16th London Swine Conference was great – now help us plan for 2017 on June 16th in Woodstock

In setting new attendance records on April 5^th and 6^th LSC continues to grow, partly by increasing attendance by owners, managers, and staff from the production sector, and impressive industry sponsorship and support.

The program balances a mix of research and technical presentations with more practical topics and workshops where the research and technical topics are discussed as they apply at farm level.

This is done by including producers in the planning process.  For the past number of years the Conference Chair has been a pork producer, and the planning process includes a number of producers, farm managers, and many others with a background in the production side of the industry.  This helps keep in focus the fact that while the research, technical, and ‘higher level’ topics are important to the industry as a whole it all needs, at some point, to be in support of Ontario pork production.  We also include pork producers and production managers on the speaking program, particularly in the breakout sessions, so that others can learn from their practical experiences in doing the job every day.

The written papers and summaries of the presentations provide a resource for the industry, going back to the first conference in 2001, and are freely available online at the conference website: www.londonswineconference.ca.  There is also a link under ‘Highlights 2016’  to a video of a workshop by Elaine Froese on “Managing Generational Expectations”.

Put these dates for 2017 in your calendar: Wednesday March 29^th and Thursday March 30^th.  If you want to be part of planning the next conference, the technical planning meeting is coming up:

London Swine Conference 2017 Technical Planning Meeting

June 16th, Woodstock OMAFRA Resource Centre 9am-Noon.

Unit 1 – 401 Lakeview Drive
Woodstock, ON N4T 1W2
Phone: (519) 537-6621

Bring your ideas for our next conference, or send them to me if you can’t attend at jaydee.smith@ontario.ca.

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Are you going to Pork Congress this week? We are.

Drop by the OMAFRA booth and find out about requirements for unvented gas heaters that come into effect January 1, 2016. Check out the pig enrichment toys and talk to us about things you can do to improve income and reduce costs.

Pork Congress, June 17 and 18

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Shakespeare Swine Seminar set for Wed. September 24

Shakespeare Swine Seminar

This year’s Shakespeare Swine Seminar will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at the Shakespeare Community Centre.  The one day seminar is an education event for hog producers and allied industry personnel that features local and international speakers on topics of importance to the swine industry.

Dr. Darwin Reicks from the Swine Veterinary Center in St. Peter, Minnesota will discuss optimizing litter size when using artificial insemination. Dr. Mark Rix from Swine Management Systems in Fremont, Nebraska will compare production in sows gestated in loose housing and in stalls. Dr. Tim McAllister from Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada in Lethbridge, Alberta will address antibiotic use in food animal production.

Additional topics to be covered include eradicating PED from farrowing sites, increasing piglet survival rates, identifying semen quality issues, and more.

Pre-registration is required and can be completed by either calling 877- 424 -1300 or emailing ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.

The Shakespeare Seminar is sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Rural Affairs and Ontario Pork.

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Still space to register for Group Sow Housing Workshop Sept. 2 or 3 in Stratford

Group Sow Housing Workshop – Still time to register

One-Day Either September 2 or 3, 2014 Festival Inn Stratford

8:45 am to 4:00 pm

This one-day workshop being offered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs with help from Ontario Pork and the Prairie Swine Centre will present group sow housing options that follow the new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs.

Three Ontario producers describing their experiences transitioning to group sow housing systems. Hear their challenges and opportunities and gain practical advice you can apply on your farm. Equipment suppliers will be present.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of sow housing systems? Dr. Jennifer Brown and Dr. Yolande Seddon, Prairie Swine Centre Group Sow Housing Researchers, will discuss the merits of each system.
• Dr. Kees de Lange, University of Guelph, will explain how your feeding systems need to change for a successful transition to feeding sows in group housing.

Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register contact doug.richards@ontario.ca

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Group Sow Housing Workshops – September 2nd or 3rd, Stratford

OMAF/MRA, with help from Ontario Pork and the Prairie Swine Centre, are organizing group sow housing workshops for early September, at the Festival Inn in Stratford. The workshop will be repeated on two consecutive days, so you have the choice of either September 2nd or September 3rd, from about 9:30 to 4pm. Cost is $50, and includes workshop manual, lunch, and coffee breaks.

The purpose of the workshops is

“To build producers’ awareness and knowledge of the requirements and options for group sow housing. These will be based on the new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs released this past March.”

The Workshops will feature three Ontario producers describing their experiences transitioning to group sow housing systems. Hear their challenges and opportunities and gain practical advice you can apply on your farm.

