Canada’s duBreton to raise 300,000 more crate-free pigs

Quebec-based pork producer duBreton plans to raise 300,000 more pigs without the use of gestation stalls or traditional farrowing crates by 2018. The company is investing $30 million to implement these plans.
The first pork producer to apply for Humane Farm Animal Care’s (HFAC) Certified Humane Raised and Handled label, Dubreton in 2003 had two separate farm operations: a natural and organic pork operations, and commodity pork operations. The commody pork operations allowed gestation crates and farrowing stalls, but the natural and organic pork operations did not. However, according to HFAC, Vincent Breton, the president of duBreton pork, said he wanted to work toward eliminating crates from all of his operations.
"Compared to commodity or traditional farming practices, it costs us 50 percent more to raise Certified Humane pork and more than double to raise an organic pig," said Breton, third-generation president of duBreton. "The result is the highest quality pork possible, and as this translates into only a slight increase at retail. We believe it is well worth the cost to preserve the dignity and respect of the animals in our care. Obviously, consumers agree as demand is outpacing supply in many markets where we trade."

A family farming business, duBreton is the only major size pork producer in North America to be verified Certified Humane Raised and Handled, which promotes and encourages the highest standards of animal welfare.

CPC releases 2015 election priorities

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) wants the leaders of Canada's political parties and the candidates running for election to take a stand for the future of Canadian hog production.
The CPC released its 2015 Canadian Pork Industry Platform for the 2015 Federal Election, a document outlining major industry concerns and ways in which the future government can work with the hog industry. Topping the CPC's list of priorities is a call for modernization of risk management programs.
The industry has survived several financially challenging years, during which time infrastructure updates were put on hold. Now that the financial footing of the industry has improved, producers face significant costs to catch up with construction and repairs.
“Canada's hog producers are firmly focused on the future and building conditions for success. The CPC calls on the federal political candidates to develop a range of risk management tools and strategies to help producers deal with instability in the market place, including currency fluctuations, and to modernize the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act to accurately reflect Canadian agriculture's growing farm sizes, increased farm costs, more complex farming structures and revenue and profit volatility,” says Rick Bergmann, CPC chairman.
Other issues addressed in the Canadian Pork industry platform for the 2015 federal election include market access, with calls for the federal government to continue Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and finally resolving the country of origin labelling (COOL) dispute with the United States, including implementing retaliatory tariffs if necessary.

Canada funds study to explore price hog hedging program

The Canadian government is investing up to $169,530 to the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) to explore the feasibility of developing a hedging program that would offer price stability and address the cash flow needs of Canadian hog producers.
The investment was announced by Bev Shipley, member of Parliament and chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
This support will enable CPC to study the risks and impacts of hog market price fluctuations on producers, and explore the potential of developing a hog hedging program to mitigate that risk. Under the project, consultations will occur with producers, financial institutions, packing plants, and organizations providing risk management services to producers for their assessment of this risk.
"Our government is proud to support the hog industry’s efforts to analyze the potential of new instruments, like a hedging program, that would help protect producers against fluctuations in market prices. Investing in programs to reduce risk adds stability to the hog sector and will help boost competitiveness and profitability," said Shipley.
CPC applauded the government’s support.
"Hog producers face a combination of production, market and financial risks that can undermine the success of a farm without a range of risk management tools and strategies,” said Bill Wymenga, CPC vice chairman. This project will explore the feasibility of a program that can mitigate the risk of margin calls so that hedging becomes a useful and used business risk management tool."

Canadian pigs regain access to Chile

Canada has re-established market access to Chile for live swine, a market that the industry estimates was worth approximately CA$350,000 (US$284,757) in 2013. Canada had been Chile's main supplier of live swine for more than 10 years, prior to 2014 when Chile temporarily suspended imports of live swine and porcine blood products from countries – including Canada -- with reported outbreaks of the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus.
"Our government continues to work closely with industry to open, re-open and expand new markets for our quality Canadian products,” said Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz. “By increasing trade and ensuring producers can earn their living from the marketplace, we are creating more jobs, growth and prosperity for all Canadians."
Nancy Weicker, executive director of Canadian Swine Exporters Association, applauded the Canadian government for successfully negotiating a revised health certificate for live swine, after the temporary suspension of the health certificate with Chile in 2014.
“Canadian swine exporters will now have market access to supply Chile with our high-health quality swine genetics. Chile has been a steady market for Canadians over the past few years, with an estimated value of exports of live swine of close to $1 million," said Weicker.
Canada’s first case of PED virus was reported in January 2014, months after the first case of the virus had been reported in the United States.

