Running a successful pork business requires far more than standard animal husbandry; it demands creative people management, forward-thinking strategy and an eye for detail. During the recent State of the Pork Industry report, four experts shared practical, boots-on-the-ground ideas to improve your operation. These four quick wins prove that the smallest adjustments can yield the biggest impacts on your bottom line.
1. Use tech to bridge language gaps.
Every week, Randy Kuker, director of livestock operations for The Equity, conducts service visits to barns. One of his IT experts helped him create a digital report that he can fill out on his phone when he gets on the farm.
“Now I don’t forget to print the paperwork out and always have everything I need with me,” Kuker says. “As I started using it, I realized that this could be helpful for our Spanish-speaking employees, too.”
He asked his team if AI technology could help them take this fillable report and translate it for Spanish-speaking employees.
“Now I can send that to our TN labor force so they can actually read it for themselves,” he says. “I had a feeling about 50% of the reports that I wrote in English they didn’t take the time to translate for themselves. The feedback I’ve gotten has been that the team really appreciates it. It’s been a positive thing for us to bridge that language gap.”
2. Turn work into a game.
Adam Annegers, sow production manager at JBS, says he likes to initiate fun contests inside the farms.
“Do some question-answers, or just throw a production target on the board like conception rate,” Annegers says. “Make it a game to get 2% better in conception rate. Break that down into a number. Then, ask your team how to go about reaching that goal.”
Set up by a whiteboard and see what answers they come up with. He says it’s fun to see all of them get involved and throw darts at the wall.
“Then, we’ll have a pizza party or something to encourage them,” Annegers adds. “We want them to be a part of the process and these games can help them realize the important role they play.”
3. Evaluate your plan.
The summer months are typically the most profitable time, says Brad Eckberg, account executive for North America Swine with MTech Systems.
“Six months ago, were you planning? Did you maximize the number of animals that you’re going to get in the farrowing crates?” he asks.
He encourages producers to reflect on how their plan worked. Did they make the right adjustments to breeding targets? Did they stock their farms right? Were they able to maximize as much growth and days on farm to keep that weight going?
“I think it’s good to look back and see how your plan worked out,” Eckberg says. “That will help you be more successful the next time.”
4. Perceptions matter – what are you doing to improve yours?
Dr. Cara Haden, director of animal welfare and biosecurity with Pipestone, says she’s had many discussions about perception with pork producers lately.
“As an industry, we always need to be thinking not just about what we’re doing but also how what we’re doing looks to people on the outside,” Haden says.
She urges producers to always keep in mind how things look when people drive by your farm or when they have conversations about sensitive, but important, topics like euthanasia.
“If somebody came in and looked at what was happening on your farm, what would their perception be of your caregiving? How are you handling pigs? Even if you’re not harming an animal with the way that you’re using your hand, how does it look to other people?” she asks. “Perception matters for us and for the industry. Don’t just think about what’s the right thing to do, but also how it can be perceived.”
