Just because a pig isn’t showing pain doesn’t mean it isn’t suffering. Farmers, truckers and pig handlers need to look beyond obvious signs of distress to assess how an injured animal is doing, veterinarian Max Popp of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency told the Manitoba Swine Seminar. “Animals are inclined to hide the pain as […] Read more
Tag Archives hogs
VIDEO: Manitoba hog industry urged to rebuild
Provincial gov’t relaxes moratorium on new barn construction as pork council asks producers to expand the industry
A lot of little ideas could make the next generation of Manitoba hog feeder barns a lot cheaper. That’s the hope of industry leaders as they encourage farmers to start considering building new and replacement barns that incorporate fresh ideas from farmers and suppliers across the industry. Persuading farmers to build and produce is vital […] Read more
Producers talk of hog barn expansion
New hog barns could soon be built in Manitoba, after eight years of little to no construction. The weak loonie, combined with the repeal of U.S. country-of-origin labelling and relaxed manure regulations in Manitoba, have produced the right conditions for new barn investment. “There are barns that are going to be built. We talked to […] Read more
Get it right when designing feed
RED DEER — When pigs unexpectedly die, the diagnosis might determine it was something they ate. “Feed quality issues can cause a big impact on performance and costs, so it is extremely important we are diligent at our mills and manage ingredients coming in and do a top notch job to avoid feed quality problems,” […] Read more
Pork council ponders price reporting
Canada accounts for 20 percent of international pork exports to 130 countries — earning $3.7 billion in revenue.
The price Canadian hog producers get for their product depends largely upon the American market, but plans are afoot to develop a Canadian price for a Canadian product for Canadian consumers. Alberta Pork chair Frank Novak, who also sits on the Canadian Pork Council executive, said such a plan would involve pricing based on the […] Read more
Gov’t holds back pork sector: Maple Leaf
President Michael McCain takes aim at policies that restrict barn builds and use of temporary foreign workers
The Manitoba and Canadian governments are sabotaging their hog industry’s chances at success, says Maple Leaf Foods president Michael McCain. Their failure to work with farmers, processors and exporters to create a world-leading industry has already led to declining production. It will get worse unless those governments assist industry to better compete internationally. “Those other […] Read more
Pig virus cases may surge
PED monitoring | Cases of the virus slowing but there is still work to do
DES MOINES, Iowa — Hog farmers have a brief respite from the worst of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and researchers are scrambling to make it more than just a pause. “It seems to be declining,” said Tom Burkgren, executive director of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, about summer temperatures apparently causing fewer weekly new […] Read more
Money to be made if PED kept at bay
Fat profit margin | Strong hog prices and moderating feed prices mean producers could bring home the bacon
DES MOINES, Iowa — The rest of 2014 and first half of 2015 should be profitable for hog farmers as long as they escape the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus and a good crop is harvested, says hog market analyst Steve Meyer. “The cost situation, with a normal crop, should really work in favour of producers,” […] Read more
The struggle to compete
Fewer than 10 hog barns have been built in Western Canada over the last several years. Meanwhile, farmers in the U.S. Midwest have constructed hundreds of barns over the same period. In Minnesota, for example, dozens of new barns are built in the state each year, said David Preisler, executive director of Minnesota Pork. “If […] Read more
Hog profits expected if virus stays out
The longer hog producers can prevent porcine infectious diarrhea virus from infecting their barns, the greater the possibilities for short-term profit. Alberta and Saskatchewan barns are PED-free and Manitoba has had only two cases of the deadly virus, which has killed millions of pigs at American hog barns in 30 states. Swine delta coronavirus, a […] Read more
