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The Donaldson International S.E.W.
Export Quarantine Facility
 Donaldson International Livestock Ltd. is proud to present Canada's first S.E.W. Export Quarantine Facility. This facility has been approved by the federal government of Canada as an official government quarantine; allowing Donaldson International to add the personal touch and care pigs require before they are sent to their international destination. Complete with a viewing showcase, visitors may see top quality genetics without breaking our bio-security protocol. Through the use of this facility, we can ensure to our customers that their pigs have the highest health prior to export.
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The biology behind S.E.W. is very simple. S.E.W. stops the transmission of
pathogens that do not cross the placenta. The transfer of colostral
immunity from the sow protects the piglets from infection. Sows are
vaccinated with antigens that stimulate colostral immunity. The colostral
immunity given by the sow lasts for approximately 9 days before levels of
antibodies drop very rapidly, making the piglets susceptible to infection
by any disease the sow has or other pigs have in the barn. The piglets
generate their own immunity at two weeks of age. Between day 9 and day 15,
the piglets are unprotected, and can be heavily infected with disease.
Early weaning at 10 - 12 days prevents the pigs from infection, while
colostral immunity is still at guard. The success of the S.E.W. system depends on the weaning age. Weaning at
ten days of age has been proven to eliminate Enzootic Pneumonia, Atrophic
Rhinitis, Pasteurella Multocida, Mycoplasmal Pneumonia, and Porcine
Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (P.R.R.S.) Weaning at 21 days of age
will eliminate Pseudorabies infection, Swine Dysentery, Transmissable
Gastro Enteritis (TGE), and Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae (A.P.P.).
Using S.E.W. increases the performance in the Grower/Finisher herd. These
pigs are healthier and will use their energy towards growing and not
towards fighting infectious disease. With less disease, there is also less
money spent on medication. Not only does S.E.W. improve health, but
weaning at an earlier age will increase the number of litters born per
year, and the help maintain the sows' body condition after weaning.
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These S.E.W. rooms are equipped with the best technology in housing
equipment. The rooms are heated with natural gas and are set at
approximately 31 degree Celsius upon the piglets arrival. The back half of
the pen also has heated cement floors; this provides a very comfortable
environment for the piglets. They sleep at the rear, get up to drink and
eat, then return and sleep. The ventilation system in both rooms work on static pressure: the more air that is sucked out of the room, the more air that is drawn into the room. The air gets drawn in from air inlets on the ceiling; then drawn into the manure pit on a downward airflow; then immediately sucked out of the manure pit by a pit fan. This pit fan runs 24 hours a day, giving the pigs the freshest air possible.  For the first week, the piglets get fed on floor mats for easy access to
the S.E.W. feed. Then they are converted to a specially designed S.E.W.
feeder. The piglets drink out of a nipple/bowl. They start drinking out
of the bowl; as they grow, they will drink from the nipple. Another
addition to the watering system is a water medicator; this allows us to add
preventative medication to the water. For the first week, we also make a
water dish available for the piglets. Because of their young age; it is
very important to make everything very accessible for the piglets.
The walls of the S.E.W. are fibreglass/plywood walls. White plastic
panels divide the pens. The flooring is a tenderfoot slatted floor. All
of these surfaces are easy to clean, and disinfect very well. Not only is
the room cleaned after a group, but the manure pit below is also cleaned
and disinfected.
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 The Export Quarantine Facility is specially designed to house pigs from
30 kg (66 lbs.) to export weight. Both rooms are heated with natural gas, and the
ventilation for these rooms works on static pressure as well. The upper
3/4 of the walls in these rooms are fibreglass/plywood, and the lower 1/4
is made of very strong durable brick. The floors are slatted concrete, and
the penning is made of 100% stainless steel. In the first room, the pigs
eat and drink from a wet/dry feeder. The second room has four pens, and
with the addition of movable pen dividers, these pens can be divided into
12 individual stalls. These individual stalls are designed to house large
boars and sows. When the dividers are in use, the pigs are fed on the
solid floor at the front of the pen. Each individual stall comes equipped
with a water nipple as well. When the dividers are not in use, the pigs
eat from mobile feeders and drink from water nipples located at the back of
the pen. Upon entrance to the Export Quarantine Facility, there is a testing area that is specially designed to easily weigh, probe, blood test and inspect any pigs that are in our facility. The loading dock is also connected to this room.
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