Genetics Technician at Fast Genetics Inc. in Spiritwood, Saskatchewan, Canada

Feedmill Operator at Sinnett Pork Farms LTD. in Leroy, Saskatchewan, Canada

SR Monogastric Sales Consultant at Cargill Canada in Camrose, Alberta, Canada

Western Canada Pork Facts:
With revenues amounting to over three billion Canadian dollars , the pork sector accounts for 30% of total livestock shipments and for 10% of all farm cash receipts.

Hog production is a vital component of Canada's agricultural economy. Each province shares in this production in quality and in volume . Canada is favoured with adequate grain production allowing for selective, controlled feeding and with reasonable feed costs.

Virtually all commercial hog production in Canada takes place in a controlled environment which implies that, at all times of the year, animals are kept in buildings specialized to the farrowing, growing and finishing stages of raising market hogs. The most common hog production unit today is a specialized farrow-to-finish operation of 200 to 250 sows, which can be managed efficiently by a single family.

Farrow-to-finish reduces significantly productivity losses associated with stress of movement, adaptation to new environments, changing feed regimes and transmission of diseases. Also, producers can monitor the performance of animals through to maturity, thereby observing final results of breeding programs and other management practices.