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.


Ontario Pork Industry Council recognizes volunteer's PRRS eradication efforts

Monday, April 15, 2013

by DIANNE FETTERLY

While she may have been surprised at being named winner of the 2013 Ontario Pork Industry Council volunteer of the year award, this year’s recipient says the honor has made her even more determined to continue the fight against a deadly swine disease.

Karen Sanders, who along with her husband Steve, operates a 1,200-sow farrow-to-finish farm in southwestern Ontario received the award for her work in spearheading a Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) area regional control and elimination project for Watford-area pork producers.  The area regional control program is sponsored by the Ontario Swine Health Advisory Board.

“I just took the initiative and got something started. I set up a meeting, put farmers together and said let’s do something about PRRS,” Sanders said.

According to Sanders, PRRS is the number one disease affecting hog producers in Ontario, costing the industry millions of dollars each year. And while their own herd is now free of PRRS, she said that a number of producers in the area are struggling with the devastating disease.

When PRRS gets into a herd, many of the sows will abort their babies and some will die from the disease. Weaner pigs will also die if infected and those that do survive never really regain their health. The best way to rid the farm of the disease is to de-populate and start over with a herd that tests negative for PRRS, she explained.

However, the ideal way to control the problem is by keeping it out of the herd in the first place, Sanders added.

“We need good biosecurity protocols. And farmers need to be open and honest with each other about their herd’s health status. Our aim is to stop the disease,” she said.

And that’s where OSHAB’s area regional control program helps – by providing resources to producers.

The area’s hog producers have been involved in the program for about one-and-a-half years with 63 sites on board. Once a farm’s herd health status is determined with a blood test, it is mapped and color coded – red for positive and green for negative, Sanders explained.

And when the maps become interactive, the information can be shared, so if an outbreak occurs on one farm, neighboring farms will know instantly and can tighten up their biosecurity protocols to prevent the disease from entering their farms, she added.

The program has worked very well for some hog producers in the province. Producers in the Niagara region have almost eliminated PRRS by following the program, she said.

“We are hoping we will be able to break the cycle. Ultimately, what we want to see are a lot of green dots on the map,” Sanders added.

The Sanders have been running their hog farm for 23 years after purchasing a 200-sow farrow-to-finish operation from Steve’s parents. The couple has four children who are now starting to help out on the farm. They also employ four hired workers and grow approximately three-quarters of their own feed on their 1,000-acre farm.

Sanders said she was much honored at receiving the award, but also credits a number of others involved in the project, including her co-lead Mike VanKessel as well as producers who have participated in the program. She also thanked OSHAB for sponsoring the program.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented annually to acknowledge volunteers who help OPIC build a stronger pork industry in the province. This year’s award was presented during OPIC’s annual general meeting held last week in Stratford. BF

Current Issue

August 2025

Better Pork Magazine

Farms.com Swine News

Ag minister roundup

Thursday, August 21, 2025

With farmers busy enough as it is, it can be difficult to keep track of how some of Canada’s ag ministers are working to support producers and the industry overall. With that at top of mind, Farms.com browsed online and social media to provide a brief roundup of what the federal ag... Read this article online

New resource for wild pig management in Canada

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

A new website is available to educate Canadians about wild pigs. Wild Pigs Canada, a joint effort between Invasives Canada, Animal Health Canada and the Invasive Pig Leadership Group, launched on Aug. 20. “They threaten agriculture, ecosystems, cultural resources, and the economy in... Read this article online

Pierre Poilievre wins Battle River-Crowfoot

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada is headed back to Ottawa. Pierre Poilievre received 40,548 votes, or 80.4 per cent of support from voters in Aug. 18’s by-election in Battle River-Crowfoot, Elections Canada data says. “Thank you very much to the great people of Battle... Read this article online

Alberta Harvest Progress Steady with Strong Crop Ratings

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

According to the AFSC and Alberta Government Crop Reporting Survey, as of August 12, Alberta’s 2025 harvest was well underway with 2 percent of crops combined across the province, consistent with 5- and 10-year averages. The South Region leads with 6 percent harvested, followed by the Peace... Read this article online

Grain company license updates

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has provided updates related to two Western Canadian grain companies. As of Aug. 15, a Saskatchewan company had its license class changes. C-Merak Innovations in Tisdale had its primary elevator license changed to a process elevator license. A... 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