Alberta Pork Congress
After a two year hiatus Alberta Pork Congress is looking forward to again take place in June of this year. Join us in Red Deer at Westerner Park June 15th and 16th.
Show Times:
Wednesday June 15th 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Thursday June 16th 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Buffet Lunch: $20 Tickets
Be sure to join us for the lunch buffet, featuring Pork, of course!
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tickets are now available via the registration site. There is a link at the bottom of this email to login to your registration and add tickets.
BBQ Social: $25 Tickets
Join us at the end of the day on Wednesday, June 15 at 4:30pm just outside the Exhibit Hall (this event will be held indoor if weather is poor). We have lined up a great band, gathered hay bales and cooking up some great pork on a bun! We will also have a cash bar. •
Group Sow Housing Seminar
This one day seminar will take place both in person and virtually from Saskatoon Inn & Conference Centre Wednesday June 29th. Hosted by Prairie Swine Centre and Swine Innovation Porc.
As the industry makes the transition to group sow housing the types of questions producers have regarding their systems change. This seminar will address some of the commonly asked questions, challenges, and opportunities of operating different types of group sow housing systems.
Speakers include Ken Engele, Yolande Seddon, Jennifer Brown, Malachy Young, Nicolas Devillers and a producer panel.
For more details and to register go to prairieswine.com •
Alberta Livestock Expo
Alberta Livestock Expo will take place in Lethbridge October 5th & 6th, 2022 at Exhibition Park.
Registration will open in June. Expanded floor space, hot lunch buffet on Thursday plus returning Pork Quality Competition now open to all Alberta hog producers.
Should the show not be able to proceed due to restrictions because of COVID 19, all exhibition and sponsor fees will be refunded.
Daily draws for Alberta made door prizes.
For details or more information please contact Katie at 431.337.8726 or
E: katie@albertalivestockexpo.com or
W: albertalivestockexpo.com •
RDSTW
Mark your calendars for Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop, which will take place Wednesday October 19th at the Cambridge Red Deer Hotel & Conference Centre (formally the Sheraton) in Red Deer.
The committee is finalizing the speakers for the one day workshop.
More details will be available in the months and issues to come.•
Saskatchewan Pork Symposium
If marking your calendars another date to pencil in is for Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium. The 2 day event is planned for November 15th & 16th. More details will be available in the months and issues to come. •
Prairie Livestock Expo
The committee will be starting to plan for the Prairie Livestock Expo to take place in Winnipeg. Mark the the date on your calendars December 14, 2022. Details will be confirmed for next issue. Please note the date in the printed version of Prairie Hog Country is incorrect. •
Banff Pork Seminar
Banff Pork Seminar will return to the Castle in the Rockies January 10 – 12, 2023.
Details on registration, speakers and the topics will be released in future issues.
Check out banffpork.ca for latest updates.•
Squeal on Pigs Campaign Launched in Manitoba
Manitoba Pork, in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba, and in collaboration with Manitoba’s agricultural sector, is launching the Squeal on Pigs campaign. Squeal on Pigs is designed to help spread awareness of the significant issue of invasive wild pigs on our landscape, and to empower Manitobans with the ability to spot wild pigs on the landscape and report their movement. Movements can now be reported via squealonpigsmb.org or toll-free at 1-833-SPOT-PIG (1-833-776-8744).
The goal of Squeal on Pigs campaign is to identify where wild pigs are in Manitoba, control their spread, and remove as many pigs as possible from the landscape. Manitoba Pork is working collaboratively with Manitoba Agriculture and Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, as well as with other local and national organizations who have a stake in this issue. Over the coming weeks, advertising and other materials will be made public, encouraging Manitobans to report sightings using the hotline and website.
Manitobans are asked to report evidence of wild pig sightings or any signs of activity so that movements can be better tracked, and eradication efforts can be furthered. Manitobans are also being asked not to hunt wild pigs on their own, as hunting disperses wild pig populations over wider areas, changing movement patterns and harming trapping efforts.
