Expert Advice at a Moderate Price (Free!) Expert Advice at a Moderate Price (Free!) Even for the savvy, well-rounded producer, it can be tough to keep up.
Industry reacts to new USDA ‘Product of USA’ rules Industry reacts to new USDA ‘Product of USA’ rules The rule change will come into effect in 2026, but in the meantime, pork producers on both sides of the border have expressed concerns.
Strategies In Breeding Strategies In Breeding Animal breeding literature supports this decision, from historical selection experiments illustrating that increases in total born do not necessarily increase the number weaned.
Protein And Fiber Kinetics Protein And Fiber Kinetics Protein and fibre are two of the key nutrients that swine nutritionists consider when designing diets.
A Team Approach To Combat Wild Pigs A Team Approach To Combat Wild Pigs Since spreading from Europe and Asia to North America, wild pigs have been wreaking havoc across Canada. While the problem is a source of pain for farmers, the nationwide response should be a source of pride.
Deckert Joins Swine Faculty at OVC Deckert Joins Swine Faculty at OVC Over three decades ago, Dr. Anne Deckert first started working at the Ontario Veterinary College as a summer student for Dr. Bob Friendship.
Coping with Heat Stress Coping with Heat Stress In Canada, the warm summer months increase the ambient temperature inside pig barns. When the ambient temperature within pig barns rises above 25 C, pigs will start to experience heat stress.
Stopping ASF spread by wild boars Stopping ASF spread by wild boars It's been more than five years since African Swine Fever (ASF) first broke out in China.
Could JEV Leave the Pork Sector DOA? Could JEV Leave the Pork Sector DOA? If you thought three letters couldn't do much damage, you've never dealt with the CRA.
Understanding & Addressing Sow Mortality Understanding & Addressing Sow Mortality Genetic improvement for sow prolificacy has been very successful. Unfortunately, sow survivability has inadvertently been decreasing.
Trace Mineral Nutrition Trace Mineral Nutrition The grow-finishing period in commercial swine production represents the phase of production with the longest time frame.
Avoiding Scammers Avoiding Scammers Education is the best way to keep your farm business safe. Farms, like every other business, are at risk of being targeted by scammers.
Research solves practical swine industry problems Research solves practical swine industry problems Dr. Lee-Anne Huber's goal for her swine research program at the University of Guelph is simple.
Acid binding capacity-4: A key parameter in weaned pig diet formulation. Acid binding capacity-4: A key parameter in weaned pig diet formulation. The post-weaning period is a critical and often stressful phase in a young pig's life, drawing significant attention to optimizing the gastrointestinal tract.
Applying Imaging Technologies Applying Imaging Technologies Pork producers select pigs for slaughter based on the evaluation of live pig conformation and weight, which are labour-intensive and stressful for the pigs.
'Disinfection Is Critical to Our Industry' 'Disinfection Is Critical to Our Industry' A Reminder to Review Your Procedures & Keep Your Stock on Track.
Value of Validation Value of Validation Swine producers often require real-world proof to be convinced of the efficacy of new innovations before implementing them on their farms.
How dietary zinc & copper ratios impact metabolic balance in weaned pigs How dietary zinc & copper ratios impact metabolic balance in weaned pigs The National Research Council [1] recommends 80 to 100 mg/kg of dietary zinc (Zn) and 5 to 6 mg/kg of copper (Cu) for 7 to 25 kg piglets.
Gut Reactions: Exploring The Microbiome Gut Reactions: Exploring The Microbiome The world offers much to marvel at: Childbirth; space travel; a massive group of fungi.
Bugs On Board! Bugs On Board! Though hitchhikers with their thumbs out could pose a threat, it's those unseen stowaways that can really be a handful.
Enhancing Post-Weaning Performance with Water Acidification Enhancing Post-Weaning Performance with Water Acidification Water is often referred to as the forgotten nutrient, yet it plays a vital role in the overall health and performance of pigs.
Aerosol Transmission of Infectious Viral Diseases in Swine Aerosol Transmission of Infectious Viral Diseases in Swine Infectious Pig Diseases are a Problem for Both Producers & Consumers.
ESF Training: Are You On The Right Track? ESF Training: Are You On The Right Track? Though the lack of opposable thumbs keeps them from cracking a textbook, pigs are fast learners.
When Sweating Isn't an Option When Sweating Isn't an Option For many of us, the hot days of summer are a welcomed change from our long Canadian winters.
Resiliency in Meat Demand Resiliency in Meat Demand The cost of living has been increasing and many Canadians are concerned about the rising cost of groceries.
The Impact of Weaning Age on Farrow-to-Finish Production Parameters The Impact of Weaning Age on Farrow-to-Finish Production Parameters Some might wean at an earlier age depending on the number of sows farrowing each week or due to limitation in the farrowing capacity.
Understanding Performance Over Cost Understanding Performance Over Cost As both the hog and commodity markets continue to show great volatility and variability, feed budgeting is extremely important.