Olymel, union agreement ends strike at Quebec pork plant

Union employees at the Olymel hog slaughterhouse and butchering plant in Vallée-Jonction, Quebec, have reached an agreement with their employer, ending a strike at the plant that had hindered the Canadian meat company’s ability to conduct business.
At an assembly, 70 percent of the employees ratified the final agreement reached on April 1 through negotiations. The new labor contract has a term of six years.
The two sides agreed on a return-to-work protocol that will enable plant operations to resume gradually on two shifts, depending on hog volumes available and the product mix. In regards to operational logistics, teams are already hard at work to ensure a supply of hogs at the facility.
"Olymel welcomes the resumption of operations and will do everything in its power to ensure that the Vallée-Jonction plant can resume normal business operations, and to maintain a calm working atmosphere at the facility. We are hopeful that, together with our employees and the union leaders, we have found the conditions that will allow this large facility to return to its place in our organization and continue to serve our markets and customers. I am confident that, thanks to the dedication of our teams already on site, we can recover the greater part of the deliveries we were forced to cancel in recent weeks," Olymel President and CEO Réjean Nadeau stated in a press release.
The Olymel president and CEO also thanked the management staff and the negotiating team for their work in difficult circumstances. All management staff members who were laid off on March 30 will be recalled.
Nadeau also thanked Olymel's customers and suppliers, and hog producers in particular, for their cooperation during the shutdown. .
The Olymel hog slaughterhouse, butchering and boning facility at Vallée-Jonction has more than 1,000 employees working on two shifts. Located in the heart of a swine production area, it has a weekly slaughtering capacity of 35,000 pigs and manufactures boned products, various cuts of pork and fresh chilled pork. Much of its production volume is exported to foreign markets.

Canadian businesses Olymel, Atrahan forming pork partnership

The executives of Canadian companies Olymel and Atrahan Transformation have signed an agreement to establish a business partnership for the joint operation of hog slaughtering, butchering and pork processing activities.
Financial information involved in the partnership transaction will not be disclosed, the companies jointly stated in a press release. The partnership agreement is expected to be completed in May, after due diligence and  necessary approvals are given.
Once this partnership is concluded, Olymel and Atrahan Transformation will have access to additional supply volumes that will enable them to better meet the demands of the Québec, Canadian and foreign markets. The conclusion of this partnership is expected to result in profitable synergies for both companies.
"In a true spirit of partnership, our two companies have decided to initiate discussions in order to join forces and take advantage of all the synergies that will result from pooling our operations in the pork sector. For nearly 60 years the succession of Trahan family members who have run the company have been visionary entrepreneurs, careful to provide proper management for their business. We at Olymel are proud to be able to embark on building a partnership that will strengthen our leadership position in the Canadian agri-food industry and also enable the owners and employees of Atrahan Transformation Inc. to enjoy the benefits of this alliance," said Olymel President and CEO Réjean Nadeau
The 350 employees of Atrahan Transformation will continue operations at the Yamachiche, Quebec, plant. The plant will continue to serve its current customers and respect supply agreements with its suppliers under the Hog Marketing Agreement.
"It is with great confidence that we look forward to partnering with Olymel, a pillar of the Quebec agri-food industry, a strong, diversified company with which we share values such as respect for the individual, achieving the highest standards of quality and excellence in customer service. I am confident that, thanks to this partnership, the company in which the Trahan family has invested energy and passion for nearly 60 years will continue to grow. I also believe that our employees, suppliers and customers will be the first to benefit from the positive effects of this business partnership," added Atrahan Transformation President Denis Trahan.

