OUR RESPONSIBILITY
Food Safety From Farm to Fork
While delivering on taste, it is our utmost responsibility to provide food that is safe and nutritious for our consumers. HyLife utilizes a comprehensive food safety and quality control program, involving both internal and independent auditing. Our program begins with the provision of safe, nutritionally balanced feed to our animals and includes numerous other strict procedures involving proper animal welfare, meticulous monitoring and testing before and during processing, and stringent packaging and shipping requirements. HyLife’s comprehensive food safety program ensures its products are closely monitored every step of the way, which means your food is fully traceable from farm to fork. From our farms to our processing plants to our transportation fleets, our different divisions work together to ensure that what reaches your plate is of the highest quality.
Farm Quality
All our farms are Canadian Pork Excellence certified.
- Our nutrition team safeguards our animal’s optimum diet.
- HyLife world-class veterinarians pay regular visits to the facilities, making sure all the needs and requirements of our animals are being met.
- We have an internal auditing system to ensure we are compliant with all food safety requirements.
- Everyone at our farms receives special training on animal health care as well as proper animal welfare procedures.
- Our Food Safety programs outlining standard procedures maintain the consistency of our products.
- All company livestock drivers are TQA (Transport Quality Assurance) certified.
Farm Quality
All our farms are Canadian Pork Excellence certified.
- Our nutrition team safeguards our animal’s optimum diet.
- HyLife world-class veterinarians pay regular visits to the facilities, making sure all the needs and requirements of our animals are being met.
- We have an internal auditing system to ensure we are compliant with all food safety requirements.
- Everyone at our farms receives special training on animal health care as well as proper animal welfare procedures.
- Our Food Safety programs outlining standard procedures maintain the consistency of our products.
- All company livestock drivers are TQA (Transport Quality Assurance) certified.
Food Quality
HyLife ensures hogs are handled gently at all times.
- Hogs are inspected to ensure they are fit for production.
- Confirmatory testing is performed to make sure the new hogs comply with incoming requirements and are Ractopamine free.
- Process times, temperature and equipment functionality are some of the monitored items at the plant.
- Our monitored procedures provide information that can be analyzed and used in the continuous improvement of our products.
- Final product testing ensures highest quality products.
- All our products are under temperature control.
Feed Quality
Being Feed Assure certified means:
- We are part of the Gold Standard in Feed Safety.
- We have a full HACCP System that includes prerequisite programs and processes and controls that are customized to the feed industry and bring the highest safety standards to feed production.
- We have annual third-party audits to ensure the effectiveness of our safety controls.
- We have domestic recognition.
- We have international recognition having met international standards in managing feed safety risks.
Animal Care
Respecting Animals is a HyLife Core Value that is an obligation and a responsibility expected from all our employees. HyLife provides optimal environmental conditions for our animals by providing them with climate-controlled housing, nutritionally balanced diets, and veterinary health oversight. All of our employees receive comprehensive training in proper care and handling of animals. All our farms are certified under the Canadian Quality Assurance Program and operate according to the Canadian Code of Practice for the Care & Handling of Pigs.
Grain Purchasing
HyLife regularly purchases a variety of grain commodities to be used as feed for its animals. We manufacture approximately 1700 tonnes of feed/day.
With five locations in Manitoba, one location in eastern Saskatchewan and one location in North Dakota, we cover a wide range of delivery points. Our facilities have grain testing equipment and each load is tested before unloading. We have a logistics department and have trucks available to pick up. Prices and volumes vary at each location.
If you are interested in becoming a grain supplier to HyLife we encourage you to contact:
Dennis Kornelsen
Director of Commodity Purchasing
p. 204.424.6009
Global Feed Mill Operations
All grains delivered to the HyLife mills get tested for bushel weight, vomitoxin and moisture before being unloaded. Each type of grain must meet a specific requirement or risk being received at a discounted price or rejected.
Killarney Feed Mill
Killarney Feed Mill, located in Killarney, Manitoba, is the newest addition to the Feed Division that opened in July 2018.
