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Better Pork Featured Articles

Better Pork magazine is published bimonthly. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


A long ride is less stressful

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Shorter truck trips are more stressful to market hogs than longer truck rides, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Animal Science.

The reason? Pigs need time to recover from the stress of loading before they get stressed again when they disembark, says Prof. Michael Ellis, at the University of Illinois's Urbana-Champaign campus.

Another stress factor is floor space. Overcrowding is stressful, but pigs that have too much space are thrown around as the livestock truck moves. University researchers found that U.S. market pigs on average require five square feet each.

Co-author of the study with Ellis was Bradley Wolter, chief operating officer of the Maschhoffs packing company in Carlyle, Ill. Wolter says working with Ellis allowed the company to reduce pig losses due to transportation and handling by more than one percentage point in a system that was already well managed and where less than half a per cent of pigs died because of movement and handling. BP

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Nortera Green Giant Deal Called Off

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

The Competition Bureau of Canada has welcomed the decision by Nortera and B&G Foods Canada to abandon a proposed acquisition involving well-known vegetable brands sold across the country. The announcement came after the Bureau conducted an investigation and concluded that the transaction... Read this article online

B.C. ag promises – NDP and BC Greens

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

With just over two weeks before British Columbians head to the polls in the Oct. 24 provincial election, political parties are unveiling their plans for the province including its ag and food sectors. Farms.com will be highlighting those promises as they become available to provide B.C.... Read this article online

RCMP reminding farmers to protect fuel

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Olds RCMP is reminding farmers and rural property owners to protect their fuel supplies during this harvest season. “During busy periods such as planting and harvest, equipment and fuel may be left unattended in fields or other remote locations.These areas can be more difficult to monitor... Read this article online

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