Canadian pork associations unite to fund research program

• 

  Andrea Gantz

  Seven Canadian provincial pork organizations have agreed to collectively fund a Swine Innovation Porc research program.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Seven provincial pork associations across Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding to financially support Swine Innovation Porc’s (SIP) Swine Cluster 2 research program.
  The associations signing the memorandum representing a $2.5 million financial commitment include: Alberta Pork, Les Éleveurs de porcs du Québec, Manitoba Pork, New Brunswick Pork, Ontario Pork, PEI Pork and Sask Pork.
  This funding signifies a national and collaborative approach in supporting research activities for the Canadian swine sector. In addition, it will give SIP the financial flexibility to quickly respond to emerging issues that directly affect swine producers in Canada, such as the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus concern. It will also be used in activities related to the transfer of technical knowledge, so that innovative technologies will reach pork producers at the farm level.
  At the beginning of 2014, SIP was granted $13 million in funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) as well as a considerable contribution from industry partners. This additional amount from the provincial pork associations provides SIP with an overall budget of $17.3 million for the Swine Cluster 2 research program.
   “This added financial support from the provincial associations will further the corporation’s ability to achieve its objectives as outlined in our mission statement. SIP is committed to provide national leadership in coordinating and facilitating research, knowledge transfer and commercialization initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of the Canadian swine industry,” said Stewart Cressman, Chair of SIP.
  SIP is a corporation of the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), which shares SIP’s vision to help producers. 

Canada pork producers commit funds for pig health collaboration

Canadian pork producers continue to make swine health a priority by committing producer levies to fund a national animal health initiative. The focus for the national animal health initiative will be to bring key players together to collaborate on efforts across Canada that limit the spread of viruses like porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus, increase communication and monitor surveillance activities.
“I am pleased with the provincial pork board’s unanimous response to CPC’s recommendation to back a national animal health initiative,” stated Canadian Pork Council Chair Jean Guy Vincent. “There is no pause in the fight to safe guard the health status of our industry.”
CPC has received support from its members to fund a National Swine Health initiative to continue to build on all of the work that has been done over the past few years. Senior staff from across Canada met before the holidays this year to strategize on next steps and how to reinforce the importance of biosecurity.
"The pork industry has worked together to improve biosecurity and taken every step possible to stop the spread of PEDv and to eliminate this virus from Canada," added Vincent. "Producers should be commended for investing in the national animal health initiative and believe this effort complements the many activities taking place at a provincial level across Canada.”
The provincial emergency response plans developed are effective and significant steps have been taken to help reduce the risk of a virus being spread in Canada. Producers are encouraged to increase their due diligence and use the tools and best information available to prevent the potential spread of the PED virus or other production diseases. The national animal health initiative was developed based on feedback from producers across Canada that met over two days in November to help shape the future of the industry and address the many challenges and opportunities for the next year.
The CPC serves as the national voice for hog producers in Canada. A federation of nine provincial pork industry associations, our organization’s purpose is to play a leadership role in achieving and maintaining a dynamic and prosperous Canadian pork sector.

Canadian government pledges funds to battle pig, bovine diseases

• 

  Andrea Gantz

  The Canadian government is pledging funds to battle Brachyspira hampsonii, which affects feeding and growth rates in pigs.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The Canadian government has pledged an investment of $260,000 to the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board (Sask Pork) to help control two diseases that are threatening swine and beef herds in Canada.
  The allocation will help fund research that will target Brachyspira hampsonii, a recently discovered bacterium that causes diarrhea and colitis in pigs. Scientists will also seek to gain a better understanding of bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BCG) or “vibriosis” that can significantly reduce pregnancy rates among breeding cattle. Both studies will include diagnostics, surveillance and trials involving live animals.
  Brachyspira hampsonii was recently discovered in Western Canada and is known to affect feeding and growth rates in pigs.
  A recent outbreak of BCG in a Saskatchewan beef herd reduced pregnancy rates by 16 to 62 per cent. Sask Pork will have input from the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and the research will be conducted by a team of scientists at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
  This investment is made through the Industry-led Research and Development stream of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698-million program.
  “Our government recognizes the importance of the swine and beef sectors to the Canadian economy. This investment will help enhance the competitiveness of both these industries by expanding diagnostic and control tools available to producers,” said Brad Trost, member of parliament.
  “Brachyspira hampsonii is an emerging swine disease in western Canada which needs to be better understood and controlled because it is very hard to eliminate from a herd when infected. BCG also has the potential to seriously reduce the calf crop in the important western cattle herd, so we welcome the AgriInnovation Program funding to develop products to control these serious threats,” said Florian Possberg, Sask Pork chairman.

