3 The Trusted Source for Canada’s Pork Producers Better Pork | June 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 ATTA KOFI AGYEKUM ABHINESH GOPAL JACK KRONE JEANINE MOYER 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 OLYMEL UPDATE; OPC SHOW GUIDE The Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu plant being shut down by Olymel next month processed mainly poultry products, “but also a few pork products.” The plant was operating at only 40 per cent of its capacity, according to Olymel, and the decision came against a backdrop of falling production volumes. Olymel explained in an April 19 release that “a reorganization of production within the Olymel family will enable operations to be redeployed to neighbouring plants with residual capacity to handle these volumes.” The closure will affect a total of 135 employees, but the company says it will relocate any worker wishing to remain with the company to its other plants. It’s reported to be the eighth Olymel plant to be shut down since 2021. We are pleased to again bring you an excellent guide to this year’s Ontario Pork Congress at the event enters its second half century. If you’re eager to stay ahead of the curve in the pork industry, then you won’t want to miss our look ahead to the June 19-20 event, put together by our own Glenn Ruegg and the OPC Committee. The section begins on Page 23 and pulls together 19 pages of information dedicated to this year’s OPC, where producers, industry representatives, exhibitors, sponsors, and volunteers will converge to shape the future of pork production. A visit to Stratford is an investment in your own operation. Explore the innovative management strategies and technological enhancements on display, and gain new insight into herd health, compliance updates and the financial side of pork production. Our industry is evolving, and events like this will keep you on the front lines. And don’t miss out on the other highlights of this year’s Congress, including the Bacon Maker Classic, the Pork Quality competition, Taste the Best event, and the Perth County BBQ Lunch served daily in the Hospitality Tent. Cover: Ed Deckert photo, davemhuntphoto – stock.adobe.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE “It’s very important that the public knows wild pigs are out there and the damage they can cause to commercial pigs and crops.” - Megan Evans, Page 7 “There are a lot of pigs raised in very hot parts of the world, but in Canada we also have to deal with cold, so we need to look at what is being done elsewhere that could work well in the Canadian context in dealing with temperature extremes.” - Anne Deckert, Page 13 “From a production standpoint, our best year was 2023 after we got that awful flu under control, made some management changes, and achieved better gilt selection. The big things matter, but so do the little ones, and covering all our bases paid off in a big way.” - Steven Waldner, Page 21 “Antimicrobials are a critical tool in both animal and human health, and their effectiveness needs to be maintained as long as possible.” - Jessica Fox, Page 42
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