First Canadian Case of PED since June 13 Reported in Ontario

Jul 22, 2014

Since the last reported case of PED in Ontario on June 13, Canada had been free of new cases for over a month.

That changed on July 21 as PED was reported on a farrow-to-finish operation in Perth County in Ontario. That brings the total number of cases in Ontario to 63.

The disease continues to spread in the United States as well, with 91 new cases last week. There are now 7,719 confirmed cases in the U.S. involving 30 states.

These developments underscore the importance of staying vigilant at all times with biosecurity practices. While PED poses no danger to humans or the food supply, it causes up to 100% mortality in nursing pigs. The virus is spread by the fecal-oral route, with the most common sources of infected feces coming onto a farm being pigs, trucks, boots, clothing, or other things that can physically move it.

Make sure all incoming animals are healthy. All trucks and trailers MUST be thoroughly washed, dried and disinfected before they go back on-farm, especially those that have been in the United States.

If in doubt, review your biosecurity practices with your veterinarian and work with your employees to ensure they are in effect at all times.

Source: Alberta Pork

Video: How We Pick Sheep For Use As Breeding Stock

In this episode of our sheep farming vlog at Ewetopia Farms, we’re diving deeper into one of the most important parts of raising purebred sheep — selecting our breeding stock. ?? This episode is a direct follow-up to our popular video “You Be The Judge,” where we invited viewers to help evaluate our rams. We read through your comments, shared your insights, and now we’re responding! Arnie and I go over what we agreed with, where our opinions differed, and what we look for when choosing both rams and ewes to carry on our genetics. Breeding decisions at Ewetopia Farms aren’t just about looks — they’re about structure, performance, temperament, and the future of the flock. Whether you’re building your own breeding program or just curious how we make these decisions, today’s discussion offers a rare look inside the thought process behind improving a flock year after year.