Olymel is committed to supporting the National Chair in Swine welfare

RED DEER, AB, Oct. 23, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Olymel management announces that it is committed to supporting the work of the future National Chair in Swine Welfare over a five year period with a financial contribution of $15,000 per year. "Olymel believes that because the research findings of the new National Chair in Swine Welfare are focussed on animal welfare regardless what production systems are in use, they should benefit all stakeholders in the Canadian hog industry—producers, veterinarians, processors and distributors. Retailers and consumers should also benefit from the pooling of efforts by the industry and the Chair's researchers, as several groups have called for changes in production practices in recent years," notes Olymel CEO Réjean Nadeau.

The Chair will conduct research jointly with the University of Saskatchewan and the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatoon, and its work will be funded equally by contributions from member companies of the Canadian pork industry and grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

"Olymel believes that its contribution to financing the work of the new research chair will promote best practices throughout the pork industry. The development of advanced scientific research programs will better address the current challenges of hog production, animal welfare, and thus improve the production sector's sustainability. This initiative will also strengthen an industry that makes a significant contribution to Canada's economic development and innovation in the agrifood sector, job creation, as well as the reach of Canadian expertise and products worldwide," Mr. Nadeau said in closing.

About Olymel l.p.

Olymel l.p. is a Canadian leader in the slaughtering, processing and distribution of pork and poultry, with facilities in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. The company employs more than 10,000 persons and exports nearly half its production, mainly to the United States, Japan and Australia, as well as some sixty other countries. Its sales were over $2.3 billion last year, with a slaughtering and processing capacity of 160,000 hogs and 1.7 million birds a week. The company markets its products mainly under the Olymel, Lafleur and Flamingo brands.

SOURCE: Olymel l.p.

For further information:

Richard Vigneault  
Corporate Communications
OLYMEL L.P.    
Tel. : [phone] 
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