National Sow Housing Conversion Project
There is substantial pressure for Canadian producers to convert to group sow housing systems. This is a daunting task for many, and due to the cost involved, it is imperative that those who are making the change do so based on sound scientific information to ensure that pork production remains sustainable and sow productivity and welfare are maintained. By assisting producers in the conversion to group housing, the National Sow Housing Conversion project will help to ensure Canada's role as leading producer and exporter of high quality pork.
However, there are major concerns within the industry surrounding the conversion from stalls to group housing. The process requires a large capital investment, placing pressure on producers with little room for error. Selecting the 'right' system can be a daunting task because there is relatively little knowledge and experience on the management of sows in group systems within the Canadian industry. A variety of group housing systems are available, and these require more space, different management skills and may require more labour inputs compared to stall housing.
The experience of other countries that have already implemented group housing demonstrates that, when done correctly, group sow housing provides sow performance equal to, or exceeding that achieved in stalls. To facilitate and encourage the successful conversion of Canada's sow barns to group housing, the National Sow Housing Conversion Project (NSHCP) was developed to bring together industry and scientific expertise to support Canadian producers through the conversion from stalls to group housing for gestating sows.
Researchers at the Prairie Swine Centre and University of Manitoba have therefore joined together to work with producers on the design of successful barn renovations for group housing. The long term goal of the project is to oversee the construction and implementation of these systems at multiple commercial sites, and to share the information gained from early adopters with other producers. •
— Submitted By Prairie Swine Centre