When it comes to international relationships, we in Canada like to think we have something special with the United States. Granted we share a very long border, one free of gun turrets and soldier patrols, but the cordial relationship rarely extends to matters of trade. The United States sees itself as the ‘big dog’ in our
Scientists with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are researching to optimize the inclusion of pea starch in swine rations.Increased use of peas to provide protein for manufacturing human food products, such as energy drinks, results in an abundance of finely ground starch co-products available for use in livestock feed.These co-products are a low-cost
Damage to Suncrest Colony near junction of Hiway 50 & 59 in SE Manitoba.
While a mixed blessing, severe and adverse weather hit parts of Manitoba on Saturday, June 6, ripping through several farmyards but dropping much-needed moisture. “I guess I had a twister in my place as it took the roof off of my machine
Dr. Terry Fonstad, the Associate Dean of Research with the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Engineering, said the application of heat to disinfect swine transport trailers is one of the most significant and widely adopted biosecurity advances for reducing the transmission of disease during transport. Researchers with the University of Saskatchewan, the Vaccine and Infectious
Hog farmers and industry people looked at a story published by the titled, “China hog futures fall to record low on fears of pork glut.” The Financial Times said mass slaughtering of pigs prompted fear that the world’s second-biggest economy faces a deluge of pork. Rising concerns that the local pork market is becoming inundated
The deal will entail two sow farms and two nursery farms. Polar Pork Farms still has four farrow to wean farms, two nurseries, and a farrow to part finish multiplier,” explained Daryl Possberg of Polar Pork. Polar Pork Farms will still be owning and operating 12,000 sows after the deal is closed in June of 2022,
Increases in the number of packer-owned sows is raising new issues with independent producers concerned about their future in the industry. Maple Leaf foods announced in June that it has acquired two sow herds and two nursery barns from Polar Pork, adding 140,000 pigs per year to its production capacity in Saskatchewan. That is not
Dr. Susan Detmer
Dr. Susan Detmer, an associate professor with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine reported record low numbers of Influenza this year and hopes that translates to the pig business. Although the media tracked the spread of COVID-19, with little mention of Influenza this year, the major cause of Influenza strain spread in the
Dr. Liz Wagstrom, the chief veterinarian with the National Pork Producers Council said addressing the threat by the spread of African Swine Fever in Asia and Europe is an example of how the pork sector throughout North America is working together to manage the disease. The spread of ASF throughout Asia and Europe and efforts
Jamie Shaw on his farm near Langley, BC
With only 14 producers registered with the BC Hog Marketing Commission, BC may well have the smallest commercial hog industry in the country. That does not mean almost nobody is growing hogs in the province. Quite the contrary – BC may actually have more hog producers than
