Thank you for visiting Hog Watch Manitoba’s site. Hog Watch Manitoba believes that we can have a hog industry in Manitoba that is environmentally, ethically and economically sustainable. In order to do so we need to stop the use of intensive confinement systems for the animals and use housing systems for pigs that includes group housing for breeding sows and straw-based housing for all pigs. We are calling for the phase-out, over the next decade, of all liquid manure systems.
Currently, the hog industry in Manitoba allows certain practices like the use of gestations stalls, no covers on manure lagoons, no air scrubbers on barn ventilation , that are outlawed in several other countries around the world. Why should we have looser regulations here that add to environmental threats, inhumane housing for the animals, antibiotic resistance concerns and toxic odour problems for neighbours? As well, Manitoba lakes – including the 10th largest lake in the world, Lake Winnipeg – have had increasing blue-green algae blooms since the 1990’s, around the same time that the hog industry exploded in Manitoba. Phosphorus and nitrogen in hog manure runoff from fields may well be a significant contributor to this problem along with human sewage and climate change.
3 actions you can take
If you are interested in helping to move the hog industry away from the current industrial model please consider taking action on one or all of the following:
1. Copy and send the following letter (or use your own words) to these 3 important business leaders who dominate the hog industry in Manitoba:
Michael McCain, CEO of Maple Leaf Foods michael.mccain@mapleleaf.com
Grant Lazaruk, CEO of Hylife grant.lazaruk@hylife.com
Cam Dahl, General Manager Manitoba Pork cdahl@manitobapork.com
Dear ,
We are contacting you to express our concern about the current hog industry practices that are inhumane for the animals, destructive to our waters, polluting the air both inside the barns and in neighbouring areas and economically unstable. We request you make immediate plans to revise your hog operations to include the following:
- Eliminate the slatted floor liquid manure systems and switch to straw-based housing for the pigs. During the transition period cover 80% of the floor surface with rubber mats, leaving 20% for elimination areas
- Eliminate the use of gestations stalls for the breeding sows and use group housing
- Decrease the number of animals in each barn to 500 or less in all new barn developments
Thank you for your attention to these issues and we look forward to your response.
Signature –
2. Consider making a financial contribution to Hog Watch Manitoba to assist in our work. Hog Watch Manitoba Inc is incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation but we do not have charitable status so are not able to give Charitable Tax receipts. Please consider contributing to our Go Fund Me campaign https://gofund.me/ab217c09 or mail a cheque to Hog Watch Manitoba, PO Box 61082 Grant Park, Winnipeg MB R3M 3X8.
3. Contact us at hogwatchmanitoba@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming involved with our cause.