“This is one way delegates can be sure they get every bit of information from these industry leading presenters,” said Ashley Steeple, coordinator of the event.

Going back to an in-person event is being welcomed by participants, she added.

“The past few years have dramatically cut into the opportunity to be together as an industry. We are already seeing strong hotel bookings and related events being planned around the seminar week.”

The conference is a joint effort of the ag department at the University of Alberta, the provincial ag ministry and Alberta Pork.

For more information visit banffpork.ca.

The post Pork seminar back in Banff, and in person appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Organizers are planning to have live broadcast of the plenary sessions, with breakout sessions to be taped and available following the Jan. 11-13 event.

“The safety of our delegates is of utmost importance, and we are taking steps to ensure that in-person delegates have a well-managed and safe experience in keeping with mandated COVID-19 protocols,” said BPS co-ordinator Ashley Steeple.

There are nearly two dozen speakers presenting at the event. The agenda and registration info can be found at banffpork.ca. 

The post Pork seminar adopts dual format appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The contest is open to anyone who has developed an innovation — big or small — that is relevant to the North American pork industry.

“The creativity and innovation of entries always amazes us,” said University of Alberta researcher Ben Willing, who chairs the awards selection committee. “They can apply to any segment of the industry including feeding, breeding, ventilation, disease control and prevention, transportation, manure management, animal handling, facility and enterprise management and pork quality and food safety.”

The entry deadline is Oct. 31 and entry details can be found at banffpork.ca.

The post Pork innovators urged to enter contest appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

It is open to anyone who has developed an innovation relevant to the North American pork industry, including feeding; breeding; ventilation; disease control and prevention; transportation; manure management; animal handling; facility or enterprise management; and pork quality and safety.

The innovation can be an original solution or make creative use of existing technology. Winners receive free conference registration, accommodation, and travel for the Banff Pork Seminar on Jan. 7-9.

Nominations must be made by Oct. 31. For more info, go to banffpork.ca.

The post North American pork innovation entries wanted appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

It will feature “innovation, latest technology, challenging thinking on the big issues of the day combined with production information that producers can implement immediately,” he said. Among the presenters are strategic trainer Jeff Ansell and economist Larry Martin, who will talk market trends and futures.

For program details and registration info, go to www.banffpork.ca.

The post Banff Pork Seminar offers ‘powerhouse program’ appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Ontario producers Lyle and Maaike Campbell of Birnam Pork won for an innovative piglet weigh scale which boosted profitability in that operation. And Greg Feenstra and Dave Uttecht of Heartland Pork LLC in Alpena, South Dakota, won for their “E Z Tub” hog-handling innovation, which significantly reduces stress on animals and people.

The award is named after industry icon, the late Dr. Frank Aherne, a professor of swine nutrition and production at the University of Alberta.

The Campbells’ innovative and low-cost scale was built onto a lightweight base that is easily transportable and washable. A lightweight container on top is tall enough that 18-day-old piglets won’t jump out, but low enough to be reachable. The scale design allows for numbers on the scale to be viewable from all sides.

The E Z Hog Tub hog handler helps reduce stress on pigs and people during loading, produced faster loading and lower plant losses. The primary cause of stress when moving animals through an alleyway is that handlers have a tendency to move too aggressively, crowding pigs to encourage movement. That causes animals to bunch up and balk at transitions such as doorways.

The E Z Tub circular tub-style design works with pigs’ natural response patterns to aid in the loading of market hogs. The pen and gate configuration lets the handler work where hogs can see them and uses the pigs’ circling behaviour to set up a flow onto the trailer. That reduces stress and produces fewer discounts for injured animals at the packing plant.

Additional information on the 2015 Banff Pork Seminar website.

The post Weigh scale and handling system win F.X. Aherne hog innovation awards appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.