AI and the next management shift in pork production

Mar 16, 2026

AI technologies are already appearing across pork production systems. Cameras track pig movement in finishing barns. Environmental sensors monitor temperature and ventilation. Feeding systems collect detailed information on feed intake and growth rates. For many producers, these tools still feel experimental. But the shift is already underway.

The real transformation is not simply the arrival of new digital tools. The deeper shift is that management decisions in pork production will increasingly be guided by integrated data rather than isolated observations. Modern swine operations generate enormous volumes of information every day. Feed deliveries, mortality rates, pig weights, barn conditions and market prices all influence profitability. Artificial intelligence can connect these signals and identify patterns that traditional management systems often miss. But technology alone does not guarantee improvement.

Many farms today use digital tools in isolation. One system tracks barn temperatures. Another records feed consumption. A third monitors growth performance. Each delivers useful insights, but the overall management model of the farm often remains unchanged. That gap matters.

In our recent white paper analyzing artificial intelligence adoption in agri-food, we described a practical framework for implementation using the acronym DRIVE.

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Video: Validating Net Energy in Commercial Swine Systems - Gustavo Lima

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gustavo Lima, PhD candidate at Iowa State University, explains how soybean meal net energy is evaluated using growth assays and calorimetry. He discusses caloric efficiency, validation under commercial conditions, and differences between controlled and real-world environments. Gustavo also highlights practical implications for diet formulation and ingredient valuation. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Indirect calorimetry provides a precise estimation of ingredient energy, yet validation under production conditions remains essential for accurate application in real systems.”

Meet the guest: Gustavo Lima / gustavo-lima-a9867127 is a PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University, specializing in swine nutrition, ingredient evaluation, and energy metabolism. With over 15 years of experience across Latin America, his work focuses on soybean meal utilization, caloric efficiency, and applied research for commercial production systems.