Feds invest further in hog industry initiative

The government of Canada is helping hog farmers by investing in an initiative to combat disease and provide stability for the sector.

In March, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced the investment to develop and implement biosecurity best management practices, research projects and long-term disease risk management solutions.

What’s phase two?

In order to assist the industry in addressing mid- to long-term aspects of disease risk management, phase two of this $76-million four-year initiative, which was first announced in August 2007, will include:

– nearly $40 million invested in creating a national standard of biosecurity best management practices for the hog industry targetting the containment or eradication of Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases (PCVAD)

– research projects and the coordination of reporting of research related to PCVAD and other emerging diseases within the Canadian hog herd

– establishing long-term risk management solutions for the hog industry.

Phase two follows a very successful phase one, which is nearing completion and included the creation of the Circovirus Inoculation Program (CIP).

Through CIP, eligible producers received financial assistance toward the identification and mitigation of PCVAD to help offset some of the costs of diagnostic fees and vaccines.

The federal government has worked closely with the hog industry through the Canadian Pork Council and the veterinary community to develop the program details for these initiatives.