HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-03-08, Page 54`Page 10A 'FarnttEtdition189
Farmer sees hogs as good
D.Fe.Hindmarsln
Forthe past 11 years -Jane Bradshawhas
'managed a hog operation at R.R.2
Bayfield. A native of Cobourg, Jane is ac-
customed to the farthing life, Her father
raised cattle until his 79th year.
After purchasing the land she calls
home, cash cropping was on her mind.
Jane received the help =and support of
neighbours in her endeavour but -didn't feel
the -acreage was sufficient to support a
cash crop venture.
Five years later she purchased 12 York
Landracesows. The Bradshaw family was
in the hog business.
"1 never really liked hogs much. They
scared me!" Jane laughed. "Now it's
.good...it's fun. They're intelligent and
good natured."
Gone .are the days of bucket running
feed. Her back no longer strains under
wheelbarrow loads of manure. There .still
exists the necessary manual labour of any
farming operation, however, computer
technology has entered the picture.
In 1987, the Bradshaws installed the
Hurst HE 1000 Sow Feeding System. This
computer system was developed in
Holland and the British Isles as a labour-
saving feeding device, .doubling as a com-
prehensive management tool. The com-
puter records at Jane's fingertips include
culling, exact feeding records, breeding
dates .and vaccination scheduling.
The pre-programmed system allows suf-
ficient time to move sowsfromthe running
pen: into the farrowing stalls. The efficien-
cy factor results in greater :production
leading to ,an increase -in hogs -to -market
The bred sows:are segregated and outfit-
ted with .numbered collars referred to as
identification transponders. The computer
starts the feeding process at 3:20 am.
.alerting the sows to move toward the en-
trance gate of the feeding station.
The transceiver housed within the
transponder collar issues a coded signal
which allows access. Pregtneasured
amounts of nourishment are directed via
an auger into a feeding trough. Each sow
spends five to 10 minutes within the stall.
When the food is consumed the exit gate is
activated. The computer, does not feed the
same sowtwiceas the system will not res-
pond a second"tithe to the same signal in
one feeding period.
Observing the orderly fashion in which
the sows enter and departthe station, one
is :impressed by the patient, gentle nature
Of this particular herd.
This remarkable system enables Jane
the luxury .of accurate :stock records and
the time to oversee all breeding and far-
rowing. Future ,profits will -mean expan-
sionandan increase in the number:of sows
chosen from her own litters.
The running pens are ventilated by
natural air flow. The shutters which line
the walls are activated' by a 1.5 horsepower
air compressor which in turn is controlled
by the indoor air temperature. in- the
winter when the temperature rises to68°F,
the shutters open, allowing :crisp air to
flow throughout. the pens. The degree of
temperature varies with the seasons as
does the width of the shutter;opening. The
indoor temperature is .comfortable and the
air fresh.
To achieve maximum productivity
above and beyond the capabilities of the
Hurst HE 1000,Jane attends .courses and
seminars ;offered by ne ce1lence.
Bradshaw's philosophy of allowing the
hogs to take :care;of themselves, interven-
ing only when necessary, works.
Turn to page 13A •
Jane and son Derek in front of their R.R. 2 Hayfield farm (D.F. Hindmarsh photo)
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