By Bruce Cochrane.
The chair of Swine Innovation Porc says matters related to swine health are emerging as a key priority among pork industry stakeholders.
Pork industry stakeholders gathered yesterday in Winnipeg for the second of two National Research Priorities Workshops to discuss priorities for the next round of federal research funding.
Swine Innovation Porc Chair Stewart Cressman says animal health is recognized as key.
Stewart Cressman-Swine Innovation Porc:
I think it doesn't take too much imagination to realize that the number one issue as we see it, and we heard it at these different workshops, is this whole idea of prudent use of antibiotics.
The retail sector has more or less put the gold standard as raised without antibiotics.
We would argue that, if we can demonstrate prudent use and a reduction over time in use through a variety of mechanisms, that this is one of the number one priorities.
There is a lot of work that has gone on on the human side on the microbiome which is the microbiology of the gut and we're looking at how we can impact that microbial population positively, eliminate the use or reduce drastically the use of antibiotics in that stage and ensure that we have a healthy robust animal.
We've heard the second area, and closely related is heath, and how do we look at biosecurity, how do we evaluate disease transmission in feed from offshore.
That seems to be the consensus on how PED landed in North America and so I think evaluating, is there mechanisms to reduce that risk?
Is there research that's needed or is it just some type of policy in terms of how we have surveillance at the border on these products entering the country as feed ingredients?
Cressman The goal to outline research priorities by the end of 2016.
Source: Farmscape