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1,300 piglets euthanized on western Manitoba farm

By: Staff Writer

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012 at 4:01 PM | Comments: 5

The Chief Veterinarian’s Office was forced to kill 1,300 piglets on a western Manitoba farm Friday when they were discovered to be in severe distress, the province said today.

The province wouldn’t comment on the mistreatment of the animals or exactly where the farm is located because the case is under investigation, but a spokesperson said the piglets were euthanized humanely to avoid further pain and suffering.

The Office inspected the farm after receiving a complaint about the mistreatment of hogs. The initial investigation found about 1,300 piglets in such distress they had to be put down.

A full investigation under the Animal Care Act was immediately initiated, but charges had yet to be laid as of Tuesday afternoon.

History

Updated on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 2:12 PM CDT:
corrects typo

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Posted by:JOHN FEFCHAK

August 30, 2012 at 11:24 AM

MY ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS POSTED BY CONSTRUCTION GUY.

(1) I Agree.
(2) Wpg contribution, including raw sewage = About 6% of Manitoba’s total contribution.
(3) Yes, (not, could be contributing) IS CONTRIBUTING.
(4) Pretty much in the Red River flood Plain and definitely in the Interlake region. All will eventually end up in
Lake Winnipeg.
(5) Yes, that is a laid down provincial requirement. The province also, has issued a phosphorus limit
of 827 pounds per acre province wide. (most crops would require about 20 pounds)That is a license to
pollute.
(6) Lose Votes…indeed, that is a possibility. But since the agriculture sector has been pegged for
15-16% of Manitoba’s total phosphorus contribution, that would suggest that the algea problem needs to be
addressed at all levels.

Posted by:Construction Guy

August 29, 2012 at 4:33 PM

There are bad hog farmers just like there are bad people. Do you know how much raw sewage the city of Winnipeg dumps into waterways? Could this be contribiting to the phosphorus problems in our lakes? Do you know have far most of these operations are from waterways? Do you know the soil testing requirements these operations have to go through to even inject manure as fertilizer? Do you think there is a chance our current provincial goverment is blaming the farmers for the algae problem because they don't want to addresss the real problem within the city of Winnipeg because they might lose votes?

Posted by:Bill the Needle

August 29, 2012 at 7:45 AM

This story is only of interest if some facts are eventually released and reported

Posted by:JOHN FEFCHAK

August 28, 2012 at 8:14 PM

Right now, the Hog Industry in Manitoba is exporting processed pork, and the two plants in Manitoba are calling for even MORE hogs. (94 % is exported.)
I am pretty certain, Manitobans, and all Canadians have been supporting this Industry very well with our tax dollars, ever since it came into Manitoba. There have been a lot of handouts and bailouts for several years now.
This was former Manitoba's Premier Gary Filmon's dream, of having Value Added Assets.
It is turning out as a 'nightmare'

Posted by:toxicalgae

August 28, 2012 at 4:52 PM

Surely we are better than this. Can anybody tell me why we have tolerated this factory farming model in our province this long? Who has benefited, besides a few big hog corporations?
Enough pain and suffering for these unfortunate creatures in the hands of people who view these animals as mere products to be used and abused.
Our waterways are so compromised now by over-application of phosphorus rich hog slurry onto the land, who knows how long it will take to restore them, after this industry has died its unnatural death. These large corps are lining their own pockets at our expense. Our farmers and the people who work in the meat plants are mere serfs to big business's calling.
The worst evil happens when good people know something is wrong and do nothing about it.

The worst kind of evil happens when good people know something bad is happening and do NOTHING.

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