Alberta Pork Congress
The Alberta Pork Congress will take place in Red Deer at Westerner Park March 27 - 29, 2012.
This year Swine & Cheese will be held onsite on the trade show floor from 6 - 8 pm Tuesday March 27. The annual awards banquet will be at the Harvest Centre Wednesday March 28th and the BBQ will take place Thursday March 29th from 4 - 7 pm.
The trade show floor is open Wednesday from 9:00 - 4:30 and Thursday 9:00 - 4:00.
New this year is the Bruce Winkler Memorial Silent Auction, check out page 36 for more details. Also new are education showcases.
For information or to book your booth space contact Kate or Ahn at 403.244.7881 or email: info@albertaporkcongress.com •

Western Canadian Livestock Expo
The ninth annual Western Canadian Livestock Expo will be held in Saskatoon at Prairieland Park April 13 & 14, 2012. The show hours are 9 - 5 Friday and 9 - 4 Saturday.
For more details or to book a booth contact the Agriculture Department 306.931.7149 •

Swine Breeding Management Workshop
Initial plans are underway for the annual Swine Breeding Management Workshop. It will be held May 1 - 3, 2012 at both the J O'Donoghue Building and the Swine Research & Technology Centre. Speakers and details will be available soon.
The theme of this year's workshop is Productivity and Longevity of the Breeding Herd.
For more information please contact Dr. Michael Dyck at 780.492.0047 or email michael.dyck@ualberta.ca. •

London Swine Conference
The London Swine Conference will take place March 28 & 29, 2012 at the London Convention Centre in London, ON. This years theme is A Time for Change.
For details or information check
www.londonswineconference.ca •

World Pork Expo
The annual World Pork Expo will take place in Des Moines, IA June 6 - 8, 2012. For details and information check out www.worldpork.org •

SASK Pork Announces New Board Positions
Following the Annual General Meeting in early December the new executive was selected for SASK Pork.
Chairman - Jay McGrath, Vice chair - Shannon Meyers, Audit Chair - Paul Ulrich. Other board members include Florian Possberg, Dickson Gould and David R. Tschetter
Cliff Ehr continues as Saskatchewan's representative on the Canada Pork International Board of Directors.•

Quebec Farmer Heads Pork Council
Jean-Guy Vincent from Sainte-Séraphine,Quebec, is the new chairman of the Canadian Pork Council, taking over from Jurgen Preugschas of Alberta.
The council set its agenda during the annual meeting, deciding to:
• focus investments and research on reducing the cost of production for hog producers;
• strengthen the industry value chain with the goal of increasing hog farm cash receipts;
• put into action a marketing strategy to develop the Canadian market for domestically-produced pork and increase the consumption of Canadian pork
• encourage activities that would help to eliminate or reduce unnecessary regulatory divergences between Canada and the integrated North American hog industry;
• support the federal government's efforts to finalize a free trade agreement with South Korea , the Canada-EU comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement negotiations, joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and initiating a Bilateral Economic Partnership agreement with Japan due to the long term potential of these agreements for the pork industry, and
• create the environment for producers to take advantage of the great opportunities that exist in the long-term for increased sales of pork in the Asia-Pacific region and the European Union, as well as in Latin America and Eastern Europe.
Vincent is a representative of the Fédération des producteurs de porcs du Québec (FPPQ),
Rick Bergmann from Manitoba Pork Council was elected first vice-president and Florian Possberg from Saskatchewan Pork second vice-president. •
— By Jim Romahn

New Swine Flu in the U.S.
A new variant of H3N2 swine flu appears to be circulating in the United States where at least 12 people have been stricken.
The Centre for Disease Control says the new variant combines some genetics from H1N1 virus, the one that has been of high concern since it crossed from birds to people in Asia several years ago.
This new strain appears capable of moving from person to person, but so far is not highly contagious.
Half of the 12 people identified as infected had no contact with pigs.
However, one man in Indiana who did work with pigs was hospitalized for four days.
All but one of the people was less than 18 years old. The cases came from a wide geographic area – from two each in Maine, West Virginia and Indiana to three each in Iowa and Pennsylvania.
So far there has been no word from Canadian health officials, but in the U.S. the swine industry has been alerted to be vigilant and flu vaccinations are recommended.
There have been recommendations that Ontario people who work with poultry and hogs ought to get seasonal flu shots. •
— By Jim Romahn

