Better Pork - 2016 December

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Better Pork December 2016 3
Vol. 18 No. 6
EDITORIAL & LAYOUT
PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Paul Nolan 888-248-4893, ext 202
MANAGING EDITOR
Andrea Gal, PhD 888-248-4893, ext 201
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Franklin Carter
SENIORWRITER
Mary Baxter 888-248-4893, ext 919
CONTRIBUTORS
Jim Algie
Norman Dunn
Jessica Frank
Geoff Geddes
Jennifer Jackson
Janice Murphy
Ernest Sanford
Richard Smelski
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Mary-Lynn Jones, Greg Marlow, Tanya Myers
INDUSTRY ADVISER
Mary Jane Quinn
SALES & MARKETING
SENIOR SALES ASSOCIATE
Glenn Ruegg 888-248-4893, ext. 916
ADVERTISING SALES COORDINATOR
JenniferStewart888-248-4893,ext256
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Copyright © 2016 by Better Pork. All rights reserved. Reproduction of
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Beyond the Barn...................................4
Up Close............................................... 20
Pork News & Views............................ 25
Herd Health......................................... 30
Nutrition............................................... 32
Swine Health Ontario...................... 35
Agri-Food Mgmt Institute.............. 36
Second Look....................................... 38
Depa r tmen t s
Feat u r e s
Past accomplishments and newopportunities
For many of us, December is the time to reflect on past accomplishments and
look toward new plans and opportunities.
It seems fitting, then, that writer Jim Algie explores the incorporation of
technology into hog barns and considers future possibilities. Eastern Canadian
producers share their transitions to electronic sow feeders andWi-Fi in their barns.
Such feeders, of course, open up opportunities for precision feeding in
commercial swine operations. P.E.I.-based writer Janice Murphy highlights
Quebec research into this type of program and explains the potential benefits.
Other writers delve into similarly timely issues, such as Ernest Sanford’s
discussion of the causes of gastric ulcers in pigs, and Lilian Schaer’s overview
of the habits of Canada’s most financially successful farmers.
I am also pleased to formally announce that we are taking Better Pork
national in 2017. This has been a longer-term project for our team that fits
well with the expanded focus and reach of other endeavours.
After all, has a national reach through its swine webpages,
Canadian swine enewsletter, Pork News social media, and annual Benchmark
Magazin e. PigCHAMP, another company, is also known and
recognized nationally – and internationally – as the most trusted and widely
used swine production software program. Thus, it makes sense that Better
Pork looks to pork production across the country while maintaining its em-
phasis on high quality and relevant content.
Please do not hesitate to be in touch with any questions or suggestions – I
always enjoy connecting with Canadian farmers! BP
ANDREA M. GAL
BEHIND THE LINES
The computerized
hog barn
Ontario producers are
slowly but surely embracing
electronic sow feeders and other
computerized technologies to improve
the management and enhance the profitability of their farms...... 6
Optimizing sow output ...... 15 Jim Algie photo; Yobro10/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images photo