The Manitoba Invasive Swine Eradication Project was announced in January 2022 as a partnership between the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and Manitoba Pork, through funding from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
The Partnership is a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes a $2-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories. •
Sask Pork Receives $150,000 in Funding to Evaluate Antibiotic use on Saskatchewan Hog Farms
Sask Pork is undertaking a first-of-its-kind in Saskatchewan benchmarking project, thanks to funding from the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). Sask Pork will receive $150,000 over three years to evaluate antibiotic use on Saskatchewan hog farms.
Current information and historical data from 100 Saskatchewan-based swine farms will be collected and analyzed to track annual antimicrobial usage (AMU) among pork producers across the province. It will be compared to producers in Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba where similar projects have either been completed or are currently underway.
Antimicrobial resistance associated with antibiotic use in food-producing animals has emerged as a major public health concern. The information generated will help develop provincial baselines, evaluate changes in farm-level AMU over time, will educate and create awareness about antibiotic use on farms, and provide platforms for future discussions on usage.
By monitoring current and future AMU, producers and their veterinarians will have the tools to make more informed decisions on prudent antibiotic use, with the potential for reductions in use over time.
The results from this project will be shared with producers and other stakeholders at producer meetings and the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium held annually in November.
Provincial and federal officials announced a total of $5.1 million in funding in January for 28 new livestock and forage projects in 2022. The funding will support seven swine-related projects with nearly $1.17 million.
Funding for ADF projects is awarded annually to researchers who conduct projects in areas that are important to Saskatchewan’s farmers, ranchers and industry partners. The ADF is supported through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen and grow Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors. •
African Swine Fever Vaccine Shows Promise
A vaccine against African Swine Fever has taken another step towards approval by authorities in the United States.
If it continues to jump through regulatory hoops, it could first be used in Vietnam..
The latest results in a series of safety studies show that the vaccine candidate does not revert to its normal virulence after being injected into swine, “a critical milestone,” according to an Agriculture Research Service news release.
The vaccine – known as ASFV-G-DI177L – will undergo additional testing, but the latest results move the candidate a step closer to commercial availability, the news release said.
Current plans call for testing in Vietnam and other countries, but eventually the vaccine will require approval from animal health officials within individual countries that request its use to address ASF contagion among their hogs.
The highly contagious virus spread from Africa to the Republic of Georgia in 2007, and has since spread through Central Europe and Asia. It reached the Dominican Republic in July 2021, but has not reached Canada or the U.S. so far.
It wiped out more than half of China’s pigs over the last five years and production only recently returned to normal. •
— By Jim Romahn
Canadian Meat Council Receives Funding to Grow Exports
Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of up to $543,271 to support efforts by the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) to grow Canada’s red meat exports.
With funding under the AgriMarketing Program, the CMC will implement a global market strategy that aims to maintain existing markets and identify new opportunities to diversify trade.
In collaboration with the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), the CMC is undertaking activities such as trade advocacy missions, engaging with in-market intelligence specialists, and arranging inspection visits by international officials to demonstrate compliance with food safety standards for export. This work will help build and strengthen relationships with foreign industry partners and boost Canada’s reputation for high-quality and safe products.
Canada’s red meat sector saw exports worth more than $9.4 billion in 2021. •
Feds Fund Emergency Response Services
Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced an investment of more than $3 million for two projects to enhance emergency management, develop risk assessments and plans to cope with disease outbreaks.
Animal Health Canada will receive more than $2.5 million dollars in funding through the AgriAssurance Program for a three-year project to enhance Animal Health Emergency Management in provincial and national associations.
The project will help enhance the emergency management capabilities of Canada’s livestock and poultry industries, to remain ready in the face of adverse events and a continually evolving disease landscape, she said.
