Two of the most critical challenges facing pork producers today are herd health and labor shortages. Unless solutions to these complex issues can be found and successfully implemented, producers will struggle to maintain profitability.
Matthew Rooda, co-founder of SwineTech and host of the Popular Pig podcast, believes that overcoming these challenges is vital to the future of the industry. “Labor and pig survivability continue to get worse,” he says. “These issues are often linked to one another, and if something doesn’t change, we are going to have a serious issue.”
Rooda believes that a different, unrelated industry could hold the key to unlocking answers. “The healthcare industry has navigated through many of the same hurdles that we are facing today and there are key lessons that can be learned to help the swine industry,” he says. He will discuss those lessons in his talk at United Pork Americas in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7-9, 2022.
A novel approach
A fourth-generation pork producer, Rooda worked during his undergraduate years as a Certified Nurse’s Aide and a Certified Medication Aide. Through this experience, he realized that processes used in health care to help nurses and doctors provide a higher quality of care can also be used in the swine industry. Having faced similar challenges, the health care industry has already created adaptable solutions.
“There is a lot of talk and a big push to automate the industry in order to alleviate labor needs,” he says. “This is possible in some areas but could be a dead end and a catastrophic mistake in others.”
In 2020, he used his adaptation theories to create PigFlow, a workplace swine management platform. “In my presentation at UPA, I hope to help the audience understand the various levels of automation available and how that will interact with daily management practices. The goal? Maximize operational efficiencies, process compliance and animal care to address two of the most challenging issues in the swine industry: labor productivity and individualized care for sows.
“Producers should attend United Pork Americas to experience a fresh and global approach to how they can improve the daily management of their operations,” he says.
Things You May Not Know About Matthew Rooda
Favorite pork dish: North Carolina pulled pork
Education: I have a Bachelors in Enterprise Leadership from the University of Iowa and a Masters in Business Administration; Johns Hopkins University.
Favorite place to travel: In the U.S., my favorite places to be are Miami, Eastern North Carolina, San Diego and Boston. Internationally, I have enjoyed Vancouver, Madrid, and Guadalajara.
Favorite pastimes: I love being in the water and water sports. The best days for me are when I am wakeboarding, wake surfing or tubing. I also enjoy traveling.
Favorite theme park in Orlando: I have never been to an Orlando theme park, but I imagine that my favorite would be Universal Studios.
Matthew Rooda will join other industry experts at United Pork Americas to offer valuable insights. Register for the conference today at www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com.
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
Beyond Our Borders: Widening the Net of Opportunity in the Global Pork Industry
A New Approach to Biosecurity in Swine Systems
Manage Production Costs for a Profitable Future
Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity
It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage
Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando
Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm
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What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?
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