To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of group sow housing systems, Dr. Jennifer Brown and Dr. Yolande Seddon, both Prairie Swine Centre Group Sow Housing Researchers, will discuss the merits of different systems.

Dr. Kees de Lange, from the University of Guelph, will talk on feeding sows in group housing.

A key objective of the workshop is to stimulate discussion among the presenters and those attending. Everyone’s operation is different, so novel and creative approaches to managing a change in practices is essential for success.

You can register by calling the Clinton OMAF/MRA office at 519-482-3333 or by email to sandra.mccann@ontario.ca.  Space is limited and pre-registration is required by August 26^th.  If you would like more information about the workshops, contact Doug Richards at 519-482-3133 or doug.richards@ontario.ca.

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Ontario Pork Congress June 18-19, Stratford: enrichment, marketing and more

Visit the OMAF/MRA exhibit at the OPC for information about environmental enrichment for pigs, the Ontario Grading Data Explorer computer program, hog marketing, and more.

ENRICHMENT

What are enrichment toys?
Materials and objects suitable for chewing and rooting are often called enrichment toys.
Why do pigs need enrichment toys?
All pigs have a need to chew and root. By providing en-richment toys this need is satisfied and tail and ear biting may be reduced.
How many toys do I need?
Too few toys will result in competition. Have enough toys in different locations so that as many pigs as possible can easily use them at the same time.
Can I make them myself?
Yes, you can make your own enrichment toys. Pick up our flyer with links to websites that provide instructions and information on enrichment toys.

ONTARIO GRADING DATA EXPLORER

Easy access to online grading data to help in decision making and in hitting production targets to improve revenue. 

Ask to arrange for a demonstration, or pick up a brochure for more information.

HOG MARKETING

Take on the Hog Marketing Challenge. It is meant to be a learning experience on paper with no money or pigs involved but using real time market information. Put your market knowledge and expertise to work and learn how some marketing tools function.

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2015 London Swine Conference Wants Your Input on June 9th!

If you would like to have input into the program of the 2015 LSC, please read on:

June 9^th      10 am  OMAF Resource Center Woodstock

Producers, sponsors and industry stakeholders, please bring your list of topics and speakers for the 2015 London Swine Conference.

A planning meeting will take place on Monday June 9^thfrom 10 am to noon at the OMAF Resource Center Woodstock (401 Lakeview Drive).

All are invited so please plan to attend and help shape next year’s 2015 London Swine Conference.

If you cannot attend please send your ideas to jaydee.smith@ontario.ca

For more information: visit www.LondonSwineConference.ca

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London Swine Conference Attracts Large Number of Producers

London, ON, April 4, 2014 – On March 26 & 27 the pork industry gathered for the fourteenth annual London Swine Conference (LSC). Attendance over both days was strong, with 320 attending Sow day and over 200 for Wean to Finish day. Producers made up over 50% of the audience on day one and 35% on day two.

Positioning for Success was the theme of this year’s LSC. Experts from across the North American Swine industry made an impressive line-up of speakers. Attendance levels for this two day event continue to illustrate the value of the conference for primary producers and industry alike.

Comments from participants highlight the quality of speakers and information presented:

“Interesting/informative/relevant. Good opportunity to mingle with producers and suppliers”
“Well organized event with a good cross-section of speakers”

Speakers highlighted aspects of loose housing of sows, disease issues, herd management, health, reproduction and nutrition The LSC program delivered a balance of new ideas and evolving science with practical on-farm applications. Workshops used teams of presenters to provide a varied perspective on each topic. The interactive nature of the workshops helped participants to compare and contrast their own operation to the examples presented. In the big picture, presentations on market position, international trade and disease monitoring helped to round out the conference agenda.

This year the conference moved to the Hilton London and received numerous positive comments from attendees about the new venue. A new reception format saw a named sponsor hosting the industry reception on Wednesday afternoon and this was very well received.
Conference proceedings will soon be available online at www.londonswineconference.ca along with proceedings from all past conferences.
The planning committee extends their thanks to Premier Sponsors: Total Swine Genetics Inc., Zantingh Direct Inc. and Better Pork Magazine. The support of these and over 30 additional industry sponsors make it possible for LSC to continue as a premier education event for the swine industry in Ontario.
The London Swine Conference began in 2001, and continues as a joint effort of the University of Guelph, Ontario Pork, the Ontario Pork Industry Council and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs. Its main aim is to provide a forum for the exchange of credible, science-based information for decision makers and influencers in the pork industry, to encourage the exchange and adoption of knowledge for the betterment of the industry.

