A New Vision for Swine Health Management in Ontario

Guelph, Ontario — Swine Health Ontario is a new leadership team with a long term vision of excellence in swine health management that gives the provincial swine industry a global competitive advantage.

Led by Ontario Pork (OP) and the Ontario Pork Industry Council (OPIC), a new course has been set to improve and better coordinate the swine industry’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to serious threats to swine health in Ontario.

A steering committee representing a cross section of the swine industry developed a framework over the past ten months that will guide the development of specific projects and programs aimed at improving swine health in Ontario. The committee recommended the creation of an independent swine health leadership team called “Swine Health Ontario”. The 7 member team, chaired by former Provincial Veterinarian and Deputy Chief Veterinarian for Ontario, David Alves, and managed by Lori Moser, currently transitioning out of her role as Managing Director of OPIC, will ensure that swine health efforts are coordinated and aligned with a long-term proactive responsive strategy.

Building on its recent success that minimized the impact of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus in Ontario, the swine industry wants to continue that collaborative effort and improve swine health for the future.

“Ontario has many pieces in place that are working well,” says Amy Cronin, Chair of Ontario Pork. “The intent for Swine Health Ontario is to build on these strengths and provide improved coordination, communication and a long term strategy for swine health management”.

“Collaboration is a key value of the leadership team,” says Jay Squire, Vice-Chair of OPIC. “We all need to be pulling in the same direction toward a proactive long-term strategy for swine health.”

The next step for the leadership team is to develop key priorities and a work plan over the coming months. SHO will collaborate and assist with the implementation of programs and projects as part of the strong network of partners in the provincial swine industry.