The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board sent a letter to Saskatchewan’s senators to help keep our industry and economy stable.
Read MoreThe goal of research being conducted through the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare is to develop an automated swine welfare assessment system.
Read MoreAn analysis of Canadian pork production over the past 30 years shows a continued increase in efficiency and productivity and a shrinking of the sector's environmental footprint. Dr. Mario Tenuta, the Senior Industrial Research Chair in 4R Nutrient Stewardship and a Professor of Soil Ecology with the University of Manitoba, said the study shows from 1990 to 2020 the efficiency of producing pork improved by a good eight to 10 percent.
Read MoreSask Pork is undertaking a first-of-its-kind in Saskatchewan research project, thanks to funding from the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). Sask Pork will receive $150,000 over three years to evaluate antibiotic use on Saskatchewan hog farms.
Read MoreThe General Manager of Sask Pork is suggesting that the passage of Bill C-234 is critical to preserving the ability of Canadian farmers to compete in an international market place. Bill C-234, a private member's bill that will create specific exemptions for farmers to Canada's carbon pricing scheme has passed in the House of Commons and is now awaiting passage in the Senate.
Read MoreSask Pork is applauding the passage of Bill C-234 in the House of Commons and hopes for quick ratification in the Senate. The private member's bill that will create specific exemptions for farmers to Canada's carbon pricing scheme has passed in the House of Commons and will now move to Senate. Mark Ferguson, the General Manager of Sask Pork, said the carbon tax has added an estimated one to three dollars per pig and the impact will only go up.
Read MoreAn animal welfare and handling specialist with Olymel suggests moving pigs in small groups and focusing on body position, point of balance and flight zones, especially when the weather gets hot, will making moving pigs less stressful on the pigs and the handlers.
Read MoreAn animal welfare and handling specialist with Olymel says that when the weather turns warm, swine handlers need to step up their preplanning, slow things down and avoid overexertion to minimize stress and maximize comfort of the pigs. "What You Need to Know About Warm Weather Transport" was the focus of the third installment of Sask Pork’s spring seminar series yesterday
Read MoreA survey of the needs of small-scale pig producers is leading to the development of improved educational resources for the entire pork sector. Scientists with Prairie Swine Centre, in collaboration with Swine Innovation Porc, the Canadian Pork Council and the provincial pork organizations, including Sask Pork, conducted a study of small-scale swine producers on their knowledge and application of biosecurity practices to prevent disease.
Read MoreThe General Manager of Sask Pork says the biggest contribution the public can make to the effort to eliminate feral pigs from the environment is to report sightings. Mark Ferguson, General Manager of Sask Pork, noted wild boar have been identified as major problem, not just in Canada but around the world.
Read MoreA swine nutritionist with the University of Saskatchewan says, if flow issues can be resolved, pea starch can provide an excellent source of energy in swine rations. Research conducted by the University of Saskatchewan in partnership with the Prairie Swine Center and the Canadian Feed Research Centre in North Battleford showed pigs fed pelleted rations containing 40 percent pea starch grew really well with great feed efficiency.
Read MoreLast week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling on California’s Proposition 12 is expected to result in higher pork prices in that state while placing added financial pressure on pork producers throughout North America. Florian Possberg, a partner with Polar Pork Farms, said that California accounts for about 15 to 20 percent of U.S. pork consumption and California tends to set the standard for other states in terms of animal welfare.
Read MoreThe Manager of the Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network (CWSHIN) says its new five-year strategic plan will place a greater emphasis on diseases that are causing challenges closer to home. CWSHIN is putting the finishing touches on a new strategic plan that will guide activities over the next five years, until the end of March 2028.
Read MoreResearchers with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) are evaluating the long-term effects on welfare and productivity of providing environmental enhancements to piglets during their first weeks of life. In an effort to improve the lifetime productivity of pigs, researchers with WCVM are exploring the effect of early life management strategies on longer term welfare outcomes.
Read MoreThe General Manager of Swine Innovation Porc says the pork sector's planned next swine cluster research program will focus on pork sector sustainability, competitiveness, productivity and resiliency. Swine Innovation Porc, the national organization for research in the pork sector, submitted its application to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in January for funding for 19 projects being proposed under Swine Cluster-4.
Read MoreA swine nutritionist with Western Ag Supply says by purchasing low-cost opportunity feed ingredients, feeding according to nutritional requirements and managing feed wastage pork producers can reduce their feed costs and improve their profitability.
Read MoreOne of the driving forces behind Sask Pork’s consumer promotions is being recognized for her exceptional efforts in agriculture. Dorothy Long is being formally inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame tomorrow. Long is a lifelong champion of Canadian food and farming, having worked for nearly 30 years to promote Canadian-grown foods and the industry that produces them.
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