Barn Spotlight: Gowans Feed Consulting

Location: Aylmer, Ont.

Sector: Broiler research

The business
Gowans Feed Consulting has been in business since 1990. It operates across Canada and in a few international countries, providing animal nutrition expertise to poultry and swine producers. As part of its offerings, the company’s scientists conduct studies at its research barns.    

The need
Gowans has long been conducting research with broilers at a facility just outside of Aylmer, Ont. In recent years, it saw an opportunity to grow that operation while at the same time enhancing its facilities. In 2016, Chicken Farmers of Ontario launched its Artisanal Chicken Program. This allowed smaller farmers to produce between 600 to 3,000 chickens annually. Gowans decided to leverage this program to expand the size of its trials while at the same time enhancing its research facility. 

Gowans’ research is focused on the formation of feed programs.

The barn includes 28 pens made from fabricated stainless steel that hold up to 44 birds each. The barn previously housed 20 wood pens.

The research team takes group weights weekly or by feed phase.

The barn
In 2021, Gowans upgraded its broiler research barn to include 28 identical pens that each hold up to 44 chickens. The pens are made from fabricated stainless steel. The barn also includes full ventilation automation and complete climate control. Neil Campbell, Gowans’ general manager, says the larger trials have improved the quality of the company’s findings. “The more pens you have the more power of replication that you have,” he notes. “So, it’s just increased our power to get more accurate results.” 

Barn Spotlight highlights new and renovated barns and hatcheries. Do you know of a good candidate to be featured? Let us know at poultry@annexweb.com.