The impact of Canadian Swine Cluster research

Jan 10, 2023

New report from Swine Innovation Porc highlights Swine Cluster research impacts.

Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) has published a new report highlighting the impact of Swine Cluster research as a driver for growth in the Canadian pork sector and the broader economy.

Founded in 2010, SIP is the national organization responsible for providing leadership in research, development and knowledge transfer to enhance the growth and competitiveness of the Canadian pork sector.

"As a science-based industry, the role of research and innovation is at the heart of Canada's global leadership position in pork production," stated Daniel Ramage, the General Manager of SIP. "The significant impacts of past Swine Cluster research clearly show that investments in pork innovation are an engine for growth and economic development across the country."

The SIP report finds that investments by industry and government in Swine Cluster research valued at $30 million between 2010 and 2018, are leading to a 3.5 percent productivity increase for Canadian pork producers.

Said Ramage: “This significant productivity boost has a direct impact on the bottom line of producers and processors across the value chain by helping to sustain the sector's efficiency and competitiveness."

The economic benefits of Swine Cluster research extend far beyond pork producers and processors, with sizeable impacts across the entire Canadian economy. Businesses, households and governments are all better off, as a more productive swine sector supports higher incomes, jobs and investment. Ultimately, for each dollar spent on Swine Cluster research, an additional new dollar is added to Canadian GDP (gross domestic product), reflecting strong contributions to economic growth.

"It's a win-win for government and industry when we work together to enhance research investments that benefit pork producers, processors and all Canadians,” commented Ramage. “By enhancing support for innovation in the pork sector through the upcoming Swine Cluster and other programs, Canada can ensure that the pork sector remains a key driver of economic growth and development in the years to come."

The Swine Cluster is a collaborative research program, managed by SIP in partnership with the Canadian pork industry and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This partnership enables innovation that unlocks progress around core pork sector priorities like production efficiency, animal health and welfare, food safety, product quality and sustainability.

Video: Making budget friendly pig feed on a small livestock farm

I am going to show you how we save our farm money by making our own pig feed. It's the same process as making our cattle feed just with a slight adjustment to our grinder/ mixer that makes all the difference. We buy all the feed stuff required to make the total mix feed. Run each through the mixer and at the end of the process we have a product that can be consumed by our pigs.

I am the 2nd generation to live on this property after my parents purchased it in 1978. As a child my father hobby farmed pigs for a couple years and ran a vegetable garden. But we were not a farm by any stretch of the imagination. There were however many family dairy farms surrounding us. So naturally I was hooked with farming since I saw my first tractor. As time went on, I worked for a couple of these farms and that only fueled my love of agriculture. In 2019 I was able to move back home as my parents were ready to downsize and I was ready to try my hand at farming. Stacy and logan share the same love of farming as I do. Stacy growing up on her family's dairy farm and logans exposure of farming/tractors at a very young age. We all share this same passion to grow a quality/healthy product to share with our community. Join us on this journey and see where the farm life takes us.