Photo: Geralyn Wichers

China wants slimmer pigs

Chinese government cracking down on speculative “refattening” practice

Chinese farmers and small firms have increasingly bought market-ready pigs from larger breeders and fattened them in a bet on higher prices, but the government is cracking down on the speculative practice to slim down hogs and stabilize the market.





(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

PigTrace tag prices go up Dec. 15

Program costs 'unsustainable' without price increase

One of the prices producers pay for hog traceability will be going up 10 per cent. The Manitoba Pork Council said in a notice to producers Wednesday that the Canadian Pork Council will apply a 10 per cent increase to the prices of PigTrace ear tags and accessories, effective Dec. 15. Table: PigTrace ear tag […] Read more

(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Anti-ASF funds designated for Manitoba Pork

Three initiatives will be funded through the federal African swine fever preparedness program

The Manitoba Pork Council’s efforts against African swine fever now have almost $1 million in extra financial padding. On Aug. 3, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced $944,340 in funding for Manitoba’s hog farm group. Funds were provided through AAFC’s African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program and were slotted for three initiatives: Squeal on Pigs, increased […] Read more


(Songqiuju/iStock/Getty Images)

Vietnam approves commercial use of first African swine fever vaccines

U.S. Agriculture Secretary says farmers may purchase as precaution despite no domestic cases

Hanoi | Reuters – Vietnam has approved the domestic commercial use of two home-grown vaccines against African swine fever, the government said on Monday, making them the world’s first commercial vaccines against the deadly disease. The vaccines include NAVET-ASFVAC, co-developed by Navetco Central Veterinary Medicine and scientists from the United States, and AVAC ASF LIVE […] Read more

The Back Spacer helps keep the animal forward

An idea for keeping hogs forward in a stall

A simple device that helps keep pigs in position when collecting blood samples

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


“The biggest thing you can do as a producer on your farm is to be ready with your own emergency response plan and include ASF in that plan,” Christa Arsenault, AHC co-ordinator.

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

A view of the pig heart used in the transplant, before its removal from the pig, on Jan. 7, 2022. (Medschool.umaryland.edu)

Maryland man recovering after ‘breakthrough’ pig-heart transplant

Hog's genes edited to reduce rejection risk

Chicago | Reuters — A U.S. man with terminal heart disease was implanted with a genetically modified pig heart in a first-of-its-kind surgery, and three days later the patient is doing well, his doctors reported on Monday. The surgery, performed by a team at the University of Maryland Medicine, is among the first to demonstrate […] Read more