Canadian Pork Producers to Benefit From Investment Funds, Eradicate PRRS
Canadian pork producers will benefit from an investment of $294,500 to initiate small-scale projects for controlling and eradicating viral disease in pork. Member of Parliament Dave Van Kesteren announced the investment at the Southwest Agricultural Conference in early January.
"Pork producers here in southern Ontario and across Canada provide safe, top-quality pork products enjoyed by consumers at home and around the world," said MP Van Kesteren on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "This targeted investment will help the pork industry enhance its world-class biosecurity and disease control, bolstering its bottom line and our overall economy."
The investment of $294,500 under the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) will provide tools, coordination and funds to initiate small-scale projects for controlling and eradicating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). PRRS is a disease that causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in young pigs. The disease costs the Canadian industry an estimated $130 million per year.
The collaborative two-year project will involve producers, veterinarians and industry and will pilot a strategy for advanced biosecurity and disease control. Over the long term, the project will improve strategies used by producers and service providers to reduce the transmission of PRRS. The project will be coordinated by the Ontario Pork Industry Council's Swine Health Advisory Board (OSHAB) and serve as a model for other provinces, with the results shared with industry and the Canadian Swine Health Board.
"This funding will allow the Advisory Board to provide ongoing leadership to develop PRRS area regional control and elimination projects here in Ontario. This approach is unique in that it allows for grassroots engagement by producers who are ready to implement change in areas throughout Ontario whether it is a control or elimination program," says Dr. Jane Carpenter, OSHAB's lead on this project.
CAAP is a five-year (2009-2014), $163-million initiative that aims to help the Canadian agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. In Ontario, CAAP is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC).
The Next Phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan, coupled with other Government of Canada programs and initiatives such as CAAP, continues to help farmers by focusing on creating jobs and strengthening the economy. Investments in new and emerging market opportunities will help build an even stronger agriculture industry and Canadian economy for the future. •

U.S. Proposes Restrictions on Drug
The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has issued an order to restrict the use of cephalosporin antibiotics, which are given to some cattle, swine, chickens and turkeys before slaughter.
Under the new restrictions extra-label drug use of cephalosporins will only be allowed for use to treat or control, but not to prevent, a disease, and must be used at the labeled dose, frequency, duration and route of administration approved for that species and production class.
These new restrictions apply to major species; off-label use is permitted for minor species.
The ruling significantly revises a 2008 rule by FDA that prohibited all extra-label uses of cephalosporins and was later withdrawn.
Cephalosporin antibiotics are used to treat pneumonia, skin infections and meningitis, among other diseases, in humans.
The final rule was published in the January 2, 2012, Federal Register with a comment period that closes March 6.
In June, Canada's Public Health Agency called for a farm-use ban on cephalosporin, but so far Health Canada has not done so. The Public Health Agency said it was highly concerned about off-label use of the drug in poultry farming.
A ban in the U.S. is likely to have an immediate impact on some Canadian farmers, such as hog producers, because it would impact exports to the U.S. •
— By Jim Romahn

Less Boar Taint with the TOPIGS Nador Concept
TOPIGS introduces the Nador concept. With Nador it is possible to select and use finisher boars that produce offspring with 40% less boar taint. With this innovation one of the challenges of producing with non-castrated male finishers is minimized. TOPIGS is the first breeding company that offers this solution for boar taint.
TOPIGS will introduce Nador in the Top Pi and SNW Pietrain-Select lines. This because the Pietrain is the most used finisher boar in Germany and the Netherlands. In these two countries the Nador concept is introduced first. Later the concept will be available for the other boar lines of TOPIGS and also in more countries.
The Nador concept is one of the first developments that uses the new breeding technique genomic selection. To develop a breeding protocol for Nador boars, TOPIGS scored of over 27,000 fat samples from non-castrated finisher boars and asked test panels to score the smell after heating.
The result of this human nose score was linked to the information gathered from genotyping with a dedicated SNP panel. That made it possible to distinguish boars whose offspring have less risk of developing boar taint.
Besides the boars selected on low boar taint the Nador concept also contains a tracking and tracing system. This makes it possible to provide meat processors guarantees that the slaughter pigs are bred with TOPIGS boars within the Nador concept. •

