BANFF, Alta. — A system that thoroughly washes the underside of livestock trailers was recognized for innovation at the Banff Pork Seminar Jan. 12.
Bill Rempel of Blue Water Wash, based in Blumenort, Man., received the F.X. Aherne prize for innovative pork production at the event.
The invention is an undercarriage wash for heavy equipment and is in place at wash bays in Blumenort, where it is used in conjunction with truck wash stations.
The system employs 24 spinning nozzles that spray 90 gallons of water per minute to clean livestock trailers, removing material that has potential to harbour and spread disease.
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The importance of cleaning livestock transport vehicles has gained prominence in recent years, particularly since porcine epidemic diarrhea infected more than 100 hog barns in Canada, nine of them in Manitoba.
Blue Water Wash is a division of Steve’s Livestock Transport.
In other awards presented at the seminar, Dr. Steve Webel received the George Foxcroft Honourary Lectureship in Swine Production Research.
Webel is the director of reproduction research and development for JBS United Inc., and was recognized for his work in estrus and ovulation control in pigs. Current work involves fixed-time insemination in sows and gilts.
The R.O. Ball Young Scientist Award was presented to Jean-Philippe Martineau for his work on organic trace minerals in gilt growth and longevity.
Second place for this award was presented to Stephanie Gartner for her work on the effects of administering amoxicillin on inflammation and insulin secretion in young pigs.
