Earlier this week, the federal government announced an approximately C$295,000 investment to assist Ontario pork producers in controlling viral disease.

The initiative will support the creation of small-scale projects for controlling and eradicating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, a viral disease that costs the Canadian pork industry an estimated 130 million dollars per year.

Lori Moser, the Ontario Pork Industry Council and Ontario Swine Health Advisory Board Managing Director, says the intent is to remove those losses from the equation.

Lori Moser – Ontario Pork Industry Council

"We've estimated 100 farms within, we're calling them mini-ARC&Es which basically means they're smaller scale Area Regional Control & Elimination Projects, and we're asking producers to come forward that are ready and motivated to make a change, ready to share information and work together to apply for this programme. It really involves everyone in the area where these projects are going on, most importantly the producers since we'll be doing work on their farms, doing biosecurity assessments and working with them to figure out what's going to reduce their disease transmission risks, their veterinarians as well as we work through some of those technical issues but also service providers because they may be asked to assist us as we try to reduce disease transmission risks."

Lori Moser says the information gathered through these small scale projects will benefit producers in the areas where they are taking place and the information will be shared with the Canadian Swine Health Board and the Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians who are facilitating the coordination of PRRS area Regional Control and Elimination projects nationally.

Further Reading

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Find out more information on porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome (PRRS) by clicking here.