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The Rural Voice, 1999-06, Page 11Scrap Book Alberta company designs automatic pig sorter An Airdrie, Alberta company thinks it has invented an automatic pig sorter that is fast. doesn't upset the pigs, and works at temp- eratures as low as -40 degree C. "They're not scared of it." said Liesel MacPhee. vice-president of K and L Technical Services Ltd. which invented The Super Sorter. The machine can sort 1.50-200 pigs per hour. It is built around a weigh scale and allows one pig at a time to enter. It looks like an alleyway, so the pigs aren't frightened by it. said MacPhee. They can see all the way through the sorter. The machine reads the pig's weight and, if it is the minimum weight set by the producer, an exit gate to the market hog pen will open and the pig will amble out to join its colleagues. If it is underweight, a different exit will open and the pig can join other pigs which need more feeding. MacPhee said the pigs are keen to pass through the gates when feeding bunks are on the other side of the sorter. The machine weighs about 200 pounds and can be easily wheeled in and out whenever sorting is required. Most producers use the system only for sorting pigs for market but MacPhee said some keep the machine permanently operating so they can closely monitor their animals' weight gain. The gates use air pressure rather than hydraulics, which allows the scale to function in the coldest winter conditions. The company suggests putting the sorter in 24 hours before shipping. That way even the fattest, laziest pigs will succumb to the urge to pass through to eat. The Super Sorter costs $5,500 plus the cost of fencing.0 —Source: Western Producer (RLmRR) The world's largest supplier of grain bins, portable dryers, Top Dry' dryers, elevators, aeration and drying fans and... a company providing quality in design, sales, installation and service since 1976. A GREAT COMBINATION FOR YOUR GRAIN STORAGE, DRYING & HANDLING SYSTEMS ALmAR GRAIN SYSTEMS LTD. 131 Thames Rd. W., Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S3 Tel: (519) 235-1919 • Fax: (519) 235-2562 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: wwwalmar.on.ca • Custom application for post spraying of corn, beans, grains, and pasture ground • Row crop spraying • Low soil compaction • Very accurate • Hay and pasture ground needs that extra boost • Spreaders readily available • Terra -Gator • Bulk delivery unit Large supply of chemicals and fertilizer on hand HOWSON & HOWSON LTD. BLYTH 523-9624 1-800-663-3653 JUNE 1999 7