When Dr. Lexie Reed of Sunny South Veterinary Services examined studies on several farrowing sow medications, including prostaglandins, oxytocin, carbetocin, meloxicam and dexamethson, she found that many variables determine which medication is the best choice for a specific circumstance.
Sows and farrowing
Farrowing sow medications receive closer look
When Dr. Lexie Reed of Sunny South Veterinary Services examined studies on several farrowing sow medications, including prostaglandins, oxytocin, carbetocin,…
Piglets need close care for the first day of their life
The first 24 hours of a piglet’s life are critical—get it right, and you’re on your way to a healthy,…
Pork producers to receive $567M to prevent African swine fever
African swine fever hasn’t been found in Canada or the U.S. yet. The Canadian government says funds will support hog…
Must Reads
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Fragile pigs an unexpected risk of past breeding efforts
DES MOINES, Iowa — Years ago, when Mark Soleta of Lakefield, Minnesota, brought in a load of freshly weaned Canadian…
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Hog industry encouraged to focus more on nutrition
Some basic areas of pig nutrition are still poorly understood, Prairie Swine Centre nutrition researcher Dan Columbus told the Animal…
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Nutrien Ag Solutions helps farmers build success from seed onward
Before anything else comes the seed. Before harvest goals, marketing plans, production budgets, equipment planning – everything starts with the…
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Mobile data in sow barns can lead to better decisions
Glacier FarmMedia – When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Erin White and her swine barn staff were sending data to an…
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Loose housing options vary
There are many options when choosing a loose sow housing system and the decision mostly depends on hog farmers’ confidence…
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Smart tech can identify sick pigs
A sick pig doesn’t want anyone to know it’s not well, and that can stop even the best barn staff…
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Stories from our other publications
Farrowing sow medications receive closer look
An Alberta veterinarian comes up with some conclusions but says more studies needed into anti-inflammatories for sow farrowing
Piglets need close care for the first day of their life
Half of pig mortality that occurs before market happens from birth to wean, and the first 24 hours is especially important
The first 24 hours of a piglet’s life are critical—get it right, and you’re on your way to a healthy, thriving market hog. Get it wrong, and you could be looking at lifelong struggles.
Pork producers to receive $567M to prevent African swine fever
African swine fever hasn’t been found in Canada or the U.S. yet; Canadian government says funds will support hog farmers if a case causes markets to close
African swine fever hasn’t been found in Canada or the U.S. yet. The Canadian government says funds will support hog farmers if a case causes markets to close.
Fragile pigs an unexpected risk of past breeding efforts
DES MOINES, Iowa — Years ago, when Mark Soleta of Lakefield, Minnesota, brought in a load of freshly weaned Canadian piglets, he was confident those pigs would easily handle any disease challenges they faced. That confidence is gone. More World Pork Expo coverage can be found here. “Every day we’re on eggshells,” he said with […] Read more
Hog industry encouraged to focus more on nutrition
Some basic areas of pig nutrition are still poorly understood, Prairie Swine Centre nutrition researcher Dan Columbus told the Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada. “Research is very hard to do in sows. It takes a long time. It’s expensive,” said Columbus, while explaining why he thinks sow diet formulation is so crudely done. “Overall the […] Read more
Mobile data in sow barns can lead to better decisions
Glacier FarmMedia – When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Erin White and her swine barn staff were sending data to an office, usually by fax, where it was put into a computer by staff there. The information flowed back and forth somewhat slowly, but the system worked. When the country went into lockdown, no one was […] Read more
Challenge dogma to change industry: prof
WINNIPEG — Pig management will be radically different in a few years, but the nature of that difference is up to the creative people who invent it, predicts Iowa State University animal science professor Jason Ross. “I think we’re going to be able to make data-driven decisions on the farm almost instantaneously,” said Ross in […] Read more
Loose housing options vary
There are many options when choosing a loose sow housing system and the decision mostly depends on hog farmers’ confidence in husbandry and technology. Canadian hog farmers are gradually moving toward loose housing for gestating sows, but debate continues over which system is best. Check out our Hog Hub for more hog-specific stories Matt Davis […] Read more
Smart tech can identify sick pigs
A sick pig doesn’t want anyone to know it’s not well, and that can stop even the best barn staff from intervening before the animal’s condition worsens. With smart technology and artificial intelligence, it should be possible to flag illness long before humans can identify it, says Tami Brown-Brandl of the University of Nebraska, speaking […] Read more
Detective work solves swine sickness mystery
Maple Leaf official recounts the challenges faced while trying to put a stop to a streptococcus zooepidemicus outbreak
WINNIPEG — When a multiplication barn had a streptococcus zooepidemicus outbreak in March 2019, Maple Leaf staff scrambled to find out what it was and how to treat it. They dealt with it as suggested by worldwide authorities. Believing the gilts were over the illness, workers sent them out to four sow barns. Within a […] Read more
