Farm-Scape is sponsored by Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork Play Audio Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.

Farm-Scape, Episode 1539

The Manitoba Farm Animal Council says a recent survey indicates four out of ten Winnipegers have visited 'Touch the Farm'.

'Touch the Farm' is an interactive live animal display hosted by the Manitoba Farm Animal Council during the 10 days of the Red River Exhibition which kicked off yesterday in Winnipeg.

The display allows urban and rural residents the chance to learn more about livestock production and is into its sixth year.

Council Executive Coordinator Alayna Giesbrecht says all eight Manitoba livestock commodity groups are involved this year.

"The first exhibit as you walk in is the Manitoba Equine Ranchers Association. They will have two mares there set up exactly how they would be in the barn also providing information about equine ranching and the changes to their industry in the last year or so.

The next exhibit is Manitoba Egg Producers. They'll have laying hens there set up so you can see how the hens are housed and how to candle eggs. The next exhibit is Manitoba Pork Council. It's really popular with the kids and with the family.

They have a sow there in a farrowing crate and about ten piglets this year and again providing lots of great information about the hog industry in Manitoba.

The exhibit at the end of the barn is the Manitoba Turkey Producers Association and they have hens and toms as well as some poults there showing exactly how they're raised in Manitoba.

The next exhibit to them is Manitoba Cattle Producers Association and they have a cow calf pair there describing how cattle are raised in Manitoba.

Next to them is Manitoba Broiler Hatching Egg Commission and Manitoba Chicken Producers. Hatching Egg Commission has laying hens there showing incubators and showing the chicks hatching. Chicken Producers have a miniature chicken barn where people can see how the chickens are raised.

The last exhibit, as you're entering the barn, is Manitoba Milk Producers and they provide milking demonstrations three times a day. They've got three Holstein cows as well as some other cows showing the different breeds".

Giesbrecht says a recent telephone survey indicates four out of ten Winnipegers have visited 'Touch the Farm' since its inception and the response has been excellent.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.