Dr. Egan Brockhoff, a veterinarian with the Canadian Pork Council, said the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF) continues to be a concern for Canada’s pork industry.Brockhoff said this virus continues to move throughout the world, and in Germany, it is moving in the wild pig population.He said the Canadian pork industry continues to
Researchers working on behalf of Swine Innovation Porc are examining how different sow management practices may increase culling levels.A multi-institutional team of scientists working in partnership with Swine Innovation Porc evaluates factors related to sow management and culling.The team asks Canadian pork producers to participate in a national survey designed to identify the factors
The outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea in Canada almost eight years ago highlighted some serious gaps in existing biosecurity protocols. Those gaps are now being closed in a four-pillar approach, developed as Canada, United States and Mexico hosted a series of forums to look at four areas where improvements could be made, says Red Deer-based
Dr. Yanyun Huang, chief executive officer of Prairie Diagnostic Services, said the expanding number of infectious diseases elevates the importance of laboratory testing. PDS, located at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, is a full-function, not-for-profit diagnostic laboratory which provides a full spectrum of veterinary diagnostic services for all species. Dr. Huang said, while infectious disease
Hannah Thompson-Weeman, the vice president of communications for the Animal Agriculture Alliance, said the actions of extreme animal rights groups certainly didn’t pull back. It looks like it’s become even more extreme.Thompson-Weeman said activist organizations ramped up their efforts in 2020 and did not take any moment to slow down their efforts despite the
Following Canada’s lead, the United States is making up ground in the fight against deadly viruses clinging to imported feed products. Dr. Scott Dee has been at the forefront of studies in the United States on disease control in the pork industry. In a presentation to the 2020 Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium via Zoom, he
The legendary ‘Big O’hangs it upOrion Samuelson, my mentor, friend, and farm broadcaster colleague 86 years young, and a booming voice that rings out overall in a given room hangs up the microphone on December 31, 2020.Orion finished 60 years as the farm broadcaster at WGN Chicago, where I joined him several times in
Robert Somogyi with some of his Lacombe pigs.
Lacombe pigs are rather unique among a myriad of swine breeds. To begin with it is the only breed developed in Canada. The breed is also considered critically endangered by Rare Breeds Canada. And, that brings us to Robert Somogyi who operates a small farm southwest of Willowbrook, SK. On that
Dr. John Patience has seen just about everything in his 45 years of working in animal science. Then, along came coronavirus. “I would never have dreamed I would be doing research on slowing down pig growth,” he told those listening to his webinar as part of the 2020 Saskatchewan Pork Symposium. It was the 19th time Patience
Western Canada’s broken pricing model has spurred a group of independent producers to purchase or build their own packing plant. The group has received unanimous support from the board at Western Hog Exchange after airing their desires during the Annual General Meeting on October 23 in Red Deer, Alta. WHE General Manager Brent Bushell says
