A new 680-sow farrow-to-finish hog barn will begin to fill next week on the Wheatland Colony near Shackleton, Sask.
The facility replaces a smaller barn and doubles the colony’s capacity.
However, what really sets it apart is the technology within the barns, said Brad Gampe, western Canadian sales manager for Fast Genetics in Saskatoon, which supplies the operation’s seedstock.
“They built a barn that is second to none,” Gampe said.
The barn features group housing for the sows, turnaround farrowing crates and an electronic feeding system. The site has its own feed mill.
Read Also
Growth plates are instrumental in shaping a horse’s life
Young horse training plans and workloads must match their skeletal development. Failing to plan around growth plates can create lifelong physical problems.
“The barn was built mostly of stainless steel to extend its longevity,” Gampe said.
“The sows can free-range as they gestate. It’s open pens in the growing phase, set up with the turnaround farrowing crates so the sow has the opportunity to move around if she so requires during her lactating period.”
Turnaround farrowing crates are not yet required in hog barns, but that is likely coming.
“With our producers in the States there’s been a few companies that have requested turnaround farrowing crates in order for them to purchase pork product,” he said.
“I said (Wheatland) may want to take a hard look at this.”
The electronic feeding system is unique, he added, in that it ensures the sow receives exactly what it requires.
As a sow enters the feed station, a reader reads its ear tag and feeds it according to what has been programmed into the computer.
Gampe said three barns in Sask-atchewan now have group style housing, but only two farms, Wheatland and Downie Lake Colony at Maple Creek, have the turnaround crates and electronic feeding.
Wheatland Colony is a top-notch producer and was the top herd in North America for sow production, based on data verified by Swine Management Services of Nebraska.
“They were just shy of 34 pigs per sow,” Gampe said.
“They are very good hog managers. I always joked with them the only reason you’re building a new barn is because you don’t have any more room for your plaques and trophies on the wall.”
The colony wouldn’t comment on the cost of the barn, except to say it cost a few million dollars.
“The cost would be substantially lower than it would be for a private producer as we are able to supply most of our own labour and most of the stuff for the barn like penning,” hog manager Steve Hofer said in an email.
“All of the concrete was done directly on site so there is a significant cost difference. It will take a number of years to pay for the barn at current hog prices, but we are in it for the long term.”
Markets have been low but recovered recently with speculation over the effects of African swine fever, said Gampe.
Production from Wheatland is likely to go to Thunder Creek Pork in Moose Jaw, Sask., or Maple Leaf in Brandon, but that hasn’t yet been finalized.
