The Rural Voice, 1986-06, Page 12INNOVATIVE IDEAS
Raymond Howling put some of his ideas to work: a greenhouse heated by the
hog barn, a "pig" elevator, and hot nursery rooms in his barn.
by Phyllis Coulter
Raymond Howling is a modest
man. His ideas in pork pro-
duction are often on the leading
edge of development, but his mild
manner would never reveal that.
Since he began farming the
100 -acre family farm near the
scenic hamlet of New Dundee in
1965, Howling's primary goal has
been to improve the grade of pigs
he produces for both his customers
and himself.
He has a 75 -sow farrow to finish
operation plus purebred Hamp-
shires and purebred Yorkshires.
In 1982, he was among the first
in Ontario to use an automated
turkey curtain for his naturally
ventilated barn.
Howling also designed and built
an elevator to move pigs up and
down as required in his two-storey
building. He has been using it for
five years and considers it to be
very useful.
His latest innovation focuses on
another interest he and his wife
Sheila share. In April 1985, he
built a greenhouse on the south
side of his hog barn. He poured a
six-inch cement foundation sixteen
inches above grade level. The
greenhouse is 18.5 feet long, 6.5
feet wide and eight feet high.
This greenhouse which he con-
structed for only $400 housed
tomatoes for the family until
December last year.
Howling also heats it inexpen-
sively. A 10 -inch exhaust fan blows
heat into the greenhouse from the
barn at nights and on cool days.
On a sunny day in the winter, the
temperature in the greenhouse will
reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The
warm stable air does not affect the
taste of the tomatoes. Last year the
plants grew seven feet tall and pro-
duced red, firm tomatoes.
The greenhouse roof is metal
Raymond Howling built a greenhouse attached to the south side of
their pig barn at the cost of $400. The hog barn heats the greenhouse.
and is insulated with urethane in-
sulation as are the doors and end
walls. The non -glass roof prevents
the greenhouse from getting too
warm in the summer and the in-
sulation prevents heat loss during
winter months. In the winter, the
sun is on a 30 degree angle so the
greenhouse picks up all the heat
available.
Sheila starts tomatoes and let-
tuce plants in the greenhouse and
transfers most of them to her
garden. Today the greenhouse
holds onions, radishes,
watermelon plants, and annual
flowers.
Another innovation is the two
hot nursery rooms in the barn.
These rooms are kept at a
temperature of between 82 and 85
degrees Fahrenheit. Since Howling
constructed these rooms, he has
reduced the number of days to 200
pounds by about 10 days. He
estimates that the days to market
for his commercial herd are below
150 now partly because of the
preferred treatment the piglets get
in the nursery.
Each of the 12 four by four
decks in the nursery have total
fiberglass slats. The piglets are
brought to the nursery at three to
four weeks of age and are raised
here for three to four weeks
longer, then they go to the weaner
area. The nursery, heated elec-
10 THE RURAL VOICE