We’re looking forward to the Banff Pork Seminar, to participate in the industry discussions there. Perhaps there will be some clever people in attendance, to give sound advice to existing producers for weathering this economic storm.

I’m also anticipating discussion of the livestock (pork) industry by government officials in the upcoming period before the Federal government brings down the budget. We have the distinct possibility of both a Federal and Provincial election this spring that would severely impact the decision-making process by our governments regarding the state of our pork industry. We still need help to continue pig operations in Canada!

Deerfield Colony sold its first 23 barrrows at 283 pounds averaging 130 days after its repop with high health Summit gilts and Trailblazer boars. Absolutely awesome!

The top 5% of Lacombe boars range in Sire Line Index from 130 to 169 while the top 5% of Lacombe sows range in Dam Line Index from 147 to 198. CCSI’s Swine Improvement Program allows us to select on the basis of EBV Index to generate these values.

Twenty carcasses from 4 breeds at Bloomsbury Farms averaged 4.05 on the Japanese color score and averaged 71.5 mm loin depth (63-82 mm), tested at the Lacombe Research Station as part of the Pork Color Research Project 2007.