An idea from a southern Manitoba hog operation’s veterinarian was named winner of the 2022 F. X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production at the Banff Pork Congress earlier this year. Veterinarian Jewel White and her teammates Ronald Nayre and Jim Kehler of Maple Leaf Agri-Farms in Landmark, Man. were recognized with the award after […] Read more
An idea for keeping hogs forward in a stall
A simple device that helps keep pigs in position when collecting blood samples
Are farmers ready for swine fever?
Don’t underestimate how serious it could be if this disease reaches Canada
A joint government and industry organization challenged with protecting the health and welfare of animals is urging Canadian hog producers to be on guard to prevent and if necessary, manage an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). A representative of Animal Health Canada (AHC) — a not-for-profit organization which is funded jointly by federal, provincial […] Read more
The new normal in livestock feed biosecurity
Disease risk in imported feeds needs to be taken seriously
New research is showing that animal feed can carry major animal disease including African Swine Fever (ASF), says Scott Dee, veterinarian and director of applied research for Minnesota-based Pipestone Veterinary Services. In a presentation to hog producers at the Banff Pork Seminar earlier this winter, Dee gave an update on a rapidly changing world of […] Read more
VIDO leading the way on vaccines
A new manufacturing facility is expected to open in 2022
At a time when the entire world has never been more focused on vaccine development, one of Canada’s leading researchers in the field had some positive words for delegates to the 2021 Banff Pork Seminar (BPS) earlier this winter. During a virtual conference presentation, Volker Gerdts, the director and CEO of the Vaccine and Infectious […] Read more
Power washer safety bracelet wins pork award
Martin Gosselin of Saint-Isidore, Que. has won this year’s F X Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production with a simple device that improves safety while using a wand washer. The award was presented at the 2021 Banff Pork Seminar by Ben Willing, a University of Alberta professor and chair of the awards committee. Gosselin, who […] Read more
Pandemic rewriting food fundamentals
Expert urges farmers to get in on direct-marketing wave
He’s known as the “food professor,” an educator in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and senior director of the university’s innovative Agri-Food Analytics Lab. Sylvain Charlebois spends his days on “predictive analytics,” looking at the future of food. Many will know him from frequent mainstream media appearances. He is also […] Read more
Be ready for the protesters
Hopefully a group never shows up at your farm gate, but if they do....
The past year has brought several examples of activists trespassing on Canadian farms to create media exposure around farming practices. They’re expected to continue. As president of Ag & Food Exchange Ltd., Geraldine Auston, based in Surrey, B.C. provides an industry advisory service to help farmers, truckers and agri-businesses handle pressure from special-interest groups. Earlier […] Read more
Automatic system for tattooing hogs
The job can be done properly without manpower
Here’s an idea that puts less stress on animals and the people handling them. And it automates tattooing, a job that normally requires hard work for people. The Tattoo Master designed by Daniel and Justin Maendel of Rosebank Colony in Miami, Man. is a shared winner of the 2019 F.X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork […] Read more
Homemade safe creep idea protects piglets
A simple solution made with simple materials
As loose housing becomes standard practice across gestation facilities, it is only a matter of time until the market will demand loose-housed farrowing sows with litters. That’s the opinion of Brett, Jamie and Carl Israel of Carl Israel Farms Ltd. in Mapleton Township, Ont., one of two winners who shared the 2019 F.X. Aherne Prize […] Read more
Great ideas for lifting hogs recognized
Two different lift systems reduce stress for people and animals
The 2016 F. X. Aherne award for Innovative Pork Production is being shared by two winners. Sam Gelowitz of the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatoon, Sask. received the award for an innovative carcass-removal cart, while Steve’s Livestock Transport of Manitoba received the prize for a new hydraulic lift deck trailer. The awards were presented at […] Read more
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