Project provides real-world information on loose sow housing

Hog producers will benefit from research on switching from gestation stalls to loose sow housing as a result of a pilot project underway on a Maple Leaf Foods barn near Steinbach, Canadian Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced.
The $1.2 million project received $790,000 from the federal and provincial governments and is the largest complete barn conversion in Manitoba. Funding was used to:


• Remove gestation stalls and replace them with a design that allows sows to move freely throughout the barn;
• Purchase and install new feeding systems that use radio frequency identification tags to ensure each sow receives the appropriate nutrition; and
• Train employees on the new systems and how to train the sows to use the feeders.
"These are the first scale conversions to open sow housing in Canada and our priority was to complete them in a manner that enhanced animal welfare and maintained a safe work environment,” said Lynda Kuhn, senior vice president of sustainability and public affairs at Mapl Leaf Foods. “We are very pleased with the outcome, including maintenance of high safety standards for our people, and better access to feed, more freedom to move and minimal aggression among animals. The support of the federal and Manitoba governments was pivotal to these projects and we are sharing what we've learned to assist the broader industry."
The 1,250-head barn conversion was completed last winter. As part of the funding agreement, research gathered from this barn conversion will be shared through factsheets, seminars and workshops with other Manitoba producers over the next two to five years. They will provide real-world data on barn design, equipment needs, animal nutrition and care, and employee training requirements. The 1,250-head barn conversion was completed last winter.
Manitoba uses the standards set under national codes of practice to enforce provincial legislation related to animal care and welfare. Earlier in 2014, the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs, a standard developed by the National Farm Animal Care Council, was updated. As a result, all hog barns built in Manitoba after July 1, 2014 must use loose housing models. There are stricter standards for existing barns, which must phase out gestation stalls by July 1, 2024. The code also set out standards related to animal health, husbandry and transportation. Development of the code followed national public consultations that resulted in 4,700 submissions from producers, processors, veterinarians and animal welfare advocates.
This project is funded under Growing Forward 2 - Growing Assurance. In Manitoba, the federal and provincial governments are investing $176 million under Growing Forward 2, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial policy framework to advance the agriculture industry, helping producers and processors become more innovative and competitive in world markets.
"The Canadian pork industry is a major economic driver. This project will assist in developing and adopting new tools and strategies for the sector to remain competitive and sustainable, and provide more opportunities for producers to prosper," said Ritz.
"This project will give producers a better understanding of loose housing and some real-world knowledge on how to make their own successful transition. Manitoba's pork producers continue to put a top priority on animal care and herd health.  Moving forward, the results of this project will be important for the sustainable future of the industry,” added Kostyshyn.
Karl Kynoch, Chair of the Manitoba Pork Council applauds the effort and says Manitoba Pork has been actively encouraging producers to look at alternative housing systems.

Canadian mayor says take politics out of hog industry expansion

• 

  Roy Graber

  Decisions on hog industry expansion in Manitoba should be based on science, not politics, the mayor of Brandon says.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Future hog industry expansion in Manitoba should be based on science instead of politics, said the mayor of the province’s second largest city.
  As the result of regulations imposed by the provincial government in 2011 aimed at improving the water quality of Lake Winnipeg, including a moratorium on new hog barn construction, the number of hogs produced in Manitoba has fallen steadily, impacting the ability of the province's pork processors to access the volumes of hogs needed to maintain capacity.
  Rick Crest, the recently elected mayor of Brandon, Manitoba, said since his election he has discussed the situation with representatives of Manitoba Pork Council and plans to meet with representatives of the pork industry and the provincial government. Crest said he believes everyone needs to work together to work out a solution.
  “My view is these things should probably be less about politics, if you will, and more about science,” said Crest. “I would certainly be more in favor of turning the matter over to the recommendations of the scientists if you want to call them that to figure out, here are the numbers that we need to meet with respect to either effluent or manure disposal, any of the side effects if you want to call it that and let's then puzzle out between those big brains the best way to achieve that. If we can meet the science then I don't see a reason why it can't proceed and take some of the emotion and politics out of it.”
  Crest said he would be willing to be involved in any discussions and any efforts that may be needed to help the process.

