Farms.com Home   News

Canada launches African Swine Fever prevention and preparedness program

No case has ever been found in Canada, but the disease has had a major impact in countries like Asia, Europe and the Carribean.

African Swine Fever is a fatal swine disease.

Earlier this week, Ottawa announced applications are now open for Agriculture Canada's African Swine Fever prevention and preparedness program. 

Funding for the new program will support projects such as biosecurity assessments and improvements, wild pig management, the retrofit of existing abattoirs, sector analysis and ASF-related research.

Rick Bergmann, Chair of the Canadian Pork Council says he's pleased to see Ottawa stepping up to help protect the industry.

"The outcome which is most important out of all of this, is that we're able to ensure that we've got a very, very strong position in regards to prevention in our country. Also looking at aspects of if we do get it, ... how do we deal with it and so on. But a lot of focus on prevention."

Bergmann says with 70 per cent of our production destined for export, a single case (ASF) would result in the immediate closure of the border and our export markets.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Pandemic Risks in Swine - Dr. John Deen

Video: Pandemic Risks in Swine - Dr. John Deen

I’m Phil Hord, and I’m excited to kick off my first episode as host on The Swine it Podcast Show. It’s a privilege to begin this journey with you. In this episode, Dr. John Deen, a retired Distinguished Global Professor Emeritus from the University of Minnesota, explains how pandemic threats continue to shape U.S. swine health and production. He discusses vulnerabilities in diagnostics, movement control, and national preparedness while drawing lessons from ASF, avian influenza, and field-level epidemiology. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Pandemic events in swine systems continue to generate significant challenges because early signals often resemble common conditions, creating delays that increase spread and economic disruption."