Governments of Canada and Manitoba invest $680,900 in two projects to protect animal health and ensure international competitiveness of Manitoba pork industry

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News release

February 16, 2022 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $680,900 under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to support two major projects aimed at protecting animal health and managing disease in the provincial pork industry, federal Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Terry Duguid and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced today.

The Invasive Swine Eradication Initiative Project will help mitigate the threat of disease spread by invasive pigs, particularly the highly contagious African Swine Fever (ASF), to commercial herds by seeking out, corralling and euthanizing invasive swine, thereby protecting herd health and the province’s natural resources.

Manitoba is developing a draft strategy for invasive swine management and will seek feedback from industry, interest groups and the public.

The Manitoba High Traffic Facility Swine Disease Surveillance Project is a continuation of the governments’ efforts to address the risk of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) over the past seven years. It will allow more time to fully evaluate mitigation efforts taken by the swine sector that have decreased the occurrence of PED.

Both projects contribute to a strong foundation to managing risk, which is important in building industry resilience to support the objectives of the Manitoba Protein Advantage Strategy.

Quotes

“Canadian pork producers take great care in ensuring the health of their animals. We know how important it is to help farmers reduce the risk of disease transmissions to keep their herds safe, protecting our environment, ensuring these businesses remain strong and remain internationally competitive. Investments like these ensure Canadian pork products continue to be internationally recognized as high-quality and sustainably produced.”

- Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South

“Our government is pleased to support these projects that involve a proactive approach to protecting animal health in our provincial pork industry, ensuring the quality of the industry and our ongoing competitiveness in international trade. The targeted, risk-based surveillance of these projects allows for rapid disease detection resulting in a more effective response, which in turn reduces adverse effects to the overall health, welfare and trade aspects of the sector.”

- Derek Johnson, Minister of Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development

“Animal diseases like PED virus and ASF can not only have a significant economic impact, but a lasting impact on the mental health of farmers. Reducing the risk and spread of animal disease is paramount to the long-term success of Manitoba’s hog sector, and we are delighted to be working collaboratively with the provincial and federal governments on these two projects.”

- Rick Préjet, chair, Manitoba Pork Council

Quick facts

  • The hog sector is Manitoba’s third most important commodity in terms of farm cash receipts, at $1.1 billion. Manitoba ranked number one in Canada with over 8.2 million hog and pig sales in 2020. 

  • Pork production in Manitoba is highly integrated, from genetics, feed manufacturing and specialized services through processing. Expansion of barns, feed mills and processing facilities is underway, with great attention to sustainability, animal welfare, food safety and quality.  

  • To help with eradication efforts, Manitobans can report signs of invasive swine presence to their local conservation offices, or by emailing a provincial biologist at wildlife@gov.mb.ca.

  • The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes a $2-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

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Contacts

Marianne Dandurand
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
marianne.dandurand@agr.gc.ca
343-541-9229

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
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Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Ross Romaniuk
Press Secretary
Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development
Government of Manitoba
Ross.Romaniuk@leg.gov.mb.ca

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