New swine centre to open fall 2017

Guelph, Ont. – The University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus will be home to a new swine learning facility.

A statement on the university’s website says the new Swine Education Centre will be 6,600 sq.-ft. and will open this fall.

The centre will offer “training and education for agriculture and veterinary technology students and industry producers,” says the website.

The university says the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs mostly funded the $500,000 project. This was done through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, and with the help of Ontario Pork, which contributed 20 per cent of the budget.

The Centre will “feature state of the art technology with a precision sow feeding systems and a high-tech data recording system,” says Ken McEwan, Ridgetown’s campus director.

McEwan adds that students will also “learn the most recent innovations in pork production and animal welfare while providing insights and expertise to innovative and hard-working farmers and pork producers.”

The website explains that the centre will house up to 150 animals and will be used by 300 students each year “for studying courses such as livestock systems, animal science, pork production and animal health.”

The university says the Centre has been contructed to meet codes set up by the National Farm Animal Care Council and standards at the university’s Animal Care Committee.