Virus outbreak in pig nursery

 

There has been an outbreak of porcine deltacoronavirus in a nursery barn in Huron County, reports Swine Health Ontario.

CFIA holding off on zinc supplements

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will maintain the current interim maximum zinc concentration of 3,000 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) in piglet starter feeds, delaying a proposed reduction to 300 mg/kg while regulators review additional evidence submitted by Canada’s pork industry.

The Canadian Pork Council has been in consultations with the CFIA on zinc supplements since 2018.

Had that reduction gone into effect, feed manufacturers and nutritionists, would have needed to change ration formulations and seek alternative nutrition or management strategies.

In its response to proposed feed regulation changes in 2021, Ontario Pork advocated maintaining access to zinc oxide at concentrations up to 3,000 mg/kg for a limited period following weaning.

The organization argued that elevated zinc concentrations could provide benefits associated with feed intake, gut health and post-weaning performance.

The Canadian Pork Council has been providing technical information and developing supporting documentation related to zinc oxide use in Canadian nursery diets.

 

In its response to proposed feed regulation changes in 2021, Ontario Pork advocated maintaining access to zinc oxide at concentrations up to 3,000 mg/kg for a limited period following weaning.

The organization argued that elevated zinc concentrations could provide benefits associated with feed intake, gut health and post-weaning performance.

The current regulations are:

Feed category	Maximum zinc concentration
Piglet starter feeds, pigs under 25 kg	3,000 mg/kg
Grower and finisher feeds	300 mg/kg
Sow and boar feeds	300 mg/kg

Hog outlook positive for Canadians

 

The United States is likely to increase imports of Canadian hogs and pork this fall and winter said a report from the United States Department of Agriculture.

There will be fewer market hogs from U.S. producers this fall, it said, and a survey indicated they intend to reduce farrowings by two per cent and then increase production next spring and summer.

It said “imports of live Canadian hogs and pigs will take on added importance as a way to increase the supply of domestic market hogs.“

Its survey found that producers’ first set of farrowing intentions for the December 2026−February 2027 quarter are two per cent higher than a year earlier and may result in higher domestic numbers in the summer of 2027.

Trump to subsidize farm diesel

 

United States President Donald Trump announced an $8-billion subsidy for farm diesel while campaigning recently in Kansas State.

He said the subsidy will be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

He has been making big subsidy promises as he tries to stem the loss of supporters in the upcoming Nov. 3 election for members of congress and the senate.

Trump has proposed sending $5,000 checks ⁠to all adult citizens if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in the midterms, though analysts, economists and even some Republicans in Congress have reacted with skepticism.

Earlier this month, Trump said the US. government would send a one-time payment of $90 to more than 20 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, a health ‌insurance program for the elderly.

Maple syrup sold out

 

Quebec’s maple syrup marketing board said it is sold out for the first time in more than a decade.

It said demand has been exceptionally strong, including some bulk buyers such as Rogers Sugar Inc. and Les Industries Bernard & Fils.

The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, known by its French acronym PPAQ, said “at the end of next February, all the remaining syrup sold under contract will be gone.

 “Our warehouses will be at zero,” said Simon Doré-Ouellet, deputy director-general for PPAQ. 

The PPAQ sets minimum prices for bulk shipments, regulates production volumes through quotas, and monitors safety and quality standards. 

Maple syrup that’s not sold goes to three warehouses in Quebec with a combined capacity of 133 million pounds (218,000 barrels worth $400-million if the space is all full) that can be drawn on when weather conditions yield a lower crop. 

The aim is to have a greater stability in supply and pricing from season to season.

Five more rabid bats

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency identified five more bats with rabies in Ontario during September.

That brings the total to 66 this year.

There were no other cases of rabies in Ontario so far this year.

Extra hens approved for vaccine production

 

The Farm Products Council has approved applications from the provinces of Quebec and Ontario for 423,690 vaccine quota layers for the Glaxo-Smith-Kine (GSK) production during the period of

December 27, 2026, to December 25, 2027. 

In July it approved a request for 492,000 Sanofi quota layers.