Grain Purchasing
Big Sky’s 20 integrated feed mills allow us to provide our animals with the best quality feed possible. We take pride in buying feed from local sources. This not only allows us to control quality but also allows us to maintain strong relationships with our partners in the local agricultural community.
Big Sky Farms is a member of the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada and has three mills (Rama, Ogema and Porcupine) HACCP certified under the Feed Assure program. In addition on-farm mills follow Good Manufacturing Practices when producing feed.
Quick facts
- Feed formulations are designed to optimize feed efficiency and the current growth need of the pigs. Formulation involves balancing energy and amino acids available from the ingredients to the nutritional needs of the pig. On average 10 different rations are fed to the pig from the time it is weaned until market.
- Feed represents approximately 65% of the production cost to raise a pig to market.
- Big Sky Farms annually uses more than 9 million bushels of Barley, Wheat and Peas. This represents more than $50 million dollars of local feed grains purchased.
Here is some of the specification information you will need to know about our feed buying program:
All grain purchased must meet minimum specifications and is sampled before purchase and at time of unloading.
Grain delivered must also be free of ergot, smuts, heated grain, stones, excessive pods and/or other foreign material, mycotoxins such as but not limited to, fusarium and/or vomitoxin.
