An Associate Professor with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine is encouraging people involved in swine production to protect their pigs by getting the annual flu shot. With the further relaxation of restrictions in Canada designed to reduce the spread of COVID, patterns of influenza infection are expected to return to more normal this year, as was experienced in the United States last year.

Researchers with the University of Saskatchewan are examining the value of processing using heat and steam to reduce the toxicity of ergot in feed grains. Ergot is a fungal disease that infects cereal grains and produces toxins that will impact the performance of pigs.

A veterinarian with Southwest Vets suggests swine farms capable of eliminating antibiotic use could have a marketing advantage over farms than can't. "Antibiotics or Not?" will be among the topics discussed as part of Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2022 November 15 and 16 in Saskatoon.

A series of over 100 videos and printed resources produced by the Canadian Pork Council is helping pork producers get a head start in training new swine barn workers. The initiative, under which the Canadian Pork Council, in collaboration with the provincial pork organizations including Sask Pork, producers and other pork sector experts from across Canada, developed over 100 training resources for swine farm stockpersons will be highlighted at Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2022.

A past president of the Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians is suggesting that, as the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture declines, health status is king. "Antibiotics or Not? What Makes Sense for Your Operation" will be among the topics discussed next month at the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2022 in Saskatoon on November 15-16th.

The CEO of Farm Health Guardian suggests effective biosecurity requires a team effort. "Biosecurity: What’s New in Protecting Your Farm?" will be among the topics discussed as part of Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2022 set for November 15 and 16 in Saskatoon.

A program launched by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine two years ago to provide summer work experience to veterinary students could be expanded to other veterinary colleges. The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is recruiting students for the third year of its WCVM Pharmhouse Summer Student Swine Experience Program.

The Manager of the Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network is advising pork producers to pay particularly close attention to transport biosecurity heading into the fall.

The Director of Risk Management with HAMS Marketing Services is advising pork producers to lock in their feed costs as they forward contract their hog production.

The Director of Risk Management with HAMS Marketing Services suggests access to labor will be the biggest challenge as the pork packing plants gear up for the heavier fall and winter and hog production.

A professor with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) says the challenges associated with translating a disease diagnosis into treatment varies with new swine diagnostic extension service

The Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network has developed a new model to help swine producers ensure their herds are free of infections that cause blisters.

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the Prairie Swine Centre, with support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and 14 industry partners, are exploring the prospects of using play to improve the emotional well being of pigs and improve their resilience and performance.

Sask Pork is encouraging hog producers to reach out to their herd veterinarian to get involved in the “Antimicrobial Benchmarking on Saskatchewan Hog Farms” project, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Saskatchewan which recently received $150,000 in funding from the Agriculture Development Fund.

The Veterinary Counselor with the Canadian Pork Council said the threat of foreign animal disease introduction posed by wild pigs has stimulated interest in bringing their populations under control.

The Veterinary Counselor with the Canadian Pork Council reports efforts on both sides of the Canada U.S. border to control wild pigs are showing success. As part of the Transboundary Feral Swine Summit, delegates discussed the damage being done and the risks posed by feral wild pigs and efforts to bring their populations under control.

The Director of Risk Management with HAMS Marketing Services is advising pork producers to lock in hog prices for the early winter to early spring months for about 25 percent of their production.

The Director of Risk Management with HAMS Marketing Services says profitability in the swine sector through this winter and into early spring will depend largely on feed grain prices. The cash hog supply has tightened due to typical seasonal trends combined with lower growth performance due to the hot weather, especially in the U.S. Midwest, and that has pushed cash hog prices to some of the highest levels seen in years.

A three-year benchmarking project being conducted by Sask Pork will shed new light on the frequency and application of antimicrobial drugs on the province's swine farms.

A Professor with Western College of Veterinary Medicine predicts, as the use of antibiotics decreases over the coming years, there will be a greater need to diagnose specific pathogens.