February 8, 2007

US state to have 5000-pig farrowing operation

A 5,000-pig farrowing operation is one of four planned in the state of North Dakota by a group called North Dakota Sow Centre LLP.

The company plans to produce high quality piglets to be sold to pig producers under contractual arrangement.

The US$8-million project near Edmore includes a gestation barn roughly the size of two football fields placed end to end, and a farrowing barn that is smaller but still larger than a football field, according to industry news.

North Dakota Sow Centres is raising US$12.5 million in start-up funds through the sale of 250 shares at US$50,000 each.

The group would raise pigs from birth to 14 pounds. Such a process would take about 21 days. The first pigs are to be delivered to a cooperative-owned hog-finishing plant in Remsen, Iowa, around Labor Day.