The Rural Voice, 1993-07, Page 29scrape out all the straw pack. The
heavy use of straw does create more
manure which may be a problem for
some farmers but not in his operation,
Stewart says.
After the shelter is cleaned out he
puts in a new six-inch layer of sand
on the floor. He tries to leave the
shelter empty for a week to 10 days
between batches. There have been no
problems with disease carry-over in
the soil, he says.
The labour saving helps Stewart
play his part in the larger family
operation. His brother Dale is in
charge of the cattle end of G. A.
Stewart Farms while Allan
MacDonald looks after the crops. The
family owns about 900 acres and
rents another 500 for cropping. Mark
and Ann's hog operation involves a
herd of 55-65 sows, producing 1200
market hogs as well as selling
weaners to other operators.
One of the few problems with the
shelter for his operation, Stewart
says, is making sure you have 150
weaners to fill the barn at once.
When people come to him for
advice he gives them the
disadvantages and the advantages of
the system and lets them judge for
Labour
saving leaves
time for other
farming
activities
themselves, he says. Interest in
cheaper housing for pigs is growing
around the world. As well as the
Biotech shelters simple, moveable
metal shells, Econo-shelters are also
being promoted as alternatives to
more expensive barns. In Denmark
there are even shelters that consist
only of walls made of large square
bales of straw with a tarpaulin
stretched over the top. With the
current state of the pork industry it's
likely the curiosity of more small
operators will lead them to make their
way up Mark Stewart's laneway, past
the fallow deer, the horses and
Guinea Hens to see this unusual way
of raising pigs.0
6fs
• Significant improvement in hay quality in controlled research.
• Permanently registered with Agriculture Canada.
• Available in water soluble or dry granular.
• Heat stabilized, not requiring refrigeration.
• Non -corrosive with no palatability problems.
• Very economical and convenient to use.
CALL NUHN BIO -TECH COLLECT ANYTIME • 519-393-5770
DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME
Remember Last Year?
SILA-PRIME CAME THROUGH
WITH MORE PREMIUM FORAGES
Another example of a producer's attempt to keep costs down
is the case of Hugh and Shirley Eskritt. In June of 1992 these
weaner producers made a decision to begin to finish their own
pigs. They purchased two 12' x 21' Econo-Shelters, each in-
tended to hold 50 pigs. Having experienced and monitoring a full
winter and being pleased with the results, they are putting up 4
more presently.
Made of galvanized steel, these structures will last better than
30 years. The cost to set up for 150 hogs would be approximately
$10,000. Feed conversion on over 250 Eskritt finishing hogs from
June of 1992 to March of 1993 was 2.9 with 103 days to market
average. One distinct advantage the Econo-Shelter offers is
smaller group size, which creates an easier all -in -all-out situation.
The galvanized steel is easy to clean and there is no wood to hold
disease organisms. "Healthy pigs year round as well as a much
healthier environment for people to work in." For larger herds, the
size of the shelter is adapted to one week's weaning.
For more information contact Econo-Shelter, Ben Hogervorst.
(519) 529-3140 (evenings are best).
JULY 1993 25