Couple Teaches Time-Saving Pig Handling HOG EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Hog Equipment & Ideas 351 Through workshops and videos we try to make life easier for pig handlers and the animals they work with say Don and Nancy Lidster of White Fox Sask     The two entrepreneurs had plenty of experience with pigs when they decided eight years ago to convert their knowledge into a business that helps others     The couple operates DNL Farms Ltd marketing on-site workshops and an online educational resource for the pig industry Their products and services offer skills training that can improve hog farm profitability by teaching pig handlers how to work more efficiently while handling the pigs humanely      We cater to all aspects of the hog businessà small farm operator-owners larger operation employees truckers and slaughterhouse workers Nancy says     According to the couple difficulties most often arise when the handler s in a hurry and tries to force movement with a chase approach Better success can be achieved by using the animals natural herd-following behavior to get movement The Lidsters found the best way of teaching is by showing videotaped real life examples of both good and bad pig handling      We ve videoed handlers in barns trucks assembly yards and packing plants Nancy points out     The couple offers a customizable 4-hour on-site Low Stress Pig Handling Workshop and also sells their videos online In addition they can be hired to produce customized videos for individual workplaces     They also offer private consultation trouble shooting services presentations/lectures and online training videos on breeding farrowing finisher skills nursery skills hog barn maintenance plus general management and human resources training The online pay per view system allows viewers to access videos for $5 each     To accommodate operations that employ foreign workers the couple can produce training videos in other languages     To view a video for free on their website www pighandling com click on the Video Store button and then on Sample Video on the top right hand banner      We offer workshops that include an exam and certification and we keep a registry of everyone who s certified Nancy says We charge $100 per person which doesn t take very long for people to earn back because of more efficient use of manpower We usually aim for 15 registered people per workshop and if there s much traveling involved we try to set up two or three workshops in an area to cover our traveling expenses     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup DNL Farms Ltd Don and Nancy Lidster P O Box 160 White Fox Sask Canada S0J 3B0 ph 306 276-5761; fax 306 276-2087; dnlfarms@xplornet com; www pighandling com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.