The National Hog Farmer recently broke the news that Germany has confirmed its first Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in over four decades, detected in a herd of water buffalo. Although pigs are not currently affected, FMD is a highly contagious disease that spreads rapidly among cloven-hoofed animals, often leading to widespread culling. The
Manitoba Pork’s General Manager, Cam Dahl, called on federal and provincial governments to collaborate with the pork sector to develop a strategy addressing critical trade access issues as the industry looks ahead to 2025.For Manitoba’s hog industry, 2024 marked a significant improvement over the preceding years. More substantial prices for hogs, notable gains in
Paul de Rond, with washer
Washing pig barns is one of barn workers’ most demanding and strenuous jobs. From scrubbing pens and stalls to cleaning walls and floors, this essential task is physically exhausting and critical for maintaining bio-security and keeping diseases out. Despite its importance in ensuring animal health and welfare, the repetitive and
The Canadian hog industry Code of Practice requires all producers to convert all farms to group sow housing by 2029, and progress is being steadily made toward this goal.Canadian Pork Council executive director Stephen Heckbert said as the sector prepares, the main priority is long-term economic viability and the best way to ensure no
(L-R)Kathleen Long, Maple Leaf Foods; Karolina Steinerova, Sask Pork & also a PhD student in the NSERC IRC research Chair program, Yvan Fréchette, Les Éleveurs de porcs du Québec; Javier Bahamon, Alberta Pork; Yolande Seddon, Chair, WCVM; Blaine Tully, PremierSHP, member of Swine Veterinary Partners; Gillian Muir, Dean, WCVM; Grant Melynchuck, Manitoba Pork; René
SIP panelists Yolande Seddon, Chantal Farmer and Martin Nyachoti
A national organization dedicated to pork research from farm to fork is midway through a cluster involving 15 projects at a total investment of just over $20 million. Since its establishment in 2010, Swine Innovation Porc has invested over $71 million in 75 large-scale projects involving
Jen Yun Chou
The ethology and welfare research scientist Prairie Swine Centre has recruited to replace Jennifer Brown brings, quite literally, a world of experience.Jen-Yun Chou, originally from Taiwan, was introduced to Western Canada’s swine production leaders as an animal welfare session speaker at Banff Pork Seminar in January. That is, she was introduced to
Interview time with the FX Aherne winners
F. X. Aherne Award for InnovationThe need to double production at their hog barn has earned an F. X. Aherne Award for Innovation for a mixed farm based in Southern Ontario.First-generation Canadians, Richard and Terri De Wetering operate De Wetering Hills Farms near Stratford with two young adults,
Plenary Session II, Banff Pork Seminar welcomed 798 registered attendees.
Yesterday’s Change, Tomorrow’s StrengthOnly rarely does the final session at Banff Pork Seminar draw as strong of crowd. It’s common for attendees, speakers and sponsors to pack up after lunch on the second day, leaving a fairly sparse audience gathered for the final plenary.Not this
Happy 2025! I am very excited as Prairie Hog Country is now entering its 29th year. Thanks so very much for your continued support, encouragement, readership and financial support through advertising which enables me to print and mail out every edition six times per year.This issue has lots of follow-up coverage from the recent
