John, Martin and Dennis Decker of Sunrise Colony standing in front of
concrete slats that will replace aging slats in their grower barn.
Old slats have been removed from the grower room and replaced with new
concrete slats. The old gates and dividers needed to be adjusted to fit the new floor, but are being reused.
The old slats were removed and the new slats put in. The barn staff need to adjust the old gates to fit the new floor.
The room was just washed and the old slats will be
removed and replaced with new concrete slats.

The strong price of pigs and the age of the Skylight Colony’s pig barn were the deciding factors in going ahead with a barn renovation project, said Skylight Colony’s pig boss Martin Decker.
“The barn made the decision. It’s the barn’s idea. The barn says you have to do it because of the age,” said Decker.
After 17 years, the concrete slats had worn thin and the pigs’ dewclaws were being ripped on the worn slats.
“We have noticed less feet and leg issues now that the slats are replaced. The older slats were causing the dewclaws to fall off.”
Two years ago the concrete slats in the farrowing barns were replaced, last year slats were replaced in the finisher barn and this year concrete slats are being replaced in the grower barns.
By replacing slats and upgrading some ventilation controls and sorters, Decker hopes to keep the barn producing pigs for another 17 years.
“The age of the barn takes us to the point where you change it. The prices keep us optimistic to keep going. The money is allowing it,” he said.

Pigs on the new floors.
Updated Sorters in the finisher barn.



Decker estimates it cost about $500,000 to replace the concrete slats over the past three years, plus upgrade monitors and ventilation controls, a price that can be justified by strong prices and the good condition of the rest of the barn.
Decker estimates the costs for this year’s grower barn updates at about $160,000 for slats, $30,000 for updated controllers and $40,000 for updated sorters.
“With all of that being done we still have money on the table. That is why we take it year by year.”
After each room is emptied of pigs, the floors are washed and the job of removing the old concrete slats begins. Using a series of rollers, winches and wagons, the 90 9 ft by 2 ft slats are taken out through a window. It takes one day to remove and replace all the concrete slats, but about a week in total to replace the old pens and get the room ready for the next set of pigs. The original gates and dividers are reused, but need to be adjusted to fit with the new flooring.
“There is nothing wrong with the gates, just the flooring,” he said.
Decker expects all eight grower rooms will be refurbished by the new year. •
— By Mary MacArthur