2005 Dr. F.X. Aherne Prize Winners

Don and Nancy Lidster

Don and Nancy Lidster received the award for their innovative pork industry training video series "Staff training for pig skills." The Lidsters, long-time producers, realized that a major limitation for producers was finding adequate training resources. They made the shift from producers to consultants, and with assistance of industry, produced 45 videos of swine management techniques, offering important background, safety tips and explanation of skills.The videos are used by employees, or by producers wanting to improve skills. They are offered at low or no cost to Western pork producers.

Rocky Morrill of Peace Pork Inc.

Rocky Morrill of Peace Pork Inc. received his award for the incorporation of large group housing and an auto-sort system into an existing fully slatted flushing system. Today, the farm uses 48 auto-sorters in four barns and markets 80,000 pigs per year from the large group housing. An innovative system of gates and a well-designed floor plan allow pigs to acclimatize to the system on their own, with little negative impact on productivity. A significant factor in the change was improved work experience for staff.

Shokry Rashwan, The Puratone Company

Shokry Rashwan, The Puratone Company received the award for development of the Biovator, a unique vessel for composting animal mortalities and by-products. Disposing of dead animals is a significant challenge to livestock producers. This innovative process shortens composting time from five months to less than a week, and at low cost. It operates year round, even in cold weather. The resulting product is safe, natural and valuable compost.

Press Release: Banff Pork Seminar honours industry innovators

Banff, Alta. Jan. 20, 2005: The 2005 Banff Pork Seminar has announced the three winners of this year’s F. X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production.

The awards, named in honour of former researcher and educator, Dr. Frank Aherne, went to Don and Nancy Lidster from White Fox, Sask.; Rocky Morrill of Peace Pork Inc., Falher, Alta; and Shokry Rashwan, The Puratone Company, Niverville, Man.

The awards were presented at this year’s conference. Aherne was on hand to congratulate the winners.

"Industry progress comes from innovation and these innovators are typical of what makes the Canadian pork industry strong," says Lee Whittington of the Prairie Swine Centre, who made the presentations. "Frank Aherne showed those same characteristics over his long career."

Don and Nancy Lidster received the award for their innovative pork industry training video series "Staff training for pig skills."

The Lidsters, long-time producers, realized that a major limitation for producers was finding adequate training resources. They made the shift from producers to consultants, and with assistance of industry, produced 45 videos of swine management techniques, offering important background, safety tips and explanation of skills.

The videos are used by employees, or by producers wanting to improve skills. They are offered at low or no cost to Western pork producers.

Rocky Morrill of Peace Pork Inc. received his award for the incorporation of large group housing and an auto-sort system into an existing fully slatted flushing system. Today, the farm uses 48 auto-sorters in four barns and markets 80,000 pigs per year from the large group housing.

An innovative system of gates and a well-designed floor plan allow pigs to acclimatize to the system on their own, with little negative impact on productivity. A significant factor in the change was improved work experience for staff.

Shokry Rashwan, The Puratone Company received the award for development of the Biovator, a unique vessel for composting animal mortalities and by-products.

Disposing of dead animals is a significant challenge to livestock producers. This innovative process shortens composting time from five months to less than a week, and at low cost. It operates year round, even in cold weather. The resulting product is safe, natural and valuable compost.

Now in its third year, the F.X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production was instituted to offer recognition for on-farm technology innovations that answer production challenges. The award applies to producers, owners, production managers or consultants in the Western Canadian pork industry, and all innovations entered must be in use on a farm in Western Canada. Innovations nominated fit into one or more of six categories: improved productivity, improved profitability, improved working conditions, improved animal well-being, reduced impact on the environment, and improved pork quality or food safety.

The Banff Pork Seminar is co-ordinated by the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, in co-operation with Alberta Pork, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and other pork industry representatives. This year’s Seminar played host to more than 700 delegates from throughout North America and Europe.