How pigs are raised is a mystery to most people.
Not only are the animals kept behind solid walls, locked doors and high security, but most people don’t even know what a pig barn looks like.
The Prairie Swine Centre wants to change that. Though it is already building the floors for its new research barn at Elstow, Sask., the centre hopes to alter the design of the upper level to allow a long observation deck for visitors.
“They’ll be able to see every section of the barn,” said director John Patience.
Read Also
Dry bean seeded acreage in Manitoba hits 20-year high
Dry bean acreage across all types reached around 207,000 acres in 2025, representing a significant increase from last year’s 182,000 acres.
Visitors will see farrowing, nursery, grow-out and dry sow rooms.
The centre also wants visitors to be able to ask questions about pig production, something few people know much about.
“The pork industry has nothing to hide,” said Patience.
“There’s nothing that goes on in a barn that we don’t think the general public should see, but because of biosecurity we don’t have the opportunity to see it.”
The centre doesn’t know how much it will cost to build the viewing deck. It hopes to raise money from both public and private sources to support building and operating the deck.
Patience said the centre will not ask producers to contribute to the project because they already supply most of the centre’s funding.
Instead, companies that rely on hog producers will be encouraged to contribute.
