Animal Care
Stockperson and husbandry skills are the most critical factor in ensuring good welfare and a life worth living for the pigs in their care. Stockpersons are expected to implement and follow the sector’s standard of care as laid out in the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs, government legislation, and the PigCARE Canada program. The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) has started the process of updating the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs (“the Pig Code”) through the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC).
Manitoba farmers do not accept any degree of animal abuse or neglect. Cases of abuse, cruelty, or neglect, which are significant or are not immediately dealt with, must be reported to the Province of Manitoba. Reports are treated with utmost confidentiality.
Proper pig handling techniques can minimize the stress on pigs and their handlers. Our two-part video series, Smart Pig Handling, illustrates how stockpersons can safely and effectively handle their herds. Part 1 is on Basic Pig Behaviour. Part 2 is on Principles of Pig Handling.
The CPC has also developed a space allowance calculator to determine the appropriate stocking density for nursery and grow-finish pens.
Manitoba Pork also developed a Best Management Practices for Nursery Barns booklet to help producers provide the best possible care to their pigs after weaning. A fact sheet on alternative feed strategies was also developed by the University of Manitoba to help producers manage the planned reduction to zinc oxide inclusion rates in nursery pig diets.
Small-scale pig farmers looking for information about caring for pigs should visit www.smallscalepigfarming.com
Manitoba pork producers are committed to transitioning all their sow barns to group sow housing by 2029. Manitoba Pork developed the booklet, Options for Successful Group-Housing of Sows, for producers to consider their options when considering group / loose sow housing. In addition, the Centre de dévelopment du porc du Québec inc. (CDPQ) has developed an excellent and comprehensive training manual for designing group housing systems and managing sows in groups, called Housing Sows in Groups – CDPQ Training Manual
Manitoba Pork hosted a group sow housing forum in July 2024 to provide producers the opportunity to talk to fellow producers who have experience with group sow housing. From that, a lessons learned report was developed.
The PigLEARN training platform has 10 training modules specifically focused on guidance on designing and managing group sow housing systems.
The federal Health of Animals Regulations sets the standard as to how animals in Canada must be transported. CPC has developed transportation fact sheets, required shipping documents, and a transport stocking density calculator. Pig transporters shipping to federally inspected processing plants are required to take Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) training. Call 204-237-7447 or email info@manitobapork.com for other resources or to register for TQA training.
In an emergency, call 1-888-805-6630
Manitoba has two emergency response units on call 24/7, based in Blumenort and Brandon. The units respond to transport-related emergencies involving livestock, such as livestock trailer roll-overs, accidents and corralling of loose livestock from roadways. The response teams are trained at handling these emergencies and experienced at working with other first responders.
The units and their response teams are equipped to:
- Mark and cordon off the area to keep people and livestock safe
- Corral loose animals
- Help cut open tipped trailers safely and unload uninjured animals
- Load uninjured animals onto a trailer* for onward transport
- Euthanize injured animals
*If the owner of the livestock cannot source a trailer for onward transport, one that is appropriate for the size and number of animals can be arranged through the emergency phone number. Please request one on the call if this will be necessary.