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Stronger Together: How Collaboration Is Transforming Swine Disease Preparedness in Western Canada

The Saskatchewan pork sector is entering a new era of disease preparedness as producers, veterinarians, and government partners work more closely than ever to guard against both endemic and foreign animal diseases.

At the recent Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2025 in Saskatoon, provincial leaders highlighted how coordination and communication across the industry have strengthened dramatically over the past decade. The message was clear: no single group can tackle swine disease alone.

A Shift Toward Shared Responsibility

According to Saskatchewan’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Stephanie Smith, one of the biggest changes in modern animal health management is the move toward industry-wide integration. Collaboration isn’t just encouraged — it’s becoming the standard.

Canada’s evolving structures, including national and provincial surveillance networks and the development of Animal Health Canada, are enabling faster information flow, better detection of disease trends, and more consistent strategies across regions.

“These partnerships give us a clearer picture of what’s happening across the country,” Dr. Smith noted during discussions at the symposium. “Strong surveillance and strong relationships allow us to respond more effectively.”

Biosecurity Still the First Line of Defense

While new tools and networks continue to evolve, the fundamentals remain unchanged: biosecurity is the backbone of disease prevention.

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Same Grit, New Name: A Conversation with Ryan Calistro of Bower Ag

Video: Same Grit, New Name: A Conversation with Ryan Calistro of Bower Ag

Swine Leaders Live, we sit down with Ryan Calistro, President of Bower Ag, to discuss a major brand transition in the ag construction and solutions space—and what it means for swine producers. Bower Ag represents a new, unified identity, bringing together Ag Property Solutions, Dairy Specialists, and The Dairy Solutions Group under one name. But as Ryan explains, this isn’t about change for the sake of change—it’s about strengthening what already works and delivering more value to producers.

We dive into:

• What Bower Ag is and why the transition was made

• What stays the same for longtime customers

• How combining multiple businesses creates new opportunities for producers

• What today’s producers are asking for—and how Bower Ag is responding

• Key insights heading into World Pork Expo

If you’ve worked with APS before—or are evaluating partners for your next project—this conversation provides a clear look at where Bower Ag is headed and how they’re positioning themselves for the future.