A series of videos to show hog farmers and their employees
how to handle pigs has been posted online.
The Manitoba Pork Council took the lead to produce the
videos, Farm Credit Canada provided the money and the Canadian Agricultural
Safety Association administered the project.
Pork marketing boards from Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and
Alberta were also involved in supporting the project.
“The information in this series
will help to lessen stress on both workers and livestock, prevent workplace
injuries, improve workplace satisfaction, reduce in-transit losses, improve
meat quality, and ensure animal well-being,” Manitoba Pork Council said in a
news release.
“The Canadian Agricultural Safety
Association is pleased that Manitoba Pork has taken the lead in providing
resources for hog farmers and their workers through the FCC Ag Safety Fund,” said
Marcel Hacault, the Executive Director of CASA and a former hog producer.
“Understanding animal behaviour and
identifying proven handling methods reduces stress on both workers and hogs,
promoting safe practices in agriculture, which is a great use of FCC Ag Safety
Fund dollars,” Hacault said.
The six-chapter series emphasizes
low-stress handling techniques; up until now, there has been nothing like these
videos that was so readily accessible to producers in Canada, the council says.
The videos are available on MPC’s
YouTube channel (MBPorkfan) and on its website and from provincial pork boards,
including Ontario Pork.
“This training video will help
equip stockpeople, both new and practicing, with tools to handle pigs in a manner
that minimizes stress for pigs and people,” says Dr. Laurie Connor, Department
Head of Animal Sciences at the
University of Manitoba.
