Greetings! What a crazy industry we all are in. On one hand producers (and industry too) are thrilled with the record breaking prices. However on the other hand all are nervous waiting for the further spread of this nasty disease.

I have said many times that knowledge is key, keeping your staff trained is so important, now more then ever. It will only take one careless move to have PED on your farm. In some cases thoughtlessness will accelerate the spread, not washing trucks, not changing boots, not paying attention to who is in and out of your barn are just a few of the things that all experts are warning us against. Just yesterday, from when I am typing this, I was in Red Deer for another Alberta Pork Information Session. The take home point was be careful, be diligent. Dr Frank Marshall, one of the speakers stated again “this is like TGE on steroids.” He added, “Canada should be proud in less then four weeks the link was found with the feed connection and had a volunteer recall in place.” Even though one of general messages of the meeting was to stop feeding the blood plasma feed, some still are not sure. As one of the attendees agreed, lets just all stop until the science catches up, that is not saying that we cant go back to using the feed someday – just not today. The strongest message of the meeting was when washing the trucks make sure you use both detergent and disinfectant in the correct dilutions. Follow washing from the outside to inside, then top to bottom and finally front to back.
Dr. Lucie Verdon was also on hand to offer the latest updates with PED numbers from both U.S. and Canada. A time line history of this nasty disease was shared, and it was interesting to learn that it started in 1971 in Europe, emerged in Asia in 1982, started its inferno outbreak in the U.S. in May 2013, and of course showed up in Ontario in January. Currently there are only five States that share a common border with Canada not affected. Since Christmas it has spread 2.5 more times.
The good news right now is actually great news, the highest prices ever. Producers who have been able to stay in business are now finally reaping some of the rewards.
Now that the revised Pig Code has been finalized all producers are encouraged to review it. The 78 page document covers six sections; Housing and Handling Facilities, Feed and Water, Animal Health, Husbandry Practices, Transportation and Euthanasia. If you remember there were a overwhelming 4,700 submissions representing over 32,000 individual comments received for the draft pig code of practice back in August of last year. A panel of 17 people had to sort through all those comments and come to a mutual agreement in order to make adjustments to the final code. Some of the major changes from the draft were the updates to group housing, now in new or renovated barns, pain control and enriched environment. See the related stories within Prairie Hog Country for more details.
Included within this edition is our annual readership survey, please continue to take the time to fill out and send back. This helps Prairie Hog Country to continue to be your favourite source of hog information and news in Western Canada.
Check out our new and improved website, thanks to Amanda for making it more user friendly. Google has recently ranked prairiehogcountry.ca as a swine authority. All the stories within this issue can be found on the online version, right at your fingertips.
I am still looking for donations for the 3rd Annual Bruce Winkler Memorial Silent Auction, call or email me today if you have something that you would like to donate. All funds raised will go towards the Linac MR Machine, as everybody has heard or read before this machine will be able to treat Cancer in real time. It will combine a MRI and Radiation at the same time, which is amazing. The BWMSA will take place at Alberta Pork Congress, check out page 41 for more details.
Remember it is almost photo contest time, start snapping with your cameras and phones. Next issue will have the details.
I wish all of you a wonderful Easter.
As always I am only a phone call or email away. Prairie Hog Country, Box 5536, Leduc, Alberta T9E 2A1, 780.986.0962, fax 780.980.9640 or email: hogcountry@shaw.ca
Talk to you in June.