Alberta Pork: Prices moderated just in time to save industry

• 

  Andrea Gantz

  Live hog prices turned around just in time to avoid disaster in the pork industry, said Frank Novak, chair of Alberta Pork.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The turnaround in live hog prices came just in time to avert a disaster within the Canadian pork industry, said Frank Novak, chairman of Alberta Pork.
  "Our industry has finally seen a better year in 2014 than what we've had for several years before and so we hope that some of the drivers of that better return year will stick around for a while,” said Novak.
  Novak said he believes there are opportunities for Canada’s pork industry in terms of international markets and demand, and those opportunities should help carry the Canadian market. Among the opportunities are the South Korean trade agreement and an agreement with the European Union. However, Novak cautions that the Canadian pork industry will not likely fully see the benefits of those trade agreements for several years.
  

  He also noted that the pork industry will be seeing better days because feed prices have become more normalized. “While I don’t think it’ll ever return to the really old days of super cheap grain, it’s certainly much easier to feed our animals now than it was two years ago. I think if it had come any later, it would have been disastrous for our industry,” said Novak.

Canada, EU trade agreement secures free access for pork products

Canadian Pork producers are welcoming the conclusion of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations. Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European commission President José Manuel Barroso on September 26 signed a declaration marking the end of negotiations in Ottawa.
This agreement will secure free access for processed pork products on the day this new agreement takes effect and Canada will acquire a quota volume equivalent to 80 thousand metric tons of pork cuts. Canada’s pork industry exports two-thirds of its production. The diversification in export marketing opportunities is crucial to maintaining this important industry.
“The Canadian and EU markets for pork complement each other and this relationship holds great potential to enhance the sector’s export opportunities, as well as benefit workers, businesses and families who rely on the pork sector for their livelihood,” the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) said in a statement. “The Canadian pork industry urges Canada and the EU to work toward an aggressive timetable to bring the agreement info force.”
Current exports of pork cuts to the EU are virtually non-existent. According to the CPC, this is not because Canadian pork prices are uncompetitive, but instead is due to tariff and non-tariff barriers to entry into the EU market which CETA will now address. CETA will provide the Canadian pork sector meaningful access to the EU market and an estimated economic return far greater than the projected export value when factoring in the additional economic development stimulated by the increased feed grain production, meat processing and distribution activities generated by these new sales of Canadian pork.

Canada hog inventory up 1 percent; US inventory down 5 percent

The United States and Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs for June 2014 was 75.1 million head, a 4 percent decline from June 2013 and a 5 percent drop from June 2012. The aggregate change was figured with a 5 percent drop in the U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs, and a 1 percent increase in the Canadian inventory.
The estimates were released in the United States and Canadian Hogs report, a joint effort between the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Statistics Canada.
Canadian hog and pig numbers up but pig crop down
A total of 12.9 million head of hogs and pigs were reported in Canada as of July 1, a 1 percent increase from the same date in 2013 and a 2 percent increase from July 1, 2012. The breeding inventory, at 1.22 million head, was up 1 percent from 2013 and up 2 percent from 2012. The market hog inventory, at 11.7 million head, was up 1 percent from 2013 and up 3 percent from 2012.
Despite those inventory increases, the semi-annual pig crop was down 3 percent year-over-year, at 11.7 million head. That reflected a 5 percent drop when compared to the crop of the six-month period in 2012. The number of sows farrowing during this time period was also down at 1.26 million head, a 2 percent annual drop and a 3 percent drop from 2012.
U.S. hog and pig numbers down across the board
The June inventory of all U.S. hogs and pigs was 62.1 million head, a 5 percent drop from the same period in 2013 and a 1 percent drop from the number of hogs and pigs on March 1. The breeding inventory was down slightly from the previous year, although it has recovered slightly since March.
The U.S. market hog inventory, at 56.3 million head, was down 5 percent on a year-over-year basis, and also down 1 percent from the previous quarter.
The U.S. pig crop, at 27.4 million head, is down 5 percent from 2013 and down 8 percent from 2012. Sows farrowed during this period totaled 2.8 million head, down slightly from 2013 and down 5 percent from 2012.

