Welcome to the sixth and final edition of Prairie Hog Country in 2023. Looking ahead to 2024 will mark the 28th year for Prairie Hog Country. We will continue to be your independent direct connection to the Western Canadian hog sector six times per year. Release dates for next year can be found on page 53.
This issue is jam packed with extensive coverage from many of the fall meetings, including Alberta Porks’ AGM, Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium, Manitoba Porks’ fall producer meetings, Hams producer meetings and Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop. All of which were well attended events. Knowledge is powerful and it is so important to stay on top of latest developments and trends, it will all help with barn management.
One common theme that keeps reoccurring is bio-security. As Dr. Egan Brockhoff shared during his presentation at Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop, “Bio-security measures are the most POWERFUL set of tools.”
As you saw on the cover, with the opening of North 49 Foods in Moose Jaw, SK, it is a very exciting time for the entire hog industry. Having a cull plant option in Western Canada is a huge asset.
Charity was the big winner of the day at the Alberta Livestock Expo, with $14,000 raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alberta. In addition thanks to the Colonies who entered hogs in the pork quality competition, over 1772 lbs of pork was donated to local food banks. Kudos to Maple Leaf for processing and delivering the meat.

I am excited to have a copy of this edition in all the attendee bags at Banff Pork Seminar, so if it is the first time you are reading or seeing Prairie Hog Country, welcome and I hope you find it informative. Please do let me know if you have any questions or comments on the publication.
In mid-November Canadian Pork Council President, René Roy, was joined by the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay on a Canadian trade mission to Vietnam, Japan and South Korea, where they strengthened relationships with our international partners and promoted a sustainable future for the swine industry.
The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute just released a chart including numbers fact and figures from both Statistics Canada (January 23) and Census of Agriculture Data (2021). See the chart on page 50. One of the facts that caught my eye was, “Farmers are the most trusted people in the food system.”
For a complete list of all upcoming events and contact information be sure to check Pork Chops.
I’d like to wish you, your families, and barn staff all the very best this holiday season. Take a moment to be grateful for all the true blessings we have. Merry CHRISTmas and all the best in 2024.
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 February.