Better Pork - June 2016

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22 June 2016
Pork News & Views
claim as much profit as possible. This means
that market weights and sow inventory may
increase, as well as nutrients that stimulate
growth rate. When times are a little tighter,
and profits not as good, efficiency becomes
the driving force, where less efficient sows are
removed from the herd, market weights are
reduced to the lower end of your packing grid
and diets formulated to reduce cost per unit
of gain. Make it standard practice on your
farm to continually evaluate opportunities and
respond to market conditions!
Reference:
Tokach, Mike. 2016. Optimizing Feed and
Farm Management to Market Conditions. Ad-
vances in Pork Production. Volume 27, page
63 (Banff Pork Seminar Proceedings).
Laura Eastwood
Swine Specialist, OMAFRA
519-271-6280
New Swine Event Off to a
Great Start
The University of Guelph Swine Research Day
on May 4th kicked off what is planned to be
an annual one-day program that will highlight
Ontario swine research, carrying on with the
traditions of the Centralia Swine Research
update and the Mike Wilson Swine Research
Day – high profile guest speakers, short
updates on current swine research, written
proceedings, and opportunities for network-
ing. A new graduate student oral and poster
competition provided insight into the leading
edge of swine-related research from the many
diverse research groups at the University. To
see the winners and for more commentary
search #UGSwineResearch.
The feature presentations were streamed live
and are available on Youtube. Go to www.
for the link. Dr. Jim
Squires (U. of Guelph) opened the program
with a review of his career unravelling the
biochemistry of boar taint in his search for
an alternate means of preventing it, and
described how new techniques like genomic
technologies can contribute. Dr. David Fraser
(U. of British Columbia) discussed “Could Ani-
mal Production Become a Profession?” with a
view to establishing recognized self-regulation
ahead of regulation from outside agencies. I
think everyone involved in animal agriculture
should watch it, whether they agree or not.
More information on the day and the program
can be found at the Centralia link above.
Jaydee Smith, Swine Specialist
519-674-1542
New Noise Regulation for Farms July 1
An article from Workplace Safety and Preven-
tion Services ) offers “A 4-point
compliance strategy for Ontario’s new noise
regulation” (direct link: ).
The significant change to the regulation is
that it now applies to farming, which was
not previously covered by noise prevention
requirements. The article states that the new
regulation will protect people’s hearing by:
requiring employers to reduce noise exposure
through control, by ensuring employers select
the right devices where other controls are not
appropriate, and by specifying the instruction
and training employers must provide to work-
ers wearing a device (see the article for more
details including links to the regulation).
Another regulation may seem burdensome,
but noise-induced hearing loss is debilitating,
and should be avoidable.
Group Sow Housing Seminar in
September
“Thinking Outside the Stall”
A seminar is planned for September in Strat-
ford, organized by OMAFRA, Ontario Pork,
Swine Innovation Porc and industry partners.
Speakers will include producers, researchers,
and others.
There will be exhibitor displays and plenty of
opportunity for discussion.
The following times are tentative.
Tuesday September 6th, 4:30-9:00pm.
For producers who are already using
group housing for gestating sows:
• Using the potential that ESF offers for
improving nutrition
• Making the most of technology
• Panel discussion: The Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly
Wednesday September 7th, 9:00am-
3:30pm followed by social time. For
producers who are planning the move to
group housing:
• Renovation vs new construction
• Managing cash flow and production during
renovation and construction
• Overview of the housing, feeding equip-
ment, and management options available
• Sow management and behaviour
• Sow nutrition, feeding options and
strategies
• Data collection, technology, precision
management
Watch for details in the near future, and visit
for program
details (when available) and other informa-
tion on group housing and the National Sow
Housing Conversion Project.