Using DNA to Track Disease Resistance
Atlantic Veterinary College at Charlottetown, P.E.I., is partnering with a team to determine whether DNA analysis can identify pigs less prone to diseases.
The project uses a DNA traceback system developed by IdentiGEN Canada Ltd. to trace the parentage of pigs.
By watching and recording their health, the system can be used to determine which sires have the healthiest offspring. For example, it will rate mortality rates for sires.
Funding comes from the university, the Canadian Swine Health Board and there is participation by Premium Farms of Missouri, Magnum Swine Genetics Inc. of Macleod, Alberta, and Dunsbergen Farm Inc. of Iowa.
IdentiGEN has already successfully analyzed samples from the participating farms, establishing the commercial viability of its solution to trace swine parentage.
The next phase, to be completed by the end of this year, will focus on using the generated data to aid Canada's swine producers in making genetic choices.
"If we can trace the parentage of animals that are not commercially viable, and match them to their sire, we can create an immediate way to impact both quality and disease prevalence through sire choice," said Hurnik.
Andrew Beusekom, general manager of Magnum Swine says this project has the potential to identify individual boars that may be contributing to less desirable traits in their progeny. "For the commercial sector of the swine industry, the elimination or reduction of such traits could have a significant impact, both in management and monetary value," he said.
"As an artificial insemination unit, this project may allow for the unique evaluation of individual boars, by providing the information needed to make crucial management decisions, including culling and selection of genetic lines," he said. •
— By Jim Romahn

Downer Law Thrown Out
The United States Supreme Court has thrown out a California law banning the slaughter of downer hogs, sheep and goats.
A federal ban on slaughtering downer cattle remains in effect.
The justices unanimously decided that the industry is justified in saying that many downer hogs are simply exhausted and recover within 30 to 90 minutes.
Pigs were the species that prompted the California legislation.
The National Farmers Union, the national association for veterinarians and the national association for meat packers all took part in the Supreme Court hearings. •
— By Jim Romahn

Russian Farm
Sacrifices 30,736 Pigs
An outbreak of African Swine Fever has prompted the slaughter of all 30,736 pigs at a farm in Southern Russia.
The veterinary staff for the Timashevsky District have been fired.
Apparently a worker at the farm who kept pigs of his own brought the disease into the Piemzavod Industriainy farm in Southern Russia near Krasnador.
Since 2007, there have been African Swine Disease outbreaks in 21 of Russia's 83 regions. • — By Jim Romahn

Ractopamine Under Pressure
One of the world's largest news services, msnbc.com , has taken aim at ractopamine as a feed additive for pigs.
The news service says federal records indicate that the drug has resulted in the highest mortality rates of any livestock drug on the market.
It improves meat gains by about 10 per cent by elevating the heartbeat and relaxing blood vessels. It's estimated that the additive is fed to between 60 and 80 per cent of U.S. market hogs.
After a delay of several years, Canadian authorities approved its use here on hogs, feedlot cattle and turkeys.
The European Union, China, Taiwan and many others have banned its use, limiting U.S. and Canadian meat exports.
The U.S. is pressuring countries to approve its use so their markets will be open to U.S. products.
"Resolving the impasse is now a top agricultural trade priority for the Obama administration, which is trying to boost exports and help revive the economy," says the msnbc report. • — By Jim Romahn

Cars Stall Korean Trade Talks
Trade commentator Peter Clark is blaming the Canadian Auto Workers Union for stalling trade talks with South Korea.
He says this is costing Canadians the opportunity to sell more products to South Koreans, including Canadian pork and beef.
And he says it's highly unlikely that the Koreans would increase shipments of their cars from Korea to Canada because it's cheaper and easier for them to sell Canadians their cars assembled at plants in the United States.
Those plants, by the way, also import auto parts made in Canada, Clark argues in a lengthy paper he released this week on the issues that stalled the trade talks 3 years ago.
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over a BSE-based ban on Canadian beef, the Korean Parliament has approved re-opening of its markets to Canadian beef, but there is still the matter of getting the final and official approval before imports can resume.
If the South Koreans continue to stall, Canada has the right from the World Trade Organization to take retaliatory measures. That might be tariffs on South Korean cars. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's riding is Oshawa, a major auto-parts and auto-assembly city.
The Canadian Pork Council has regularly been badgering the Canadian government to get back to negotiations with South Korea and to gain them access to the South Korean market. • — By Jim Romahn

