NOW: The Landrace breed, which was first registered more than 50 years ago, is one of the major breeds whose genetics help assemble the modern pig. “Further up the chain, probably before the farm needs to worry about it, there will be herds of pure large whites (Yorkshire) and pure Landraces (which are crossed), which […] Read more
Stories by Dan Yates
China urbanization has pork exporters drooling
Meat consumption increasing | The country will account for almost 20 percent of the world’s pork imports by 2022
BANFF, Alta. — China’s urban population outnumbers its rural residents for the first time in its history. It’s one of the reasons why pork processors put the country ahead of some traditionally larger export markets. In addition to its population, which has exceeded one billion, China’s increasingly urban residents are wealthier than their rural counterparts, […] Read moreInvention makes hogs, workers happy
Helmut Janz knows from firsthand experience the physical toll that handling livestock can take. The 20-year veteran of the hog industry has twice had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Yet it was the pains and strains experienced by others that Janz was looking to mitigate when he dreamed up a new device for handling piglets. […] Read more
Normal production possible with group housing
Transition period | With proper management, productivity will rebound after initial culling to meet new space requirements
BANFF, Alta. — Switching to group housing shouldn’t affect hog producers’ long-term productivity, says a researcher with the Prairie Swine Centre. Increased sow movement, depopulation and culling may affect producers at first, and production costs and management requirements can increase, Jennifer Brown told the recent Banff Pork Seminar. However, she is confident producers can see […] Read morePiglet growth isn’t optimized, says researcher
Milk yields | Ongoing research into mammary development could help hog producers see improved performance
Milk yields from modern pigs are up from previous generations, but that doesn’t mean piglets are necessarily better fed. Today’s sows are responsible for feeding larger litters of piglets, which means the amount of milk ingested per piglet has decreased. “We have nice hyper prolific sows, but we now have to work on increasing sow […] Read more
Quick response key to PED control
Same day diagnosis | Swift lab analysis in Canada’s first case put control efforts into action
BANFF — Veterinarian Doug MacDougald had been optimistic about Canadian producers’ ability to manage porcine epidemic diarrhea before its discovery on a southwestern Ontario hog farm was announced last week. And while he remained positive late last week as news spread of the country’s first case of PED, he warned that the Canadian industry is […] Read moreVets told to step up to improve info network
BANFF, Alta. — A disease surveillance system is generating useful information for the Canadian hog industry but demands greater participation from veterinarians, says Chris Byra, the network’s manager. The Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network has established a system that allows veterinarians who visit hog farms and work with producers to enter information into a database. […] Read more
Farm group tackles transfer of livestock ownership issue
Alberta Federation of Agriculture to look at how ownership contracts can be improved
BANFF, Alta. — The Alberta Federation of Agriculture will be taking a closer look at contracts for livestock sales in Alberta. The issue of ownership, and when precisely it’s transferred, was raised Jan. 21 at the organization’s annual general meeting. “We sent down some slaughter heifers. They were delivered to a slaughter facility on Sunday […] Read moreAlberta, Sask. forage, livestock sectors get funding
Federal funding for Canadian pork marketing | Federal and provincial funds also announced for 27 research projects in Saskatchewan
The federal government was busy making funding announcements last week pertaining to livestock and forage production and marketing. At the Banff Pork Seminar, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz’s announcement of $15 million to support pork marketing initiatives at home and abroad was received positively by industry officials, whose attention didn’t drift from major issues of trade […] Read moreHog industry outlook looked rosy — until PED
Future looked profitable | First confirmed cases of hog disease in Canada threatens optimism
BANFF, Alta. — The first appearance of porcine epidemic diarrhea in Canada comes as economists begin forecasting profits for the industry for the first time in years. Low interest rates, reduced feed costs and a declining Canadian dollar are positive signs for the Canadian hog industry, officials and economists said at the Banff Pork Seminar […] Read more
