Research into the microbiome of piglets taking place in Saskatchewan conducted on behalf of Swine Innovation Porc is assisting in creating new tools to increase the productivity of the swine herd.

A Saskatchewan pilot project is testing new technologies that will help pork producers improve biosecurity and protect their herds from disease. Farm Health Guardian and Sask Pork are collaborating to trial truck movement recording technologies at over 20 swine farms or businesses in the province.

Pork producers around the world are expected to be the main beneficiaries of research aimed at developing new subunit vaccines to protect pigs from a common bacteria that reduces the ability of the intestines of pigs to absorb nutrients, resulting in slower weight gain.

Sask Pork is undertaking a first-of-its-kind in Saskatchewan benchmarking 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.

Saskatchewan Agriculture is encouraging the hog industry to reach out to local fire departments to help ensure they are prepared to deal with livestock transportation emergencies. "Livestock Transportation Emergencies" was the topic of a Sask Pork Spring Seminar yesterday.

Sask Pork is highlighting career possibilities in the hog industry thanks to a new Canadian partnership. Several Saskatchewan agricultural organizations, including Sask Pork, are bringing regional agriculture programming to ChatterHigh, a gamified content engagement platform used by students across Canada and the U.S.

The Director of Saskatchewan Agriculture's Emergency Response and Inspection Unit says the main focus when dealing with a livestock transportation emergency is safety. "Livestock Transportation Emergencies Require a Team Effort," with Trent Catley is the topic of this week’s Sask Pork Spring Seminar Series slated for Thursday, May 5 at 1:30pm.

A researcher with the University of Saskatchewan suggests, rather than helping reduce the wild pig population, sport hunting actually breaks up groups and makes the animals more elusive and harder to find.

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine is encouraging a continued focus on biosecurity on Canadian hog farms amid a later than normal peak in cases of influenza. Typically, the number of cases of influenza in people and in pigs tend to peak in the fall in November-December and again in the late winter or early spring in February-March. By now, numbers would normally be on the decline.

Sask Pork celebrated Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM) with a donation of books to elementary schools in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. CALM, celebrated annually every March and into April, is dedicated to teaching students about Canada’s agriculture industry and food story.

Researchers are examining possible role of particle size and feed outages on the incidence of gastric ulcers in pigs. Extremely finely ground feed ingredients have been shown to contribute to gastric ulcers in pigs and there's evidence that ingredients like pea starch can cause diets to bind in the equipment, resulting in feed outages.

Sask Pork is asking pork producers across the province to remain especially vigilant with biosecurity practices now that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) has been found in Saskatchewan.

The Director of Risk Management with HAMs Marketing Services is advising pork producers in western Canada to focus on margins rather than the price of hogs or the price of feed as they make their forward contracting decisions.

Preliminary indications are that the bacteria in the gut influences the health of piglets. As part of research being conducted by the Universities of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Guelph in partnership with Swine Innovation Porc and other private partners, scientists are investigating the gut microbiome of the pig in an effort to identify beneficial and detrimental bacteria.

A research scientist with the Prairie Swine Center says swine barn operators can reduce the volume of water wasted that ends up in the manure pit by optimizing the flow rates of nipple drinkers. This can dramatically reduce the cost of manure processing.

A partner with Polar Pork Farms is suggesting a return to more normal weather conditions and improved grain production will be critical to stabilizing global food supplies.

Sask Pork is encouraging the public to immediately report wild boar and other feral pig sightings. Earlier this week, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture has introduced enhanced measures to control feral pigs, including a moratorium on new commercial wild boar farms, developing regulations for licensing existing farms and enhancing surveillance and control.

Sixty guests staying at Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon while their children undergo medical treatment had a meal of Saskatchewan pulled pork, thanks to a partnership between Prairie Meats and Sask Pork.

Sask Pork is applauding new measures brought forward today by the Government of Saskatchewan to regulate, monitor and control wild boar and feral pigs in the province. The Ministry of Agriculture announced that it is developing regulations for licensing existing commercial wild boar farms and imposing a moratorium on new farms. Regulations for wild boar/feral pigs will also be developed under The Pest Control Act.

A swine diagnostic service launched just under one year ago is helping swine veterinarians use diagnostic results to formulate treatment strategies. Last May the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Prairie Diagnostic Services, both located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan, partnered in the launch of a new swine diagnostic extension service.