Farm Water Conservation

In 2004, High River hog producer Dennis McKerracher tested a new water-efficient drinking device for his pigs.  Working with Climate Change Central, the Canadian Pork Council and Alberta Pork, McKerracher found the ball-bite drinking device cut his pigs' water use by more than 30 per cent.

Conventional hog watering devices release water when pressure is applied.  But with a ball-bite drinker, a pig must close its mouth around the device to get water, resulting in far less spillage, according to trial results.

The study also examined the capital and labour costs of the ball-bite drinker and is monitoring the density and nutrient composition of the pigs' manure.  Says McKerracher:  "If you can reduce water volume without compromising performance, who wouldn't want to save money and reduce their environmental impact?"

McKerracher's greenhouse gas emissions also dropped, because the reduced water demand means less energy is used to treat and pump water.  He received an Emerald Award for Environmental Excellence in 2006.