Behind the Lines - February 2013

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Canada's pork industry has taken some major hits over the last few years; many of which have been chronicled in the pages of this magazine. Political and economic changes aside, the basis of pork production is largely how to use technology to produce pork as efficiently and competitively as possible. This month's cover story, by Don Stoneman, outlines some of those new technologies that may be "game changers" in the long-term efforts to keep pork producers here competitive.

It's worth noting that the first funding period for the Canadian Swine Research and Development Cluster funding, which began in 2010, ends on March 31 of this year. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada earmarked up to $9.58 million to be spent on pork research during this first phase. A second funding period begins on April 1 and runs to 2018.

The fact that this largely federal money is available points to the direction the federal government feels the pork industry should be going. Perhaps less clear is the direction of sow management. As the Canadian industry reacts to a campaign against sow stalls that now includes a television advertising campaign, Norman Dunn reports on the industry's response in Europe to an anticipated ban on farrowing crates. His column begins on page 26.

And still on the topic of sow management, nutrition writer Janice Murphy examines Danish research focused on the role feed composition and high-fibre rations specifically play in sow behaviour and eating motivation. Janice's regular nutrition column begins on page 23. BP


ROBERT IRWIN