I smell bacon!

1. I smell bacon! The Industrial PORK INDUSTRY

2. Put Pork on your Fork!Industry Overview • Pigs are not under a quota system • In 2011, 1700 farmers in Ontario produced 4.8 million hogs • Farms numbers are down 90% from 1979 – there were over 20 000 producers • In 2011, a 100 kg pig sold for $161 • It also cost $167 to raise that same pig • Meaning Ontario farmers lost on average $ 6 per pig • Lets visit a hog farm • 2011 Pork Industry Report

3. Farrowing (Giving Birth) • A pig’s gestation (pregnancy) lasts for 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days • On average she gives birth to 8-14 piglets and produces 2.5 litters/year • She is bred artificially • Lets take a look at the miracle of life • http://www.farmissues.com/virtualTour/en/pigFarms/farrowingHogs/farrowing.html-

4. Wieners • The pigs are with their mothers for 15-21 days then moved to a different barn • Fed milk replacements and kept very warm (30º C) • Stay here unit they are 50-60 kgs

5. Growing and FinishingPIgs • Currently most pigs are marketed at 110 kgs (242 lbs) • Depends on what the meat packers desire for weights

6. Pork Industry • Commercially, raising pigs is a very risky investment due price fluctuations • Hog buildings only serve one purpose – raising pigs • Most hog buildings start at $500 000 to build and are cement and steel. • Ammonia (NH3)and methane (CH4)gases created by the manure pits underneath, eat away at steel and cement collapsing roofs and floors after 10 – 15 year life span. • Very difficult for farmers to recoup their investments

7. Manure Handling • Confined pigs are not given any straw or bedding (carbon) • manure falls through the floor into manure pits • Resulting in very toxic and unbelievable smell • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__B9f7Lz_5w

8. Environmental Concerns • Pig manure is a terrific fertilizer, full of N, P, K • If manure gets into ground water, the increase in nitrates ,causes algae and other noxious aquatic plants to flourish, reducing water quality. • Also, manure pits do explode Foam scraped liquid manure tank

9. Disease • Pig farmers are very concerned about biosecurity measures • Diseases getting into “closed” barn could mean economic catastrophe as pigs will die

10. porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) • Blue-ear pig disease • Was first reported in 1987 • Causes reproduction failure in mature pigs and respiratory tract illness in growing pigs • Costs the U.S industry about $600 million annually in losses • The virus keeps mutating, meaning vaccines do not work

11. Pig Epidemic diarrhea Virus(PEDV) new Disease • Affects suckling pigs the most (3 weeks and younger) • In some cases 100% mortality • Symptoms include severe diarrhea and vomiting • Older pigs are set back, but usually recover • Hundred of farms have been affected and thousands of pigs • Experts think the virus is transmitted on trucks as pigs are transported • No vaccines have been established • Source: National Hog Farmer

12. PED Virus in Young PIgs

13. Media • Gestation Crates • Pigs are re-bred after farrowing, usually within 3 weeks, sows are placed in gestation crates • Pigs stand or lie down for the majority of their time unable to turn around, very stressful and loud