U.S. sow gestation stalls under attack Sunday, April 1, 2012 The pressure to end the use of dry sow stalls is growing south of the border, and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the vise. In early February, the Austin Daily Herald in Minnesota reported that Jeff Ettinge, chief executive of Hormel Foods, announced at its annual general meeting plans to end use of sow gestation crates on its Arizona farms by next year and in Colorado and Wyoming by 2017. Ettinge was responding to a question from a member of the HSUS, which is a shareholder.At about the same time, the HSUS announced it was going after Wal-Mart suppliers Seaboard Foods and Prestige Farms. HSUS subsequently complained to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission that Seaboard and Prestige spread "grossly false and misleading statements" about its animal welfare practices."McDonald's Corporation announced it will require its U.S. pork suppliers to outline their plans to phase out use of sow gestation stalls by May. "McDonald's wants to see the end of sow confinement in gestation stalls in our supply chain," said a joint press release with HSUS.In addition, Bon Appetit Management, a nationwide food service operator, announced it would phase out pork products from stall-housed sows by 2015. BP Behind the Lines - April 2012 Pakistan capital inundated with wild boars
Iowa State University Examines Truck Washing and Decontamination Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Research conducted by Iowa State University suggests swine producers and transporters can reduce truck washing and decontamination costs through the strategic scheduling of truck washing. Iowa State University, with funding provided through the Swine Health Information Center Wean-to-Harvest... Read this article online
Weekly Hog Market Update – Week Ending March 14, 2025 Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Hog prices remained steady with slight fluctuations across major markets. In Ontario, the 100 percent base formula price closed at 233.92 per hundredweight, up from the previous year’s 200.35 per hundredweight. The average dressed weight remained stable at 109 kilograms, while total market hog... Read this article online
Balancing Welfare and Productivity in Swine Care | Kurt Preugschas, DVM Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Kurt was born and raised on a pig farm near Barrhead, Alberta, which sparked his passion for swine production and medicine. He graduated with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 from WCVM in Saskatoon. After graduation, he went directly into swine medicine and has worked in swine... Read this article online
PLF technologies can benefit swine industry stakeholders beyond the farm Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Producers can use data from precision livestock farming technology to work more efficiently and better care for their animals. But the benefits don't stop there. Veterinarians, food companies, government officials, scientists, animal welfare groups and grocery stores can also use this data. It... Read this article online
Western Canadian Farmers Struggle with Federal Trade Policies Tuesday, March 18, 2025 Western Canadian farmers are facing increasing frustration with federal trade policies that they say favor Eastern Canada, leaving them exposed to economic hardship. Many producers argue that policies designed to protect industries in the East, such as dairy and poultry supply management,... Read this article online