Over that time, the centre has evolved into one of Canada's premier swine research facilities, delivering practical, industry-focused research that strengthens the financial position of pork producers while advancing animal welfare and environmental sustainability across the Saskatchewan and Canadian pork industries.
A foundation built on industry partnership
The PSC story began in 1980 when the University of Saskatchewan (USask) built the facility for its swine research and teaching program. The original operation consisted of two 100-sow and one 50-sow farrow-to-wean units, a 240-head feeder barn, and a small office and service building. However, it was in 1991 that PSC transformed into the organization it is today.
In 1987, USask and the Saskatchewan Hog Marketing Commission partnered to review the centre’s operations. An advisory board including industry representatives from across Western Canada identified two critical needs: increased emphasis on grower-finisher research, and a closer collaboration with the commercial pork industry. This vision became reality in 1991 when the PSC was formed as a non-profit corporation with its own budget, management, Board of Directors, mandate, and expanded research facility.
The early financial commitment from Saskatchewan’s pork producers was critical to the establishment of the PSC. Support soon followed from the federal government (Western Economic Diversification Program) and the provincial government (Agricultural Development Fund), making the industry’s dream a reality.
World-class research focused on producer sustainability
Today, the PSC operates a highly productive 300-sow farrow-to-finish swine research facility. This includes a 300-sow unit that opened in 2008, which provided an opportunity to consolidate the original sow facilities and make the move to group sow housing.
The centre’s research programs continue to specialize in four core disciplines — nutrition, engineering, ethology, and contract research — over the years focusing on methods to increase the overall sustainability (economic, animal, environmental) of the Saskatchewan and Canadian pork industries. Whether focused on speaking directly to pork producers, the pork value chain, or the research community, the PSC’s research programs have remained relevant by addressing issues that are timely and matter to the pork industry.
The centre’s research continues to deliver measurable economic impact. Over the past 35 years, PSC research programs have contributed an average return on investment of more than $3.80 per pig per year to the Saskatchewan industry. CEO Dr. Murray Pettitt (PhD) estimated the annual value of research to Saskatchewan’s industry at $3.5 million, based on the province’s hog marketing numbers and a research adoption rate of approximately 40 to 50 percent.
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