Lambton Pork Producers' Association Annual Meeting

Jan 19, 2015

Lambton Pork Producers' Association held their Annual Meeting last night (January 15th) in Petrolia. Lambton President, John Van Engelen led the meeting with more than 40 attendees. The evening started off with a great meal prepared by Actor's Restaurant. The first presentation, provided by Steve Thomas, as well as Lyle and Mary Ann Hendikx was an excellent reminder of how the pork industry can help our communities by supporting our local food banks and supporting the Ontario Pork food bank initiatives. Presentations followed with the Ontario Pork Director’s report recapping 2014 and looking forward to 2015 and beyond. Guest speaker Doug Richards from OMAFRA brought safety to the forefront when he discussed pit foaming and its potential dangers. Tim Blackwell from OMAFRA informed the group about antibiotic use and resistance and how pork producers will be impacted in the future. Kathy Zurbrigg, also from OMAFRA, reported on her work with In Transit Losses of pigs and the connection to an apparent heart condition in the pigs.

Source: OntarioPork

Video: Season 6, Episode 10: Defining Resiliency and the Research Driving Swine Health Forward

Genetic research and new technologies continue to influence the future of swine health and production efficiency. In this episode, we explore how research and technology are being used to support stronger, more resilient pigs, while also improving overall production outcomes. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, to discuss both routine and emerging strategies for improving piglet, pig, and sow livability. She outlines two primary approaches to enhancing resiliency: gene editing and traditional selective breeding. Continuing the resiliency conversation, we also hear from Dr. Lucina Galina, director of technical research projects at the Pig Improvement Company. She shares insights into ongoing gene-editing work focused on PRRS, detailing the pathway to success, regulatory and practical considerations, and the questions that still remain as the technology evolves. Together, these conversations provide a closer look at how research, genetics and innovation are shaping the future of swine health and livability.