After 35 years of innovative swine research, the Prairie Swine Centre plans to continue its research for another 35 years, said its chief executive officer.
“Thank you for your support for the last 35 years and I hope we continue to support you in the next 35 years,” said Murray Pettitt during the Prairie Swine Centre’s producer meeting in Red Deer.
Originally built in 1980, the Saskatoon-area research facility was created out of a recognition there was a lack of grower finisher research in the prairies and Canada. Historically the centre has focused on nutrition, engineering and welfare of the hogs, leading to research that influenced the way barns are built and pigs are raised.
Pettitt pointed to space allowance research by Dr. Harold Gonyou that is now enshrined in the Code of Practice. He found the “sweet spot” between what space the animals need and would also maximize productivity for producers.
The centre also focused research into looking at alternative feed ingredients, including feed available on the prairies as a way to improve profitability in the industry. It looked at engineering in the barn to reduce gas production and mitigate dust. On the outside of the barns, research helped improve manure management.
“We remain focused on the productivity and profitability of the swine producer in the prairies and we will for the next 35 years as well.”
One of the biggest benefits may be the vast number of students, trainees, barn staff and researchers who have worked in the barn.
“We have had a lot of people come through the centre as students or trainees or barn staff, receive training and they are now spread throughout the industry promoting best practices developed at the centre,” he said.
“The students and others who come through the prairie swine centre go on to careers. They also sit on committees and have an influence on the hog industry. A lot of the work done at the Prairie Swine Centre has helped define the normal production practices.”
Pettitt said through surveys and discussion the adoption rate of research from the centre is between 40 and 50 percent. If producers were to adopt all the research over the past 35 years, it would mean a net impact gain of $3.80 a pig.
“Take those numbers and multiply by the number of hogs marketed in Alberta per year. We feel we have a five and a half million dollar impact on the industry in Alberta. That is just this province. We like to think we are good value for our money.”
Since the beginning, base funding has included stable money from the Saskatchewan government and the provincial pork organizations. The money is then leveraged to access more research dollars.
“We are very grateful for these dollars and the financial support over the last 35 years from Alberta Pork and our other partners. We are also keenly aware this money comes from you folks in the room. We are always aware that in order to continue to earn your trust, you need to do good work and get it back out to you.” •
— By Mary MacArthur