livestock managers to ensure animal safety in transit. For instance, when conditions inside the trailer fall below an acceptable range, the sensors send a wireless signal to the driver for corrective actions. Braking, acceleration and the duration of rest stops are also monitored.
 The project tested the technology in different climatic conditions over long- and short-haul distances – using a variety of trailer designs and hauling multiple species. Luckhart Transport, a livestock trucking company specializing in humane transport of animals based out of Sebringville, ON, tested the sensors and provided feedback.
CAHC instigated the project in advance of new animal transport regulations for feed, water and rest intervals as well as for checking livestock in transit.
 For those in the pork industry, it’s important to note that this technology can be integrated with traceability programs such as PigTRACE.  
 Jeff Clark, Director of PigTRACE Canada with the Canadian Pork Council notes that because there are several systems monitoring different aspects of transportation, data integration is key. “These systems must be able to talk to each other and extract the data relevant to their particular needs in any way possible. So built-in integration into whatever new system comes onto the market is very important. Regulators and commercial haulers buying into systems that support their needs through integration of data from multiple sources is the future,” says Clark. •

Ultraviolet Light Could Control PRRS
Ultraviolet light shows promise in trials to determine whether it could control Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRSS) in hog barns, report two researchers funded by the National Pork Council.
They already knew that ultraviolet light can be used to reduce hog-barn odours by killing bacteria floating in the air.
They reasoned that it might also control the virus when it’s floating on droplets. Those virus-laden droplets can hang around for a long time and even travel more than a mile from farm to farm.
The three forms of ultraviolet light analyzed in the study included conventional ultraviolet light, known as UV-C; light from novel excimer lamps that produce light with especially short wavelengths; and UV-A light, sometimes referred to as near-visible black light. Both the conventional and excimer UV light demonstrated an ability to inactivate the virus and show promise as potential avenues to fight PRRS. Exposure to ultraviolet light can pose a risk for people and pigs, but the excimer light involved in the study has been shown to be less harmful. The black light, which has been shown to be helpful in tamping down odor-causing gases, did not have a significant effect on the PRRS virus, according to the research.
The researchers are Jacek Koziel, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and Jeff Zimmerman, professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, both at the University of Iowa. •
— By Jim Romahn

Canadian Agri-food Exporters Welcome Launch of Process for UK to Join CPTPP
Dan Darling, President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) in early June (just after last editions print deadline) shared the statement below regarding the official launch of accession talks for the United Kingdom (UK) to join the Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
“Canadian agri-food exporters have long welcomed the idea that the CPTPP pact would continue to grow provided new members agree to the high level of ambition this agreement has achieved.
“The UK is one of Canada’s key trading partners in the Atlantic. We welcome the launch of the negotiations of the UK’s accession to the CPTPP. This demonstrates a commitment to free, open and rules based trade.
“We look forward to providing inputs into the bilateral aspect of the accession process so that we can continue to deepen and strengthen Canada-UK trade and investment ties.
“In addition to the CPTPP, we will continue to urge both Canada and the UK to launch permanent, comprehensive bilateral free trade talks without delay.
“Trade can be a powerful force in driving post-pandemic recovery and these developments are good news for those who understand clearly that the best way to create jobs, economic growth and prosperity around the world is by eliminating trade barriers in all their forms and by having a rules-based trade at the centre of the global economy.” •

Alien Invasion
We have been invaded by aliens. No, not green creatures from Area 51, but by plants and animals that don’t belong here. Take, for example, the common dandelion, which is not native to North America. European settlers brought dandelions here in the mid-1600s to enhance their gardens. Zebra Mussels are another example. They are not from here either, rather the species is native to the Black Sea region. Zebra Mussels were discovered in the Great Lakes in 1998 and have since spread like wildfire, including to other regions of the country. The little mollusk damages power plants, devours the food of local fish, and renders beaches unusable.
One of the most striking examples of the damage done by an invasive species, and one that provides lessons for today, is the European wild rabbit in Australia. In 1859 a wealthy Australian had thirteen rabbits sent over because he wanted to hunt. Within fifty years, wild rabbits had spread throughout the continent and now number over two-hundred million. They damage habitat, destroy crops, and have contributed to the decline of native plants and animals.
Western Canada is currently in the middle of a similar alien invasion. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Canadian farmers were suffering through a significant income crisis. Diversification was embraced as a policy tool aimed at pulling the industry back from the financial brink. The time saw ostrich, deer, elk, and many more diversified farms spring up across the prairies. Included in the diversity basket was European wild boar.
Why did no one stop to question the introduction of a wild foreign species into Canada? In hindsight it was not the best of ideas, but at the time, it was genuinely believed that wild pigs would be confined by modern fencing and if they did escape, they would never survive the harsh prairie winter. They escaped, were deliberately released when prices declined, and not only survived winter, but they seemed to thrive on it.
Wild pigs in Western Canada are a lot like those rabbits in Australia. Not because they are cute, but because they are prolific breeders that will eat just about anything. Did you know that a wild pig sow becomes sexually mature in less than a year and can produce two litters annually? It does not take a mathematical whiz to see the potential for exponential growth.
Wild pigs can be disease reservoirs. Since September 2020, over 1,500 wild boar in Germany have died because of African Swine Fever (ASF). The disease has now made the jump to domestic pigs. Exports of German pork have been disrupted, and it will take significant time before Germany is declared ASF free and the negative hit on their farmers is lifted. Wild herds can also be repositories for diseases like PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome), PED (porcine epidemic diarrhea), and other infectious illnesses. We must do whatever we can to stop wild pigs from becoming a disease holding tank in Canada.
What needs to be done? All Western provinces have programming aimed at addressing the wild pig problem, but each jurisdiction is approaching the issue a little differently. An effective wild pig eradication program should be coordinated across the region. Second, we need to commit federal, provincial, and industry resources to targeted eradication programming. We can start by investing the time and funds needed to track, monitor, and effectively identify the locations where groups of wild pigs (or sounders) are living. Coordinated eradication can then follow. We need to move beyond passive efforts, such as unrestricted hunting, that have been shown to disperse the pigs and make the problem worse.
Individuals can play an important role too. If you see wild pigs, or signs that they have been on your property, report the siting to your local conservation office. Indicate when, where, and how many wild pigs were observed. Knowing where wild pigs are, and where they are moving to, will be helpful in eradication efforts.
Wild pigs are not just an issue for the hog sector. They also destroy crops and pastures, degrade water supplies, and damage native habitat. It is in everyone’s interest to push to eradicate this threat while we still have the opportunity. •
— Cam Dahl
General Manager,
Manitoba Pork Council