Canada ag minister: COOL hurting US, Canada swine industries

Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has stressed the importance of ending the discrimination against Canadian hogs and cattle under mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and emphasized the growing recognition that COOL is harming farmers and industry in the U.S. and Canada alike. Speaking to the U.S.’s National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Ritz stressed that should Canada prevail in the compliance proceedings as anticipated, its government will seek authorization from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports.
While in meeting with the NCBA in Denver, Ritz took the opportunity to meet with key U.S. meat stakeholders, business and government leaders to discuss next steps for advocating against COOL in the coming months.
“With the full support and active engagement of Canadian and U.S. industry, our government will continue to fight against this protectionist policy which is hurting producers and consumers alike. We will continue to use whatever tools necessary to achieve a fair resolution of this issue so that our livestock sectors on both sides of the border can realize their true economic potential,” said Ritz.
COOL continues to significantly disrupt the North American supply chain, Ritz said, creating unpredictability in the market and imposed additional costs on producers on both sides of the border.
Following Canada’s successful challenges of COOL at the WTO in 2011 and 2012, a WTO compliance panel was established on September 25, 2013, to determine whether the U.S. has brought COOL into conformity.

PEDv fund established to protect Saskatchewan hog industry

A $400,000 contingency fund has been established to help Saskatchewan’s hog industry respond to potential cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of PED virus in Saskatchewan hogs.
Canadian Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart have committed $200,000 in government funding, to be matched by Sask Pork, for the PED virus contingency fund. 
"Vigilance towards PED is key to reducing its impact on the Canadian agricultural sector and the economy as a whole," Ritz said. "This investment will help the Saskatchewan pork industry take proactive measures to stay in front of this disease."
Governments and industry will provide a total of $400,000 to offset costs related to disease containment strategies, welfare issues, enhanced marketing efforts and mortality management should PED virus be discovered in Saskatchewan.
"This is a very serious issue and I am pleased to partner with the federal government and industry to further enhancing on-farm biosecurity measures," Stewart said. "This funding will enable producers to work with their local veterinarian and marketing agencies to contain PED, locate alternate markets for PED-positive pigs and ultimately minimize the spread of the disease in Saskatchewan."
The province already offers the Biosecurity Program which provides $150,000 in funding to Saskatchewan producers for improved biosecurity efforts with $300 for an onsite veterinary assessment and $1,000 for on-site changes to enhance biosecurity. Trucking companies are eligible for $500 to complete a biosecurity audit of their wash facility.
The province has also committed $90,000 in funding for the surveillance of PED virus at high-risk sites including assembly yards, abattoirs, renderers and truck facilities.
"The swine industry and ministry staff have been working proactively to prevent this from becoming an issue in Saskatchewan and Canada by educating pork producers on effective biosecurity practices," Sask Pork General Manager Neil Ketilson said. "We are pleased to see government stepping up to match the funding that our organization will provide."
The provincial government has also made PED virus a notifiable disease in Saskatchewan, requiring laboratories to report the disease to the office of the Chief Veterinary Officer within 24 hours.
Saskatchewan currently has 119 active producers raising 91,900 sows and produces about 2.2 million market hogs.

