Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Office has completed its investigation of a hog barn in the province’s south-central region where 1,300 young pigs were euthanized last fall. “The investigation has concluded and the file has been referred to the Crown prosecutor to determine if charges should be laid,” said a spokeswoman with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural […] Read more
Manitoba prosecutors to review 2012 hog barn case
Flood mitigation pledged on Lake Manitoba
The Manitoba government has committed $250 million to the building of two permanent outlet channels to prevent future flooding on Lake Manitoba. Premier Greg Selinger made the announcement in Winnipeg on Wednesday, indicating construction could begin within three years. “We’re going to do all the studies, get the ball rolling on this,” said Selinger. “It’s […] Read more
Manitoba shuns proposal for hog farm stabilization
Manitoba’s provincial government will not back a hog stabilization program proposed by the Manitoba Pork Council. “We’re very disappointed by the decision,” said council chairman Karl Kynoch, who anticipates more producers will exit the pork industry as a result. “The only good thing is that now producers know that they are on their own and […] Read more
Pork sector reeling as hidden-camera footage goes national
Video shot at a farm in Manitoba’s Interlake region by an undercover animal rights activist unfairly depicts animal care practices in the province, farm groups say. Featured on CTV’s newsmagazine program W5, the grainy footage shows sows in gestation stalls, castration, tail docking, a cull sow being repeatedly shot with a captive bolt and piglets […] Read more
Maple Leaf Puratone offer sends message of stability to lenders
Maple Leaf Food’s agreement to purchase the Niverville-based Puratone Corporation is good news for Manitoba hog producers, according to the Manitoba Pork Council. "We’re happy to see that a Canadian company has purchased Puratone," said council chairman, Karl Kynoch. "We want to see plants here that can compete with their American counterparts." With two of […] Read more
Maple Leaf examines options after Olymel eyes Big Sky
Maple Leaf Foods is examining its options after competitor Olymel placed a "stalking horse" bid on Big Sky Farms of Saskatchewan. Big Sky is a supplier for Maple Leaf’s Brandon facility, but went into receivership earlier this fall. "We don’t expect any short-term impact on our hog supply and we have several contingency plans in […] Read more
Province offered aid before pigs shot at Manitoba barn
An west-central Manitoba hog producer is said to have turned down assistance from the provincial agriculture ministry in the lead-up to the eventual euthanizing of 1,300 young hogs. "We had discussed options with this producer about other steps he could have taken," Dr. Wayne Lees, Manitoba’s chief veterinarian, said of the situation at the farm […] Read more
Man. workers’ shooting of pigs in ‘distress’ questioned
Manitoba provincial workers took a full day to shoot 1,300 hogs in a barn that is now under investigation for inhumane treatment of its animals, according to a former employee who claims to have witnessed the event. The weanlings were shot using 22-calibre rifles and some were shot "three or four times" before dying, said […] Read more
Staples Canada picks up straw-based paper
Manitoba farmers could see a lucrative new market for straw emerge, as the province moves closer to becoming the site of North America’s first pulp and paper mill using straw. Prairie Pulp + Paper Inc. launched a new printer paper containing 80 per cent straw this summer, and if the product is a hit with […] Read more
Hundreds of weanling hogs euthanized at W. Man. farm
Provincial officials are investigating a suspected case of animal abuse after 1,300 piglets found in a state of "severe distress" were euthanized at a hog production facility in west-central Manitoba late last week. The provincial chief veterinarian’s office (CVO) responded to a call reporting the inappropriate treatment of hogs on the farm Aug. 24, a […] Read more
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