Specs:
- Produces over 250,000 tons of pelleted feed annually
- Over 7,000 tons of total storage
- (2) 350 Horsepower Andritz Hammer Mills
- 5 ton Dual Ribbon LMM Mixer
- (2) 500 Horsepower Andritz Pellet Mills
- (2) Double Deck LMM Coolers
- Automated weigh lorry system to speed up loading of feed trucks
- Dual probe system allows a for faster, more representative grain sample for testing
- Requires approximately 86,000 acres to produce the necessary grains for annual production
We provide our employees with comprehensive training in animal care and handling techniques as well as nutrition management. We also have professional veterinarians on staff that oversee the health and care of our animals on a daily basis.
With a TQA Certification, we make sure that everyone who is in contact with our animals has a positive impact on their well-being.
HyLife is committed to following the Canadian Code of Practice. The result of such diligence is a safe, healthy, tastier product for your table.
The Hylife Environmental Management Program
Our environment is not just important – it is life-sustaining. As a responsible steward of the environment, HyLife aims to produce the highest quality agricultural product while improving and safeguarding environmental conditions for all life in the communities within which we operate.
In keeping with our stewardship responsibilities, the HyLife Environmental Management Team is tasked with ensuring that all activities undertaken are environmentally sound. This includes new farm development, manure storage facility construction & maintenance, and nutrient application activities.
Site Development
HyLife’s Environmental Management Team is involved in the development of all new livestock operations from concept to completion. New operations are only approved after the Team is completely satisfied that the development is environmentally sustainable and has met or surpassed all regulatory requirements.
As part of the process, the Environmental Management Team conducts an in-depth investigation of the overall site suitability for livestock operations, including hydro-geologic testing; a review of land availability for nutrient application; complete soil analyses to confirm suitability for nutrient application; and development of solutions for any potential surface water concerns.
R3 Innovations
In 2008, HyLife Foods invested $24 million dollars for the development of R3 Innovations Inc. Meeting some of the most stringent discharge guidelines in North America, R3 employs state-of-the-art technology to treat and discharge wastewater exiting the processing plant. R3 represents our environmental commitment to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
“R3 Innovations has the ability to treat 100% of the wastewater generated from HyLife Foods”
R3 Innovations has the ability to treat 100% of the wastewater generated from HyLife Foods, with a portion of the treated water undergoing further processing using a Reverse Osmosis system. This processed water is stored and chlorinated for use in HyLife’s truck wash, and also used to cool down the pork processing plant’s refrigeration system. The ability to reuse this water further reduces HyLife’s environmental footprint by reducing the demand for fresh water at the facility – a great accomplishment for HyLife Foods to further our commitment to environmental stewardship.
“We take pride in our uncompromising environmental standards and as a result, invest a lot of time and money into water, soil, and manure management. We are committed to continuous improvement for the future”.
Water Quality Monitoring
HyLife™ works continuously to protect our groundwater supply for both current and future generations. Our Environmental Management Team consistently monitors and maintains HyLife’s™ facilities, including a minimum of five annual inspections of each facility to ensure all aspects of our operation are within our strict guidelines. Groundwater quality in and around our facilities is tested annually, as well as drinking water quality and quantity sampling within each operation. The results from these tests are compiled, analyzed and submitted to Manitoba Sustainable Development.
wells
reduction
Water Resource Protection
HyLife goes to great lengths to measure and monitor every liter of water used in the production of pork within our facilities. Production sites record their water use daily and submit the records to our Environmental Compliance Team to ensure they are using this resource efficiently. Over the past five years, HyLife has reduced its water requirements per kilogram of pork produced by 9%.
Water is our greatest natural resource and HyLife is committed to its preservation. Because groundwater protection is vitally important, HyLife monitors a network of over 200 groundwater monitoring wells around our sites to ensure groundwater is not affected in and around our facilities.
wells
reduction
Water Resource Protection
HyLife goes to great lengths to measure and monitor every liter of water used in the production of pork within our facilities. Production sites record their water use daily and submit the records to our Environmental Compliance Team to ensure they are using this resource efficiently. Over the past five years, HyLife has reduced its water requirements per kilogram of pork produced by 9%.
Water is our greatest natural resource and HyLife is committed to its preservation. Because groundwater protection is vitally important, HyLife monitors a network of over 200 groundwater monitoring wells around our sites to ensure groundwater is not affected in and around our facilities.
Environmental Compliance
HyLife is committed to total environmental compliance at all of our facilities. For more information on the regulations governing HyLife’s operations, visit Manitoba Sustainable Development’s website here.
