Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Pork Featured Articles

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


Behind the Lines - December 2013

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Pork producers are as good with numbers as any group in agriculture, but a growing number of scientists are arguing that the commonly used parameters that point towards an operation's financial success aren't taking into account a growing concern – lameness in sows.

Lameness may make sows less likely to eat and thus keep up their body condition during gestation. "Maybe their lameness predisposed them to losing weight and body condition," and therefore reproductive failure and culling, postulates University of Manitoba professor Laurie Connor. "It's all linked together."

Lameness is being addressed by scientists worldwide, but a big part of the most recent publishable scientific research was developed here in Canada, funded partly by research dollars contributed by producers via the Canadian Pork Council. This issue's cover story on lameness, by senior staff editor Don Stoneman, begins on page 6.

Disease transmission is always a concern to producers, who are paying particular attention to porcine epidemic diarrhea south of the border. But other diseases are transmitted from sow to piglets. Our Herd Health writer, veterinarian Ernest Sanford, focuses on these threats starting on page 30.

Still on the subject of sows and piglets, on page 23 our nutrition writer Janice Murphy describes how direct-fed microbials in sow diets can improve piglet health. BP

ROBERT IRWIN

Current Issue

April 2025

Better Pork Magazine

Farms.com Swine News

Sheep farmers win Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Sheep farmers and wool producers from Wallenstein, Ont. are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers in the industry with an award like that,” Ryan Schill told Farms.com. “When we started the sheep farm, there were people questioning us... Read this article online

Canadians elect Liberal government

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Canadians made their voices heard on April 28 and elected a Liberal government. Prime minister-designate Mark Carney’s party won 168 seats as of Tuesday morning,Elections Canada says. A party needs 172 seats to earn a majority government. The Liberals could hit that threshmark... Read this article online

Support IPM With a Bench Sponsorship

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

The International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM) Local Committee has launched the Bench Sponsorship Project for the upcoming 2025 event in West Niagara. This initiative invites individuals and businesses to sponsor commemorative benches for $500 each, helping enhance the visitor... Read this article online

Markets calm as trade war tensions ease with China

Monday, April 28, 2025

This week, global markets have shown signs of calming down as trade tensions between the US and China appear to ease. The US dollar strengthened, while gold prices fell, signaling potential weakening in the gold rally. These topics and many more were discussed in the Ag Commodity Corner+... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top