As the first generation to grow up with high-level tech in their pockets, six “Gen Z” college students weigh in on how they believe data and automation will change daily swine production in the next decade. With technology continuing to advance, these young leaders say the swine industry will become more precise, more efficient and more proactive.
Farm Journal’s PORK asked these students to answer this question: How do you think data and automation will change daily life in the barn over the next 10 years?
Quicker Decision Making
“In the next 10 years, I believe many of the more routine tasks, such as feeding systems, climate control, and even cleaning, will become more automated and consistent. This will reduce some manual labor and free up more time for management decisions. Improved data collection will strengthen long-term decision-making. New technology will allow barn managers to track trends like growth rates, feed efficiency and reproduction performance, and use that information to make more accurate adjustments.” –Ansley Bo of St. Cloud, Fla., senior at the University of Florida
Improved Health and Sustainability
“Data and automation are going to continue to change swine production, maximizing health, efficiency and sustainability of pork production. Today’s barn manager is juggling so many responsibilities and one of the most important is taking the time to observe and recognize signs of illness or poor nutrition. I believe through data and automation, we can help barn managers spot signs of illness and areas for improvement in feeding and management. This will prevent disease outbreaks and allow pigs to grow and gain more efficiently. Additionally, our world is tasked with feeding a growing population with increasing environmental pressures and changing consumer demands. Data and automation can help us to design facilities and procedures that allow us to best take care of the environment and raise pork that meets the desires of consumers.” –Olivia Shike of Sadorus, Ill., junior at Kansas State University
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