Farms.com Home  › News

Topigs Insider: Producer Profile – Maple Grove Colony

Maple Grove Colony, established in 1981, is located in southwestern Manitoba and has a population of over 125 people. Like most Hutterite colonies, it has a diverse range of operations, farming 4,000 acres, managing 8,000 laying chickens, and running a 1,200-sow farrow-wean pig production unit.

The colony’s hog barn was originally built in 1984 as a 300-sow farrow-to-finish unit, later upgraded in 1998 to a 1,200-sow farrow-to-wean facility. In 2009-10, the original herd was depopulated and repopulated with GAP genetics. Since 2016, they have used Topigs Norsvin genetics, primarily TN70 gilts and TN Duroc sires, producing excellent offspring.

Currently, Maple Grove Colony has a farrowing rate of 91.3% and weans 12.76 piglets per litter, resulting in 31.21 pigs weaned per mated female per year. The colony’s production team is led by Michael David Waldner, with key team members Travis Waldner and Adam Waldner contributing significantly to the barn’s success.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Sapovirus in Weaned Pigs with Diarrhea - Dr. Talita Resende

Video: Sapovirus in Weaned Pigs with Diarrhea - Dr. Talita Resende



In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Talita Resende, Assistant Professor and Food Animal Diagnostician at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, explains how sapovirus affects suckling and weaned pigs with diarrhea. She discusses PCR interpretation, rotavirus and E. coli coinfections, intestinal sampling, and in situ hybridization for clearer diagnostic decisions. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to learn more: https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/liv...

"PCR by itself may not identify the main culprit in enteric coinfections, so combined diagnostic methods can clarify farm-level disease investigations."

Meet the guest: Dr. Talita Resende / talita-resende-01188234 is an Assistant Professor and Food Animal Diagnostician at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Her work focuses on swine diseases, veterinary diagnostics, pathology, teaching, research, and service, with previous roles at The Ohio State University and universities in Brazil. Learn more from Dr. Talita Resende on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.