Needle-Free Taking Off

Needle-free technology is gaining momentum in Manitoba hog operations.

"Basically, the inoculant, under high pressure and velocity, opens the skin in an instance and chases down the whole it creates. So the inoculant acts as its own needle," says Mike Agar, Marketing & Technical Support Manager with AcuShot Needle-Free Technology, explaining the basic concept.

He says producers are finding the technology reduces the stress level among animals.

"The stress level isn't transferred from pig to pig. With needles you get pandemonium in these rooms. As one animal is panicking, the others sense that too. With needle-free, the place just quiets down. When you're in the room you can take your earplugs out and hear each other when you're vaccinating," he says.