Nutrient & Soil Management
HyLife has a specific objective to provide partnering landowners with a high-quality manure nutrient product applied in a consistent, safe and sustainable manner. To aid this process, HyLife conducts detailed soil analyses and employs certified Agrologists. Our Environmental Management Team develops and implements detailed nutrient management plans for each individual HyLife site and is involved in all on-farm manure application activities to ensure application rates meet crop requirements.
We track all nutrients applied on all land receiving manure from HyLife facilities, which are monitored by Global Positioning System equipment. This ensures compliance of all field setback requirements and avoids any potential application concerns. Great care is taken to ensure this natural resource is utilized to its fullest extent. Learn more about 4R Nutrient Stewardship here.
Our Community
The HyLife group of companies strongly believes in our responsibility to give back to the communities in which we live and work. We accomplish this by supporting, advocating, volunteering and fundraising for local projects and organizations that benefit the people in our communities. People are our greatest asset, both at HyLife and in our communities, and we don’t ever want to take that for granted.
Some of the Great Organizations HyLife is Proud to Support
- Art Forward
- Agape House
- Beautiful Plains Foundation
- Bethesda Hospital Foundation
- Budz N Bloom Daycare
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Christmas Cheer Board
- École Saint-Joachim Scholarship
- El'dad Ranch
- Grunthal Menno Home
- Habitat for Humanity
- Happy Rock Children's Centre
- HyLife Centre Arena
- Killarney Ag Society
- Killarney Community Centre
- Kola Rec Centre
- La Broquerie Club Sportif
- Le Chalet de La Broquerie
- LeRoy Community Centre
- LeRoy Daycare
- Manitoba Filipino Street Festival
- Maison Chappelle Historic Site
- Mennonite Central Committee
- Mennonite Heritage Village Museum
- Minnedosa Community Childcare Cooperative
- Minnedosa Fun Fest
- Movement Centre of Manitoba
- M.S. Society
- Neepawa Amateur Wrestling Association
- Neepawa Area Collegiate School Scholarship
- Neepawa Boxing Club
- Neepawa Chamber of Commerce
- Neepawa Filipino Basketball League
- Neepawa Golf and Country Club
- Neepawa Minor Hockey
- Neepawa Natives Junior A Hockey Club
- Neepawa Soccer Association
- Quarry Oaks Golf & Country Club
- Red River College South Eastman Education Centre
- Red Rock Bible Camp
- ROC Eastman
- STARS
- Ste. Anne Hospital
- Steinbach Aquatic Centre
- Steinbach Bethesda Foundation
- Steinbach Christian School
- Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club
- Steinbach Minor Hockey
- Steinbach Pistons Junior A Hockey Club
- Steinbach Regional Secondary School Scholarship
- Steinbach Summer in the City
- Southeast Helping Hands
- The Beautiful Plains Foundation
- The Dream Factory
- University of Manitoba
- University of Minnesota
- University of Saskatchewan
- Yellowhead Centre
- Youth for Christ
Fundraising
As part of HyLife’s commitment to give back to the communities in which we do business, our employees are encouraged to give generously of their time and energy to better the communities in which they live. This includes fundraising initiatives to support a wide variety of community projects and events. We are proud of the personal financial contributions HyLife employees frequently make to such causes.
Every year we award the employees who have gone above and beyond in their communities. These employees receive the HyLife Volunteer of the Year Award which symbolizes HyLife’s corporate and individual commitment to making our world a better place. Our 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award recipients were Mitch Tetrault and Sharon Soroka.
HyLife Fun Days is an amazing vendor and employee-sponsored charity fundraising event. The objective of this fundraiser is to bring HyLife staff and our valued vendors and suppliers together to generate donations in the form of sponsorship whereby all net proceeds are equally divided and presented to identified charities.
Since the debut of this fundraising initiative, HyLife Fun Days focused on hockey and broomball engagement. Most recently, we are pleased to have featured hockey and volleyball and to note that our tournament continues to grow each year, including many girls’ teams!
In the past, funds raised have gone to support CancerCare Manitoba, Children’s Wish Foundation, Southern Health’s Out of the Blue Program, Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, STARS, and Special Olympics Manitoba to name a few.
