|
New tools developed to help producers switch from gestation stalls
Story Date: 11/26/2012
| |
Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 11/23/12
Manitoba Pork, University of Manitoba researchers and the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council have partnered to develop a suite of practical decision-making tools for pork producers making the switch from gestation stalls to alternative forms of group housing.
"We are specifically looking at options for converting existing sow barns, rather than for new barn construction," project leader Dr. Laurie Connor said in the latest newsletter from the National Center for Livestock and the Environment, published by the University of Manitoba. "Many barns in Manitoba are at the point where interior equipment is nearing time for replacement, but the barn structures still have 10-15 years of use left."
The project is expected to foster a series of workshops in early 2013 that will help producers decide among dozens of options to meet their individual needs in addition to cost implications on individual operations. Among the options are trickle feeding, electronic sow feeding and free access stalls.
Meatingplace will offer an in-depth look at the latest technologies in alternatives to gestation stalls in the January issue of its magzine.
For more stories, go to http://www.meatingplace.com/.
|
|
|
|
