Saskatoon – How many pigs does it take to make a pen? This question is the focus of a workshop held at the Prairie Swine Center Focus on The Future Conference, March 27 & 28 in Saskatoon.

“This workshop is designed to bring together experienced operators to discuss and demonstrate through their operation some of the key factors that determine the success, including pig training, personnel training, equipment selection, and barn design” notes Dr. Harold Gonyou, Research Scientist with Prairie Swine Centre.

Lee Whittington, Manager of Information Services at Prairie Swine Centre points out the considerable experience of the speakers on the program, “We will have two farms discussing their systems, with Cliff Her of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, and Don Huftalin of Malta, Illinois. Mr. Her is the grow-finish production manager with Big Sky Farms, and has constructed 45,000 large groups housing spaces with auto-sort technology. Mr. Huftalin and his family operate a 2000 sow farrow to finish farm, using 18 auto-sorters spread over two states, with internet links allowing management of the barns and auto-sorting equipment from the home farm”

“This technology offers opportunities as well as some significant challenges to farm operators” notes Dr. Gonyou, “By having this discussion we are in a position to assist farms in making wise choices for incorporating new technology based on experience as well as recent research, it also gives the industry an excellent opportunity to help develop plans for future research in this area.”

Registration for the conference can be made by phone 306-373-9922, fax 306-955-2510, or email ken.Engele@usask.ca

Prairie Swine Centre Inc., located in Saskatoon, is a non-profit research corporation affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan, and is recognized globally for its contributions to practical, applied science in pork production in the disciplines of Nutrition, Engineering and Animal Behaviour.