• AS - Dr. Amy Snow
2 10, 2024

Expansion of CanSpotASF Mandate Includes Invasive Wild Pigs Enhances ASF Zoning Efforts

Dr. Amy Snow

Expanding the CanSpotASF program to provide African Swine Fever rule-out testing for invasive wild pigs is expected to further Canada’s efforts to establish zoning.CanSpotASF, a voluntary African Swine Fever surveillance program that has provided no-charge rule-out testing for commercial pigs displaying symptoms similar to ASF since 2020, has been expanded to include

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2 10, 2024

Berkshires – A Good Fit

“There is nothing better than to watch these guys in wide open spaces. Just being free to be pigs,” states Jessie

While Berkshire are currently designated as ‘critical’ in status in Canada – meaning overall numbers are extremely low – there are still breeders dedicated to the breed and its continued existence.Jessie Leigh Johnston and

2 10, 2024

From the publishers desk,

Greetings on a very fall feeling day, cool and breezy and a haze of combine dust in the air. This edition marks one year since I had to change printers after the press I had been using since 1998 closed its door. I do hope you are enjoying the slightly different look on the core section

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8 08, 2024

Pork Showcase at the Calgary Stampede

Thanks to the Pork Showcase committee at Calgary Stampede, all volunteers and Alberta Pork, for sharing the wonderful world of pigs to the city slickers. A great opportunity to explain why we do what we do.

Some of the sights and sounds from the display. Again thanks to all the volunteers.

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  • 1st farrowing
  • 1st weaning into nursery
8 08, 2024

Timely Repop at Plainview

Opening day of Alberta Pork Congress was more than a bit special for the hog crew at Plainview Colony, located near Foremost, Alta.Barn manager Peter Hofer was touring the exhibits on June 12 when he got the call: The first litter of pigs from his first new batch of gilts had just been born.

  • JW - Jen Wright
8 08, 2024

Addressing Labour Shortages in Canadian Agriculture

Jennifer Wright

The Canadian agriculture sector is currently grappling with a labour shortage that significantly affects productivity and the ability to meet domestic and global commodity demand. Jennifer Wright, Executive Director of the Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council (CAHRC), shed light on these challenges and their strategies to address them.Wright said agriculture has faced a

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8 08, 2024

A Day-to-Day Focus on Bio-Security is Critical to Avoid Introducing the Disease Onto Swine Farms

Dr. Lisa Becton

North American pork producers, in their proactive stance, take every precaution and focus on bio-security to keep disease-causing organisms off the farm. The Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC) monthly domestic and global swine disease surveillance reports, released in its July eNewsletter, indicate African Swine Fever (ASF) remains the dominant worldwide concern and

8 08, 2024

PRRSV Vaccine Research

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can have a huge economic impact on a hog operation.So finding better vaccines against the disease would be a huge boost to the hog sector.That’s why a long-term, international collaboration between researchers at the University of Manitoba and the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands uncovering

  • Brent Bushell - layin out the facts
8 08, 2024

Fair Pricing for Pork Producers

Brent Bushell, just laying out the facts

A hog marketing group based in Edmonton is asking producers across Canada to join together in developing a fair pricing system for their hogs.Spearheaded by the Western Hog Exchange, a new partnership has been formed, the Fair Priced Pork Alliance, to update Western Canada’s pricing formula to something

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8 08, 2024

Saskatchewan and Alberta is Making Progress Toward Feral Pig Eradication

Damage from wild boar wallowing

The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) uses cell phone cameras and remote trapping technology to locate and capture feral pigs roaming the province. SCIC oversees efforts to eradicate escaped or released feral pig populations from Saskatchewan.Dale Knouse, the manager of strategic operations with SCIC, explains their approach:“We’ve been doing this