Piglets love milk. That’s a good thing, as the sow’s milk is vital for growth. No surprise, then, that ensuring a proper supply is a key focus of producers and scientists.

The Centre has evolved into one of Canada’s premier swine research facilities, delivering practical, industry-focused research that strengthens the financial position of pork producers while advancing animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

Canadian pork producers operate in one of the most complex animal health environments the industry has ever seen.

Most of what a veterinarian does on a hog barn visit happens quietly. A recent global survey suggests that’s exactly the problem.

They may not raid the fridge when they’re hungry, but underfed pigs CAN freeze your income.

Volatile feed prices, animal health pressures, labour challenges, and increasing sustainability expectations mean that even small management decisions can have a big impact on profitability.

While productivity and technology have improved, finding and retaining skilled labour remains one of the industry’s greatest challenges.

Online, “going viral” is the goal, but on farm, it’s as welcome as the flu. Intruders like Senecavirus A (SVA) harm production, profits and sustainability.

How do our sow mortality rates compare, what are the benchmarks, and what does the data actually say for Canadian herds?

As pigs grow, losses carry a greater financial impact, eliminating value already invested through genetics, feed, labour, and facilities.

This technology provides rapid, non-destructive analysis of feed ingredients, giving us the ability to understand the nutritional composition of raw materials in real time.

Viruses like PRRS and PCV2 spread worldwide within months, and recently we’ve seen the return of pathogens previously eradicated!

Across the industry, litters have continued to grow, and the number of quality weaned pigs has followed. Yet a critical challenge persists: Preweaning mortality is not improving at the pace producers need.

Since at least the 1960s, porcine ear necrosis (PEN) – also known as ear-tip necrosis – has puzzled veterinarians and producers worldwide.

An experimental pain-relieving drug delivery method for farm animals using microneedle patches may not have delivered an effective dose, but it took a pivotal step that offers new leads for innovation.

Manure is arguably one of agriculture’s most under-appreciated resources. Far from being just a waste product, it carries significant nutrient and economic value when managed well.

Key factors such as health, nutrition, environment, management, and genetics significantly impact a sow’s longevity.

Water, depending on its physical, chemical, and bacteriological characteristics, can be an ally or a threat.

The University of Guelph will lead the construction and revitalization of critical agri-food research capacity, powered by a $41-million investment in ARIO research infrastructure from the Government of Ontario.

They say “what you don’t know can’t hurt you,” but they also say “knowledge is power.” For the pork sector, the latter is true.

This new online hub was developed by Invasives Canada and Animal Health Canada in collaboration with the Invasive Wild Pig Leadership Group.

Inhaling agricultural dust may pose significant risks to gut health for workers in animal agriculture, a University of California, Riverside, study has found.

These plant-derived feed additives are becoming increasingly popular, with an ever-expanding range of products on the market.

While AI might equate with insemination on many pig farms, it’s the ‘other AI’ that is birthing a new era for ag.

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic seemingly everywhere at the moment.

A Canada Post strike appears to be looming once again.

We live in an age in which technology and access to mass amounts of data are central to our lives.

Hockey, beer and quality pork. Aside from being the perfect first date, they all scream “Canada.”

Tariffs and trade wars with the United States are an ongoing and pressing topic of conversation.

It is important to have a proper light plan (intensity and photoperiod) for the needs of each production phase.

As summer temperatures arrive earlier and stay warmer for longer, heat stress is becoming a recurring challenge on pig farms across Canada.

During the 2025 Banff Pork Seminar in January, Dr. Yolande Seddon was again named the University of Saskatchewan’s research chair in swine welfare.

The interest in the possibilities offered by gene editing is growing – in both human medicine and in the livestock world.

There have been a handful of stories in recent months on Canadian pork and its presence in Asia.

Animal welfare is defined as “the physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in which it lives and dies.”

Modern swine production demands precision in feeding high-prolific sows to ensure both longevity and optimal performance.

They may not bring an apple for the teacher anymore, but education is still a core value for producers.

The good news is that manure storage is a prime opportunity for emissions reduction that can be achieved in the short term.

On Oct. 16, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a food recall warning for Wagener’s brand ham in jelly due to listeria.

Today, science is tasked with making pork production faster, easier, cheaper and greener – so, no pressure!

Maple Leaf Foods announced in July that it would spin off its pork business into a separate independent company.

There are many big issues facing the livestock industry, from climate change and emerging diseases to changing societal expectations and an evolving regulatory environment.

As the world’s population grows, there is an increasing need to produce more food.

Even for the savvy, well-rounded producer, it can be tough to keep up.

The rule change will come into effect in 2026, but in the meantime, pork producers on both sides of the border have expressed concerns.

Animal breeding literature supports this decision, from historical selection experiments illustrating that increases in total born do not necessarily increase the number weaned.

Protein and fibre are two of the key nutrients that swine nutritionists consider when designing diets.

Since spreading from Europe and Asia to North America, wild pigs have been wreaking havoc across Canada. While the problem is a source of pain for farmers, the nationwide response should be a source of pride.

Over three decades ago, Dr. Anne Deckert first started working at the Ontario Veterinary College as a summer student for Dr. Bob Friendship.

In Canada, the warm summer months increase the ambient temperature inside pig barns. When the ambient temperature within pig barns rises above 25 C, pigs will start to experience heat stress.