Swine industry facing tough challenges, looking for effective and cost-savings way to become more efficient

Jun 02, 2014

PigCHAMP offers swine farmers less time data entering and more time in the barn

The Pork Industry has seen its fair share of consolidations and attrition over the past few years, so this year like never before, those that have survived in the industry are focusing on production efficiencies. This week a number of swine industry innovations will be on display at the World Pork Expo, June 4 -6, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa.

The world’s largest pork-specific trade show will feature more than 375 trade show exhibits, and welcome nearly 20,000 attendees; on display will be the latest pork-production technologies, and products and services. The trade show provides swine farmers and other professionals in the swine industry with the opportunity to see and learn about a number of swine topics, including animal well-being, business and environmental management, and production efficiencies.

PigCHAMP Mobile enables pig farmers to enter data right in the barn. The mobile system increases accuracy and productivity in workers. “The great thing about the PigCHAMP Mobile system,” says PigCHAMP General Manager Bob Brcka, “is that small operations as well as large pork production facilities see the advantage of using a mobile system for data entry. Big business or small business everyone knows saving time is saving money!”

It’s easy to understand the advantages of using a hand-held device, while tending to the pigs, those in the barn can easily scan an animal ID tag (in the language of their choice) to ensure the animal’s data is accurate as well as up-to-the minute. The more swine farmers know about their animals, the better able they are to stop problems before they start. “With PigCHAMP mobile devices swine farmers are more confident about their data, with that confidence, they are then better able to analyse their data, which leads to more profitable operations,” concludes Brcka.

Based in Ames, Iowa, PigCHAMP inc. is the leading information technology supplier to the global pork industry and is relied upon by producers, veterinarians, and management consultants. The powerful and easy to use suite of tools gives PigCHAMP software customers the clearest vision of their operations, from swine data collection, to management and interpretation tools.

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Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.