Pharmgate Comes to Canada
Pharmgate Animal Health establishes a presence in Canada and announces the first North American approval for Aivlosin®.
Pharmgate Animal Health, the joint venture between ECO Animal Health Ltd of London, England and Pharmgate LLC of Ramsey, New Jersey is pleased to announce the formation of Pharmgate Animal Health Canada Inc. to distribute its parents' veterinary products in the Canadian livestock and poultry markets. The new company has named Marc Loomes, Colin Gray and Bill Maxwell as Directors.
The company has also announced the Canadian approval of ECO's new macrolide antibiotic, tylvalosin (Aivlosin Water Soluble Granules®) for the treatment of porcine proliferative enteritis (PPE) associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infection in swine. The granules are administered in drinking water for five consecutive days at a low inclusion rate of 50ppm to provide 5mg tylvalosin per kg body weight daily thus offering both a low dose rate and short treatment duration.
Tylvalosin is rapidly absorbed, widely distributed to target tissues, extensively metabolized and rapidly excreted. It thus lends itself to situations where rapid treatments in the face of acute outbreaks are required. The meat withdrawal period is 24 hours—another benefit when breakdowns occur in late finishers. The in-water delivery system also offers the farmer the flexibility to treat individual pens or barns—features that are not often possible with in-feed medications.
In a North American multi-centre study1 using the Winkelman challenge model, clinical scores and lesions scores were significantly reduced in treated pigs. There were no deaths due to PPE in the treated pigs compared with 14.9% deaths in the un-medicated controls and the production parameters of ADG and Feed Conversion were also significantly improved by Aivlosin treatment. •

Hormel Phasing Out Sow Gestation Crates
Hormel Foods is the latest large hog-producing company to announce plans to stop using gestation crates. It plans to phase them out in Arizona and Colorado by the end of next year and in Wyoming by 2017.
Seven states have banned gestation crates.
Farrowing crates remain the preferred housing for sows giving birth and raising piglets for the first couple of weeks of their lives because there are fewer piglet injuries and fatalities. •
— By Jim Romahn

Feed Use Sets Record
Alltech says a survey conducted by its regional managers indicates the world's feed production has reached an estimated 873 million metric tons.
That's the total for 132 countries and it's up from an estimate of 717.6 million tonnes in 2010.
Asia is now the number one feed-producing region with a tonnage of 305 million, and China is the leading country with a total tonnage of 175.4 million.
Europe follows Asia with 200 million, then it's North America at 185 million, Latin America at 125 million and the Middle East and Africa combined at 47 million tonnes.
Poultry feed is 44 per cent of the total, ruminant feeds, not counting forages, are next at 25 per cent and then come feed for hogs, horses and pets.
"As we look to feed seven billion people in 2012, it is clear that the efficient production of meat, milk and eggs has never been more important," said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. •
— By Jim Romahn

Pro-Ag Products Ltd Forms Strategic Alliance
Pro-Ag Products Ltd (PAP) and Micronutrients (A Division of Heritage Technologies) are pleased to announce that they have formed a strategic marketing and distribution alliance for the Canadian Livestock and Poultry markets. Pro-Ag Products Ltd will distribute the IntelliBond C copper product to the Canadian feed industry.
"This is a very significant commitment for both Micronutrients and Pro-Ag Products Ltd. This is significant for our respective employees and most of all our valued customers" said Norm Paisley President of PAP. "Together, our companies are able to offer a broader range of products and improved mineral technologies along with technical support that will benefit our customers."
"This strategic alliance builds on our commitment to the livestock and poultry industry and will ensure we deliver on our goal to develop mineral programs that enhance animal productivity in a cost effective, safe and healthy manner while respecting the environment" said Pat James, CEO of Micronutrients.
"The relationship is another step in the continued growth of both organizations. Our companies have similar core values along with a passion and commitment that will ensure we make our customers more successful now and in the future," said Doug Beckie co-owner of PAP. •

Prairie Hog Country provides hog producers with all the latest information in the Western Canadian Hog business.
Be sure to send your press releases and relevant information to be included, email them to hogcountry@shaw.ca
Proud to be the independent connection now entering our 16th year in publishing.
Watch the April-May edition for our annual readership survey•