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14th London Swine Conference March 26-27: Register by Friday March 14th

A release from the London Swine Conference yesterday www.londonswineconference.ca.

Note the Registration deadline is March 14th. Contact 519-873-4077 or debra.allison@ontario.ca

For Immediate Release…

  “14^th London Swine Conference (LSC) moves to Hilton”

 London ON, March 4, 2014 – The theme is “Positioning for Success” as the pork industry prepares to gather in London for the fourteenth annual LSC.  These two full days of presentations and workshops have moved to the Hilton London for Wednesday and Thursday, March 26 & 27, 2014.  Speakers will cover topics ranging from practical on-farm decision making and management to the impacts of international trade on pork production.

 “I am excited about the timely topics with something for everyone” says conference Chair Teresa Van Raay.  The program will once again be targeted for sow herds on Wednesday, and wean to finish on Thursday.  “With speakers from across the continent and a new venue I am looking forward to seeing everyone at this premier swine industry conference.”

Wednesday’s Sow-focused agenda will include ‘Lessons Learned from PEDv’, along with experts in the areas of group sow housing, nutrition and lactation, and Ontario’s position in the global marketplace.  At the farm level, workshops will consider piglet and milk management, reproductive troubleshooting, feeding the sow, and practical aspects of  group sow housing.

On Thursday, the focus is on Wean to Finish.  Topics such as real factors that affect profitability, the importance of international trade to Ontario production, and national health status monitoring will be covered.  Farm level workshops will include managing pile-ups, benchmarking and measuring profitability on-farm, spotting problems early, higher fiber diets, and improving feed efficiency.

As always, the LSC program will include leading researchers, industry experts and pork producers.  This unique mix of perspectives provides new insights and can lead to lively workshop discussions.  Presenters this year will include:  Steve Pollmann, Murphy Brown West; Doug MacDougald, South West Ontario Veterinary Services; Chris Byra, Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network; Ron Bates, Michigan State University; Laurie Connor, University of Manitoba; Chantal Farmer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Ruurd Zijlstra, University of Alberta; Kevin Grier, George Morris Centre; Graeme McDermid, Cronin Pork Ltd.; Kathleen Sullivan, Trade Consultant.

For a listing of all conference speakers and the full program visit:  www.londonswineconference.ca

Conference fees are $135 per day which includes one copy of the proceedings, a reception on Wednesday, lunch and all coffee breaks.  Discounts are available for groups of five or more who register and submit one payment.  Registration deadline is March 14, 2014.  Please note that there is no registration at the door.

The London Swine Conference is a joint effort by staff from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs (OMAF and MRA), Ontario Pork, University of Guelph, Ontario Pork Industry Council, and is made possible through strong industry sponsorship.

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 For more information:

Debra Allison, Registration Coordinator, OMAF and MRA, (519) 873-4077, Debra.Allison@ontario.ca, www.londonswineconference.ca

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33rd Centralia Swine Research Update Proceedings are now online

The complete proceedings of the 33^rd Centralia Swine Research Update, held January 29^th, are now available online at www.centraliaswineresearch.ca. Besides the presented topics, the proceedings contain more than twenty written contributions.

The meeting was well-attended and generated many favourable comments on everything from the great presentations to the pie.

The Centralia Swine Research Update was initiated in 1982 by staff at Centralia College to bring researchers and their work together with participants in the pork industry. The event continues to be planned and executed by a committee of industry partners, with support from staff at OMAF and MRA. Its success over the past three decades is due to the quality and timeliness of the program, and the participation of local researchers and experts, as well as experts brought in from other areas.

This year’s program was a great example of this, with Dr. Yolande Seddon from the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatchewan visiting to speak on ‘Sow Lameness, Being Aware and Taking Action’ and ‘Considerations for Providing Quality Space to Loose Housed Sows’.  Dr. Kees de Lange from the University of Guelph talked about ‘Entire Males for Commercial Pork Production’.  Frank Wood from Conestoga Meat Packers addressed hernias from a packers’ perspective. To round out the program, researchers and graduate students covered in-transit losses, antimicrobial resistance, rodenticide ingestion, genetic resistance to disease, benchmarking Ontario farms, anorexic piglets, and the impact of nursery diets on piglet immune response. Finally, Dr. Mike DeGroot from Ontario Pork gave an update on the evolving PED situation.

For advisory notices, and for regularly updated links to information and resources for the industry related to PED, visit Ontario.ca/swine.

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