Members of the public are getting a first hand look this week at how animals are raised on Manitoba farms as part of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.

The Royal Manitoba Winter, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, kicked off yesterday in Brandon

"Thru the Farm Gate" was introduced in 2001 as part of the annual event's agricultural education component.

Manitoba Farm Animal Council Chair Garry Tolton explains the display is designed to show the animals as they would be housed on a farm.

Garry Tolton-Manitoba Farm Animal Council

Basically we have the Dairy Producers of Manitoba and they have four cows that are milked as they would be on a farm with a pipeline milker.

Following the Dairy Producers the next one is the Equine Ranchers of Manitoba or PMU producers and they have a mare harnessed as she would be in a PMU barn.

We also have the Manitoba Pork Council with a sow and a litter and a lot of information about how pigs are raised,

The Manitoba Cattle Producers have a cow and a calf and information on both production and environmental.

We have the Manitoba Sheep Producers with a display of ewes and lambs.

We have the Chicken Marketing Board with broiler chicks and we have the Manitoba Egg Producers with a display of layiong hens in cages as they would be on a farm.

Basically the response from the public has been very very positive.

They seem to be thirsting for information.

They're amazed at how clean the animals are kept which is standard practices everywhere on farms today and there's been very little concern about any of the practices that we do today in raising animals.

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair continues in Brandon's Keystone Centre until Saturday.