CARLYLE - It has been one year since the first animals were brought to the PIC Atlas hog barn facility southeast of Carlyle.
Joe Jobin is the general manager of both the Atlas and Apex operations, the latter located in Mound City, S.D.
The Atlas hog barn is now fully operational and is housing 26,000 animals. Presently there are 2,000 sows, 3,000 piglets and 21,000 either in the nursery or being finished. A total of 1,250 animals are born every week and around 1,000 are sent for slaughter to either Brandon or Steinbach in Manitoba or to Red Deer, Alta. A semi-load can transport around 200 animals.
To date, the sale of breeding stock has only occurred domestically. In the coming weeks, their first load of animals will be shipped to Panama. The export quarantine barn west of Carlyle is now being utilized.
There are 30 employees working at the Atlas facility. Abdoul Teuw is the assistant project manager and Galen Gueco is the manager. Gueco and his family live in Carlyle and he supervises the entire operation, including the barns, truck wash and quarantine barn.
Last fall, Atlas conducted a minimal manure application on adjacent farmland. A complete spring spreading operation will occur this April. Local farmers will reap the benefits of high-quality hog manure, which can be spread on the same field every third year. The manure and its application are free to the surrounding area farmers.
The truck wash on the west side of Carlyle is being used as a secondary wash and is used prior to transporting animals to protect the health of the farm. According to Jobin, he has not been aware of any odour issues from either Town of Carlyle residents or farmers living near the Atlas facility.
Jobin has been extremely pleased with how the facility has completed its first year of operation.
“Like all startups, there have been challenges but for the most part, our first year has exceeded expectations. We are now fully operational and will be rapidly expanding our genetic footprint to many countries all over the world,” said Jobin. “The entire process is becoming more and more streamlined, and we are really looking forward to a great year in 2023 and beyond.”
