Manitoba Pork commends today’s announcement by the Manitoba government of an increase in the number of veterinary student seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. A shortage of labour is restricting the growth potential of the hog sector, and today’s announcement will help address one key aspect of this problem, a scarcity of large animal veterinarians practicing in rural Manitoba.

The announcement is a result of months of collaborative dialogue between the provincial government and Manitoba’s livestock producers, including Manitoba Pork, Keystone Agricultural Producers, and the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association.

“Large animal veterinarians, like those that work in the hog sector, are vital partners in ensuring that our animals are raised healthy and free of the threat of disease outbreaks,” said Rick Préjet, chair of Manitoba Pork. “Today’s announcement will ensure that we can continue to close the gap in the necessary number of veterinarians practicing in Manitoba, and that our sector can continue to sustainably grow our herds.”

Advanced Education, Skills, and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes and Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced today that the province is providing increased annual funding to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan to allow for an additional five Manitoba students to be trained as veterinarians.

The hog sector will continue to work with all levels of government to address ongoing labour shortages, including the lack of large-animal veterinarians. Addressing this shortage could include working to more rapidly accredit qualified foreign-trained veterinarians who want to work in the province, which is something Manitoba Pork has recommended to all levels of government.

For further information:

Joey Dearborn
Communications and Website Coordinator
Manitoba Pork
(204) 232-4916
jdearborn@manitobapork.com

Manitoba Pork Council
28 Terracon Place
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R2J 4G7
Tel: (204) 237-7447
Toll-Free: 1-888-893-7447
Fax: (204) 237-9831
www.manitobapork.com