Wim Van Berkel, of Lacombe, Alberta, was awarded the B.W. Kennedy Memorial Award at the 2017 annual general meeting for the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement (CCSI), held recently in Ottawa, Ontario. CCSI presents this award to recognize individuals who, through their involvement in scientific research, program development or program implementation, have made a significant contribution to the Canadian Swine Improvement Program and swine industry.
Wim Van Berkel has been involved in the swine genetics industry for more than 20 years and in that time, has developed and shared a great wealth of knowledge. He is currently the director for the Western Swine Testing Association, serving on the CCSI Board of Directors. Through his work he provides leadership, training and management services for producers in the purebred swine industry in Alberta. Mr. Van Berkel has made many contributions to the swine industry including scanning purebred and commercial pigs in Canada and abroad. He was one of the first technicians to test the measurements of loin depths on live pigs with A-mode ultrasound and, compared with carcass measurements, proved that it could work. He has trained technicians, from across Western Canada and in China, to scan pigs for entry into the CCSI database. His dedication to the improvement of pigs and pork has resulted in consistent high quality data for CCSI and for genomic projects involving intramuscular fat. He has also coordinated many research projects, involving various industry partners and funding agencies, that have greatly benefited the swine industry across Canada.
CCSI would like to take this opportunity to thank Wim Van Berkel for his contribution of knowledge and his dedication to the Canadian Pork Industry and congratulate him as this year’s recipient of the B.W. Kennedy Memorial Award.
The Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement was created by the Canadian Pork Industry to provide leadership, coordination and services for swine genetic improvement. Its members include regional swine improvement centers in Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, the Canadian Pork Council, the Canadian Meat Council, the Canadian Swine Breeders Association, and users of the Canadian Swine Improvement Program.
Source: CCSI CCAP