Melanie Barnham, executive director Animal Health Canada said “as we enter into the last year of this project, we’re excited to continue working with producer groups in Canada to deliver capacity building resources and training to prepare for and minimize the impact of emergencies.”
Swine Innovation Porc will receive more than $446,000 from the Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program to develop strategies to mitigate the impact of an African swine fever outbreak and help the industry prepare and manage surplus animals during a potential disease outbreak.
René Roy, vice-chairman of Swine Innovation Porc said past experience has demonstrated the importance of emergency preparedness to respond and recover from disruptive events.
Bibeau said producers also have access to the Business Risk Management programs to help them manage risks on their farms. •
— By Jim Romahn
SK Project Tests Technology to Improve Biosecurity and Reduce Disease Spread
A Saskatchewan pilot project is testing new technologies that will help pork producers improve biosecurity and protect their herds from disease. Farm Health Guardian and Saskatchewan Development Board (Sask Pork) are collaborating to trial truck movement recording technologies at over 20 swine farms or businesses in the province.
“Our goal is to test and assess performance of several technologies on trucks that regularly travel between swine properties,” explains Rob Hannam, CEO of Farm Health Guardian, an animal health and biosecurity management software system. Pork producers participating in the project have access to the Farm Health Guardian smart biosecurity software to view truck movement data for their own farm properties.
“Pork producers in Saskatchewan, and the entire pork industry, will benefit from the evaluation of the data and results of this pilot,” says Mark Fergusson, Sask Pork General Manager. “The project will include testing local area network (LoRa) technology, which is a specific opportunity for Saskatchewan due to differences in the telecommunications network in the province. It will provide participating producers with information at their fingertips to easily improve biosecurity.”
Hannam says the farms were strategically selected for the pilot because of the frequency of vehicle movement. “We’re pleased to collaborate with Sask Pork on this project and the response from producers willing to participate has been very positive. It’s great to see this because, after all, everyone shares a responsibility to protect our industry and biosecurity is our best defence.” •
AB Carbon Tax Exemption Moves Ahead
In early May, Alberta Pork recommended hog producers advocate for Bill C-234, an Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. The proposed amendment would “expand the definition of eligible farming machinery and extend the exemption to include natural gas and propane for specific uses.”
On Wed., May 18, the bill passed second reading in the House of Commons, with 170 Members of Parliament (MPs) voting ‘yea’ and 143 MPs voting ‘nay.’ Conservative, New Democrat, Bloc Québécois and Green MPs supported the bill, while Liberal MPs did not.
What this means is that the bill will move on to third reading in the House. If the bill passes third reading in the House, it will move on to the Senate before potentially becoming law. If that happens, producers across the country will be eligible for a carbon tax exemption on the fuels used to heat barns and dry grain.
Alberta Pork wants to thank the producers whom reached out to their MP’s. Their support has both the potential to help thier bottom line but lets politicians know you are also paying attention. •
Merck Animal Health Donates $250,000 to Iowa State University for New Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, announced in early May a $250,000 donation to Iowa State University (ISU) to support the new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
Construction on phase one of the facility is underway with a planned opening in 2023. Merck Animal Health’s donation will directly support the new “Science on Display” area which enhances educational opportunities for professional and graduate students, scientists, diagnosticians and practitioners.
Providing funding for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is one of several initiatives and collaborations between Merck Animal Health and ISU. Recently, Merck Animal Health and ISU announced a four-year strategic alliance that will bring together industry and university talent as part of a unique public-private partnership to address complex needs and expedite the delivery of animal health solutions to the marketplace. Merck Animal Health also has supported veterinary internships and scholarships as well as research and development projects at the university. •
Pig Squeals Used to Measure Welfare
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology is studying the sounds pigs make to determine their welfare.
The researchers say the sounds pigs make express their emotions and farmers could automatically collect their sounds and make adjustments to improve their welfare.