Boosting Your Herd Boosting Your Herd As many producers face problematic labour shortages, much emphasis has been placed on working with pigs which require less labour time.
New Monounsaturated Soybean Oil Works Well in Pig Diets New Monounsaturated Soybean Oil Works Well in Pig Diets 'Improving the thickness of bellies, without compromising lean percentage.'
High Hopes for Hi-Tech High Hopes for Hi-Tech Everywhere you turn, technology has been changing our world for the better: desktop computers, smartphones, beer hats.
Where are gilts going? Where are gilts going? Data can be used to determine where to look for the causes of animal losses.
Taking sustainability from concept to calculation Taking sustainability from concept to calculation New terms have entered the lexicon of pork production in the past decade, and the newest and arguably most important one is sustainability.
ASF Spreads Destruction, Dismay ASF Spreads Destruction, Dismay While the pork sector has clearly had its fill of African swine fever (ASF), the feeling is far from mutual.
Research, Review, Repeat Research, Review, Repeat Just as a shark must keep moving to survive, the pork sector must evolve to stay afloat.
Emergency Planning: Ready ... or Not? Emergency Planning: Ready ... or Not? "Out of sight, out of mind" can be a sound philosophy, until it isn't. Pork producers may do everything else right, but if they're unprepared, it can all go wrong in a heartbeat.
Dietary Yeast as an Alternative for Nursery Pigs Dietary Yeast as an Alternative for Nursery Pigs As the world moves away from pharmacological zinc oxide, do we have other options?
Honouring their Heritage Honouring their Heritage In today's fast paced innovative world, sometimes the slower paced ways can be brushed to the side.
The Value of Off-Farm Income The Value of Off-Farm Income Whether you call it moonlighting, a side gig, or bonafide employment, many pork producers are known for more than their farm and take on extra work to pay the bills.
Transmitting PRRS via Transportation Transmitting PRRS via Transportation "PRRSV remains one of the most economically significant viruses in North American pig production and global pig production. PRRS is a beast," says Egan Brockhoff.
When Animals get Aggressive When Animals get Aggressive While aggression is a natural trait in any animal, in swine it can be extremely detrimental, with after-effects like physical damage or changes in an attacked animal's behaviour.
PRRS Research Update PRRS Research Update "As a population that's interested in animal health, we've been trying to solve the PRRS for decades," says Zvonimir Poljaks.
Swine disease due for a checkup Swine disease due for a checkup Swine disease is like income tax: unpleasant to think about but ignore it at your peril.
Where in the world? Where in the world? Though rarely flying first class, Canadian pigs and pork products travel the globe.
Beware of PRRS virus variants Beware of PRRS virus variants Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a familiar ailment to pork producers.
Marketing local pork Marketing local pork Producers can capitalize on renewed interest in eating local products by marketing directly to consumers.
ASF Vaccine Development ASF Vaccine Development Scientists at secure, high-containment laboratories around the world are continuing to work and share information to develop a vaccine that will protect against the deadly swine virus.
The Lowdown on High Tech The Lowdown on High Tech Somewhere there lives a farmer who isn't short of time or money...just not in this solar system.
Using rye in swine feed Using rye in swine feed Rye isn't used a lot in pig rations, mostly because there isn't a lot of it grown in Canada due to its susceptibility to ergot.
Scour in piglets Scour in piglets Scouring is an unpleasant reality that pork producers around the world face.
In search of the perfect pig In search of the perfect pig While "faster, higher, stronger" is the Olympic motto, it is "leaner, healthier and more efficient" that serves as the gold standard for the pork sector.
Biosecurity Key to Maintaining Effective Foreign Animal Disease Prevention Monday, October 28, 2024 The Swine Health Information Center is advising North American Swine producers to maintain their focus on biosecurity as the global African Swine Fever situation continues to evolve.As part of its October eNewsletter the Swine Health Information Center has released its monthly domestic and... Read this article online
Canada in Third Spot for Global Wheat Exports Monday, October 28, 2024 Stable Harvests Push Canada to 3rd in World Wheat Exports For the second consecutive year, Canada is poised to retain its rank as the world’s third-largest wheat exporter, propelled by rising crop yields across the prairie provinces and drought conditions in other... Read this article online
KAP looking for collaboration in school food program Monday, October 28, 2024 Manitoba’s general farm organization wants to be involved when it comes to the province rolling out its part of the national school food program. Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) “has raised the topic with government in past discussions of including Manitoba producers in the... Read this article online
Setting the record straight on Bill C-282 and what it means for Canada Monday, October 28, 2024 An op-ed from Egg Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, and the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers. Canada is an attractive trading partner for many nations. Arguing that countries would abandon trade talks simply because we... Read this article online
Fostering Mental Health Awareness at Advancing Women in Ag Conference Monday, October 28, 2024 By Deanna Ciaccia Mental health issues among farmers are increasingly pressing, with nearly 30% of agricultural workers in North America experiencing anxiety or depression. These challenges do not affect farmers in isolation; they ripple through families and communities,... Read this article online