3 The Trusted Source for Canada’s Pork Producers Better Pork | April 2024 Better Pork is published six times a year by AgMedia Inc. 1-888-248-4893 ext 281 Subscriptions@BetterFarming.com ISSN 1497-2271 (Printed) Canadian one-year subscriptions: $22 (six issues; includes $2.53 HST). Two-year: $40 (12 issues; includes $4.60 HST). Single-copy back issues are $12 (including $1.38 HST). U.S. subscriptions: $39.30 annually. International: $66. GST Registration #868959347RT0001 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AgMedia Inc. 90 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 Publications Mail Registration No. 1156 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40037298 Copyright © 2024 by AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor do Better Pork, AgMedia or Farms.com endorse any advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the omission of any scheduled advertising. 1-888-248-4893 90 Woodlawn Road West Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PAUL NOLAN ext 202 Paul.Nolan@Farms.com ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR LESLIE STEWART ext 265 Leslie.Stewart@Farms.com EDITORIAL TEAM EMILY CROFT GEOFF GEDDES CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION MOE AGOSTINO GAVIN BOERBOOM HAYLEY BOWLING BRENT DeVRIES ABHINESH GOPAL JEANINE MOYER AFTON SAWYER LILIAN SCHAER ADVERTISING TEAM GLENN RUEGG JENNY LONGSTREET DESIGN & PRODUCTION TEAM TANYA MYERS GREG MARLOW SHAUN CLARK ANDREA WILLIAMS www.BetterFarming.com LETTER FROM THE EDITOR WILD BOARS & ASF; SWINE CLUSTER 4 In her feature article in this issue, Lilian Schaer looks at prospects for limiting the potential spread of ASF by wild boars. The story explains how Dr. John Webb is researching a genetic solution to help suppress the wild boar population (as populations continue to increase across the country, with the largest numbers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba). Webb, a swine industry consultant specializing in genetics, has enlisted the help of Ray Lu, an associate professor in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Guelph. As Lilian notes, gene editing has been used successfully in mosquitos to suppress populations by making the insects sterile and to reduce the spread of malaria by modifying how they harbour and spread the parasite causing the disease. “This is done using something called a gene drive, a self-propagating mechanism that scientists can insert into an organism through a gene editing tool called CRISPR. The organism passes the edited gene to its offspring and the offspring do the same. “Gene editing is the technology behind the development of pigs resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), where scientists have used the tool to disrupt a cell surface viral receptor.” Don’t miss this article. It’s important information for all producers. The federal government, Swine Innovation Porc and research partners have officially launched the Swine Cluster 4 research program. The Swine Cluster program is a cross-Canada collaboration between industry, government and academic partners, to focus on sustainability, resiliency and growth in our sector. The cluster is a five-year with a total allocation of just over $20 million, “and it is important for us to recognize that the Government of Canada is providing $10.6 million,” explains SIP Chair Arno Schober. “The priorities are climate change and environment, economic growth and development and sector resilience and societal challenges.” Cover: Klopp Family photo, Jodie Aldred photo We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Some 300 pork producers heard many excellent presentations at the 2024 London Swine Conference in London, Ont. in early March. Glenn Ruegg photo
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