In order to build this tool, the researchers started by collecting thousands of vocalisations. In the end, over 7,400 good quality vocalisations from 411 pigs in different European laboratories could be analysed.
These sounds were recorded in 19 different contexts: from the birth of the pigs and throughout their life, in different types of indoor rearing (e.g. on slatted floors or on straw) and in slaughterhouses.
These contexts can be sources of positive emotions, such as suckling and reunion with fellow pigs or negative ones, such as fights and isolation..
By combining the expertise of ethologists, bioacousticians for the detailed analysis of the acoustic structure of the recorded vocalisations and computational methods of artificial intelligence, the researchers worked on the automatic classification of the vocalisations according to negative and positive emotions and the situation in which they were emitted, with a view to possible action by the livestock farmer.
The results show that artificial intelligence is very effective at recognising not only the emotional valence of the vocalisations (91.5 per cent accuracy), but also the situation in which they were emitted (82 per cent accuracy).
On receiving a new sound, the system will automatically compare it with previously classified sounds to qualify it.
The researchers say this system could be of great help to livestock farmers as it could alert them in real time if a situation requires their immediate intervention, such as in the case of a piglet being crushed by the mother or repeated or prolonged fights within a group.
It would also allow livestock farmers to reinforce positive situations for the pigs, helping them to evaluate, for example, the provision of new toys or infrastructure to enhance the welfare of their animals.
Similar acoustic monitoring systems already exist on farms to monitor the health of pigs by analysing the noise of their coughs. The research team is now working on adding an analysis of pig vocalisations to this listening system in order to combine physical and mental health measures for better welfare on-farm. •
— By Jim Romahn
Once Bitten, Alberta Farmers Shy
Alberta farmers were bitten once when the province revoked carbon credits, so they’re reluctant to participate in the current program, according to a study by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.
Participating in a carbon-credit system allows farmers to generate credits for reducing emissions; they can then sell those credits for cash on a credit market to emitters who need to purchase carbon-offset allowances for exceeding their mandated emission limits, the study explains.
“Despite there being an active carbon-offset market in Alberta, however, farmers in the province hardly participate,” it said.
”This appears partly due to a history of regulatory risk: the agriculture sector has seen the revocation of carbon-credit eligibility for certain practices, and invalidated credits can lead to significant financial losses for farmers.
“Farmers are also reluctant to participate due to the inadequacy of offset credit revenues in covering the foregone costs of implementing emission-reduction practices given current carbon-offset prices and the emissions level per farm.”
It said some lower-emission farming protocols have proved profitable for farmers by improving efficiency, even without carbon-offset incentives.
“While farmers may adopt these practices for their own reasons, they are reluctant to participate in Alberta’s carbon-offset market unless they are sufficiently rewarded. Market conditions thus far have not encouraged them to do so.
“Alberta farmers may continue to largely sit out the carbon-credit market until returns for earning credits become more stable and more rewarding.”The study recommends the government should try to persuade farmers to reduce carbon emissions for their own sake and not bother trying to persuade them to sell carbon credits because that “will, for the time being, remain a difficult sell. “ •
— By Jim Romahn
Canadian Farmers Optimistic
Two-thirds of farmers surveyed by the Royal Bank of Canada are optimistic about their finances this year.
The bank said this is despite supply chain issues, soaring input costs, labour shortages and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To realize the positive year they foresee, Canadian producers are aiming to proactively plant the seeds needed to ensure growth in the months ahead, RBC said.
When asked about priorities to pursue over the next year, those surveyed overwhelmingly agreed that owners and operators will look to:
Cultivate a strong agricultural network to tap into for advice (85 er cent).
Recruit skilled workers (81 per cent).
Build up the farm’s leadership team (77 per cent).
Invest in technology and data-driven decisions (77 per cent).
Focus on risk management planning (73 per cent).
The survey found that most farmers are already using new technologies, are taking risk management measures and are making their farming more sustainable and diverse. •
— By Jim Romahn
