Pork industry bestows honours
The Canadian pork industry has recognized four of its innovators.
Paul Wurz of Butte Colony in Bracken, Sask., Stephane Clement and Alain Lefebre of JYGA Technologies in St. Nicolas, Que., and Thomas Jacob of Genetic Alliance Ltd., in Acme, Alta., received the F.X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production during the 2010 Banff Pork Seminar held Jan. 19-22.
Paul Wurz received the award for his pregnancy check extension that fits onto a typical pregnancy checking tool.
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Stephane Clement and Alain Lefebvre earned the award for a computerized feeding system they developed for farrowing sows.
The feeder communicates with a computer using wireless tech-nology and provides management feedback.
The invention can feed small amounts of fresh feed at the sow’s demand, resulting in less feed waste.
Thomas Jacob designed a safe and efficient boar training pen, which is based on a two-dummy method.The pen has a success rate of up to 90 percent in the first training session and can train up to 10 boars per hour, resulting in significant time and cost savings.
The award recognizes individuals who have developed original solutions to pork production challenges or creative uses of known technology.
It is named after the late Frank Aherne, a professor of swine nutrition and production at the University of Alberta.
Grain handlers noted
The Canadian Wheat Board has presented its 2008-09 Grain Handler of the Year awards to four facilities:
Shipper to a Canadian port:
North West Terminal, a farmer-owned facility in Unity, Sask.
Shipper to the United States:
Viterra Assiniboia, a high capacity elevator in Assiniboia, Sask.
Eastern port terminal:
Bunge of Canada Ltd., at the Port of Quebec, Quebec City.
Western port terminal:
Prince Rupert Grain, at the Port of Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert, B.C.
This is the first year the awards have been presented.
