To document barn retrofits in Quebec, staff from the Centre de développement du porc du Québec (CDPQ) visited eight farms that had converted to different feeding systems. They explored floor feeding, non-gated stall feeding, electronic sow feeders (ESF) and gated stalls, visiting two farms using each approach. Published in 2015, they identified the cost related to each retrofit, and how producers felt about the changes. The full article in English can be found through the following link: Group sow housing: The Quebec report. Costs related to each feeding style varied greatly, and cost of materials was included for some systems.

Floor feeding: Reported to cost $30-$58 (without labour costs)

Non-gated short stall feeding: One farm reported a material cost of $134 per place when converting gestation crates, and labour costs of $40-$50. The other farm reported a cost of $266 to renovate a nursery area into short stalls (including the cost of refinishing the floor), without labour included.

ESF: A cost of $532 per place was reported, which included the ESF, new water bowls, and materials needed to alter pen layout, with cost of labour not included. The second farm underwent a more intensive renovation and expansion, increasing the number of sows in the farm by more than double, as well as creating a new farrowing and quarantine area. This project cost $1815 per place.

Gated (free-access) ESF: One barn completed a renovation for $147 per place, including the cost of the ESF stalls, water bowls, and penning materials. The second farm spent $286 per place, as they had additional costs related to floor and manure pit alterations. Labour costs were estimated at $15 and $22 per place, respectively.