Couple Teaches Time-Saving Pig Handling

Couple Teaches Time-Saving Pig Handling 32-3-9 "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).

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