Gordon MacMurchy, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister, and Dr. Blair unveiling the plaque; people and buildings in background.

Bio/Historical Note: The Prairie Swine Centre is a 300-sow farrow-to-finish swine research facility located just outside of Saskatoon on Floral Road, east of the Floral Cemetery, and east of Range Road 3043. The Centre is a non-profit research and technology centre that works with different facets of industry and governments across Canada. It was originally built in 1980 by the University of Saskatchewan. In addition to the standard production facilities, there is a surgery suite, metabolism crates, two environmental chambers on-site and a separate disease challenge facility located about 40 minutes from Saskatoon. Research programs, specializing in animal behaviour and welfare, nutrition and agricultural engineering, focus on the applied aspects of issues facing the swine industry. The PSC’s technology transfer program focuses on distributing the scientists’ latest research results, ensuring strong engagement within the pork industry. PSC also offers a contract research program that specializes in proprietary research for companies seeking scientifically-sound data for product registration or marketing for their nutritional, animal health, behavioural and environmentally focused products (this program can also assist with human-health product research using the pig as a model).