3 04, 2014

MSS – Replacing an Aging Hog Production Infrastructure a Key Challenge

It is no secret the hog barn infrastructure in Manitoba is aging, and aging fast and with the ban on new hog expansion still fully in place, it makes people in the industry wonder how and when, and maybe even if this will happen.
At the recent Manitoba Swine Seminar 2014 in Winnipeg, MB, Andrew

3 04, 2014

Fears Over Losses From PED Drive Live Hog Markets and Producers to Look at This Closely

The see-saw battle involving biosecurity, technology and human effort, in some case well beyond what people once considered beyond the call of duty keeps paying off for hog farmers whose premises don’t have the PED virus, at least not yet. That can change in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, but for

3 04, 2014

Due Diligence Saves the Day on This Pig Farm, and Most Others Across Canada

Dr. Chris Byra, the manager of the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network says strict adherence to biosecurity protocols gives Canada an edge in dealing with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea.
In Canada, the PED virus remains centered in Ontario, they are disinfecting one infected barn in Quebec, the virus is under control in Manitoba, and one infected

3 04, 2014

New Pig Virus Detected in Ontario

Another new pig virus has been detected at six Ontario hog farms – DeltaCoronavirus (SDCV).
The Animal Health Laboratory says the symptoms are similar to Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE) and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) virus, but it’s less deadly.
It prompts pigs of all ages to vomit and to develop diarrhea and has the highest mortality rate

3 04, 2014

WTO Decision on U.S. M-COOL Expected the Summer and What are the Options

There’s so much activity and discussion re PED virus and the new Pig Code that it’s easy to forget the long term effects of the M-COOL in the United States. There are those who believe that packers in Canada actually prefer if the restrictive legislation now ensconced in the U.S. Farm Bill stays as

3 04, 2014

Canadian Pork Producers Gain in the Canada South Korea Free Trade Agreement

This one has been a long time coming, and it looks like a win win for everyone, at least so far. While it still needs ratification, Canada negotiated a free trade agreement with South Korea, and that is a big market.
Over time, the FTA with South Korea will virtually eliminate tariffs on Canadian pork

3 04, 2014

Meyer Says Prices Keep Rising as PED Virus Continues to Keep Pigs From Slaughter

Steve Meyer, of Des Moines, Iowa, president at Paragon Economics, Inc. doesn’t call what is happening in the United States to packing plants because of decreased supplies of pigs because of PED virus, shutting down, but idling at capacity.
“They’re trying to idle a bit of capacity to match the supply of pigs that are

3 04, 2014

Hog Producers Know Pig Codes and the Province May Soften Moratorium in Manitoba

Rick Bergmann, V-C of the Canadian Pork Council and involved in the pig business in Manitoba says of the new and updated Pig Code that codes of practice are nothing new for Canada and for producers in Manitoba.
“Pig producers have had a code of practice for the last 30 years, as time goes on,

3 04, 2014

The New Code a Consensus

Canada’s new code of practice for the care and handling of pigs, released early in March, should be viewed as a consensus and not a compromise, says Darcy Fitzgerald, executive director of Alberta Pork.
Starting in the fall of 2010, a 17-member committee was struck by the National Farm Animal Care Council to revise the

3 04, 2014

Here is One Hog Producer’s Perspective on the Pig Code

Claude Vielfaure of HyLife Foods and a director with the Canadian Pork Council suggests broad public input is a significant factor in the successful update of the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs in Canada.
Vielfaure, who took part in the process as an observer, says the participation of such a