Contaminated feed blamed as likely cause of PED virus in Ontario

Contaminated feed has been shown to be the most likely cause of the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus outbreak in Ontario, said Dr. Chris Byra, manager of the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network. The virus has spread to more than 40 farms in the Canadian province, since the confirmation of PED virus in Ontario in January.
Speaking at Manitoba Pork's 2014 annual general meeting, Byra said there is very strong evidence of a link between contaminated feed and PED virus. The farms that became infected were linked by a single source of feed and a single batch of plasma, Byra said, adding that the biosecurity on some of these farms was very good and there were no other links to PED virus.
“What really kind of sealed it from an epidemiological point of view was finding a positive case … which had absolutely no link with Ontario at all but had purchased feed from that batch from the same supplier,” said Byra. “The overwhelming epidemiological evidence already confirms that feed was a high risk.”

Confirmed PED virus cases in Canada total 37

The Manitoba Pork Council (MPC) has reported 37 confirmed cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus in Canada in a report published Wednesday.
The following are confirmed PED virus outbreaks:

• Manitoba: one confirmed case
• Quebec: one confirmed case
• Prince Edward Island: one confirmed case
• Ontario: 34 confirmed cases
The three latest outbreaks, identified in Ontario in Huron, Perth and an unidentified county, were announced on March 17. Sampling has been ongoing at assembly yards, trucking yards and processing plants since January 25, reports the MPC. Some positive samples have been found; many negative samples have been found.
On Feb. 3, the Manitoba government and the MPC launched a rapid-detection monitoring program for the PED virus where facilities that move or handle large numbers of pigs can determine if they have been exposed.
Canada's first positive PED virus case was confirmed in Manitoba on January 22, 2014. The PED virus was diagnosed in the US in May 2013, and has since spread to 23 states. The virus has killed between 1 million and 4 million pigs in the U.S. since April 2013. The PED virus is already established in Europe and more recently in Asia.

Maple Leaf Foods proactively working to keep PEDv away

With porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) now affecting pig herds in Canada, Maple Leaf Foods has stepped up its efforts to assure that the Canadian meat and food processor's pig operations remain free of the virus. Michael H. McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, said the company has initiated "extensive" precautions.
"We have built something of a fortress around all of our facilities," McCain said February 27 during a quarterly call with shareholders. The company has done everything from restricting access to the operations, restricting truck movements and offering multiple training and awareness programs, he said.
"There's a laundry list of hundreds of different restrictive actions that we've taken in our hog production operations, and we are trying to do our level best to try to remain PEDv-free," said McCain. "We're doing everything I think humanly possible, we review it on a very regular basis."
However, McCain also cautioned that even the best operators and most biosecure operators in geographic regions where there has been a presence of PEDv have not been fully immune to the effects of PEDv, despite efforts to keep it away.
McCain also adds that Canada has done a pretty good job containing PEDv, since it was first confirmed in the country in January. PEDv has the potential to have a 100 percent mortality rate in piglets and there is no known cure.

No link found between blood plasma in feed, Canada PEDv cases

Scientific testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) cannot confirm a link between feed containing blood plasma and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) cases in Canada.
As reported in February, the CFIA conducted a bioassay study on U.S.-origin porcine blood plasma used in feed pellets produced by Grand Valley Fortifiers.
The study demonstrated that the porcine blood plasma in question contained PEDv virus capable of causing disease in pigs. However, the study could not demonstrate that the feed pellets containing the blood plasma were capable of causing disease.
The CFIA will continue to analyze feed and feed ingredients, as well as epidemiological information gathered during the investigation, in order to verify that CFIA controls continue to protect Canadian livestock. In addition, the CFIA will examine any new lines of enquiry related to feed that may emerge, in particular from ongoing testing in Canada and the U.S.
In response to the positive test results in porcine blood plasma, the CFIA:

• Activated its National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to coordinate the feed investigation
• Followed up with farms that received the affected feed to confirm the voluntary withdrawal was effective
• Provided science-based guidance on disposing of potentially affected feed
• Worked closely with U.S. officials to confirm that none of the affected plasma was shipped to other pig feed manufacturers in Canada
• Led ongoing briefings with provincial and territorial Chief Veterinary Officers and key industry stakeholders
The CFIA's investigation also included sampling and testing of feed, plasma and other feed ingredients from various Canadian and U.S. sources associated with farms in Canada on which PEDv has been detected. All test results on these samples were negative for PEDv.