This project was the brainchild and dream of Dr Tom Spencer, who is the porcine consultant and a senior lecturer in the Department of Production Animal Studies at the Faculty. He also initiated the process of securing funds and established cooperation between the Faculty of Veterinary Science and the South African Pig Producers Organization (SAPPO). The official opening was attended by various representatives of SAPPO, Kanhym Estates and other important roleplayers in the porcine industry. The facililty was opened by Mr Gerard Braak, Chairperson of SAPPO.
The pigs that the Faculty initially acquired and even the Landrace/Large White sows the Faculty later obtained were kept on a free range system and the facilities were thus not ideally suited. However, it had pigs to use for both under- and postgraduate student training and were extremely glad to have some teaching material available.

Initial meetings to discuss the plans for a new piggery started in early 2008. Through a lot of up-and-downs (and rain) the Faculty managed to get the neat and practical building to where it is today. According to the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Prof Gerry Swan, “it is an amazing feat that the industry can still support a project as big as this with today’s global economic climate. We cannot thank them enough for their assistance”.

“Although our main aim is teaching, the Faculty of Veterinary Science is also emphasizing community outreach programmes. With this in mind, the facility will be utilized for information days for emerging and commercial farmers as and when the need arises. One of the envisaged goals will be to provide emerging farmers with good quality, well-adapted piglets on a regular basis”, Prof Swan said.

The Faculty also received a donation of 15 gilts and 1 boar from Kanhym Estates, highlighting the cooperation between all the roleplayers in the porcine industry.

Below: Mr Gerard Braak, Chairperson of the South African Pig Producers Organisation (SAPPO), (left) officially opened the new piggery. With him is Prof Gerry Swan, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science.