Are we there yet? Every parent has heard that phrase coming from the backseat. Now, as adults, we are asking that question relative to the pandemic. The end date is unknown, but what can we expect the Ontario livestock sector to look like post-COVID? I heard once that “life can only be understood backward; but […] Read more
Tag Archives pigs — page 8
Comment: Are livestock industries prepared for life after COVID?
Labour, consumer trends, accountability and cross-sector co-operation have to be managed
Group sow housing deadline could be pushed back
The National Farm Animal Council has recommended a new 2029 deadline
Glacier FarmMedia – Pig producers in Canada may have another nine years to convert their barns to group sow housing. A report from the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) on the codes of practice for raising pigs in Canada has recommended pushing back the deadline from 2024 to 2029. A five-year review of the […] Read more
Hog producers look for swine fever investment
Arrival of African swine fever would be devastating to the Canadian sector
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada’s hog producers are calling on the federal government to invest $50 million over three years to combat African swine fever. In an open letter released Sept. 11, the chair of the Canadian Pork Council Rick Bergmann spells out the impact an outbreak of the disease would have on the industry. The […] Read more
China’s hog herd recovery forecast questioned
Inventory levels aren’t expected to reach pre-ASF levels this year, and sow herd quality is likely to be lower than before
Glacier FarmMedia – Claims from China that hog production in that country will recover by next year to pre-2018 levels do not pass the smell test, says economic analyst Brett Stuart of Global AgriTrends. African swine fever forced the culling of an estimated 60 per cent of the Chinese herd after an outbreak began there […] Read more
Hog manure treatment could limit need for manure pits
Canadian technology separates manure into water, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus
Solugen, a Quebec-based company, is testing a manure separation technology on a hog farm. Widespread implementation of the technology could limit the need for manure pits. The technology was invented to assist in the treatment of liquid residual materials to help simplify wastewater management while enhancing the value of contaminants. It didn’t take long for […] Read more
COVID-19 forces Tyson to shutter two major U.S. pork plants
UPDATED — Reuters — Tyson Foods is shuttering two pork processing plants, including its largest in the United States, to contain the spread of the coronavirus, further tightening meat supplies after other major slaughterhouse shutdowns. The closures are limiting the amount of meat the U.S. can produce during the outbreak and adding stress on farmers […] Read more
China announces step forward on African swine fever vaccine
The pork sector has welcomed news that a viable ASF vaccine might be in the works out of China, but it’s early days yet
Glacier FarmMedia – The world may be one step closer to a workable vaccine for African swine fever (ASF), but one expert warns that a local debut is a long way off — if the vaccine makes it to Canada at all. According to a research article, recently published in a Chinese science journal, researchers […] Read more
Paradise lost looms for German farmers as swine fever nears
As swine fever is found in wild boar in Poland, many worry infected animals will cross the border
Reuters – The German state of Brandenburg has erected about 120 kilometres of electric fencing to prevent wild boars infected with African swine fever (ASF) from straying across the border from Poland and infecting its pig herd. Hans-Christian Daniels doesn’t think the barrier will work. “It looks rather inevitable that swine fever will come,” said […] Read more
China encourages firms to raise pigs overseas
Officials aim to plug domestic pork shortage
Beijing | Reuters — China said Monday it is encouraging companies to build pig farms overseas to plug a severe domestic pork shortage after a worse-than-ever African swine fever slashed almost half of its pig herd. China has urged local authorities to support qualified domestic firms to “go out,” and build hog farming bases in […] Read more
U.S. says it would ban pig shipments if swine fever detected
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday it will prohibit shipments of all pigs for at least three days if the nation ever finds a case of a fatal hog disease that has ravaged China’s herd. The federal government is preparing to contain and eradicate African swine fever if it spreads […] Read more
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