The Rural Voice, 2002-04, Page 37I1
particularly with the younger pigs
that go into the barn at 25 kilos but
generally there have been few
fluctuations in cold weather, Frank
says.
A beginning farmer, typically the
kind who wants to get his foot in the
door by contracting for Acre T,
couldn't afford the multi-million
dollar facilities Acre T built for itself
in the mid -nineties, Frank says.
Instead these units, ranging from 800
to 2000 head, are more affordable,
going up in about eight weeks
compared to three or four months.
Hi -Tech Feeding Equipment can help
contracting farmers identify a site,
develop nutrient management plans,
obtain building permits, line up
financing for barn construction and
act as general contractor, hiring
subtrades and providing the
necessary equipment for inside the
barn.
By comparison to the more
elaborate barns, the new barns
look almost unfinished, like a
shed with an insulated roof but the
bare wood of the lower trusses
exposed. The construction allows
good air circulation, however.
"We looked at some of the larger
production systems in the U.S. and
felt we had to compete with that,"
Frank explains.
The larger barns took more
expertise to operate, Frank says.
They used liquid feeding systems
and while this offers distinct
advantages, there's a level of man-
agement required that contractors
may not always have. As well there's
an economy of scale required for the
benefits of liquid feeding to be seen.
"It didn't fit in with our contract
philosophy", Frank says.
That contracting decision also
takes in sow facilities and nursery
barns, he says. About 5,500 sows are
under contract, supplying nurseries.
These facilities require a higher level
of experience and management skill
than the finishing facilities but
there's also a high level of support
from Acre -T staff with more
frequent visits.
The smaller finishing barns are
easier to site than the big units, Frank
says. The large barns require more
acreage for spreading of manure and
bigger setbacks from buildings. The
smaller barns can be built on an
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APRIL 2002 33