Modern pig farms normally use 1 week batches as their production rhythm. Work arrangement and efficiency can be greatly improved at farms that are adopting an even production system, as the events that happen each week and tasks for staff are fixed thus predictable.
Planning & management, production practice and staff training must be closely connected during the beginning stage of a farm, in order to reach breeding target and even production.
Planning and management
Planning and management is the guideline for reaching the goals, production practice is the means, while training provides guarantees and should be done through the whole process. The better the farm’s management and staff are prepared, the better the farm start-up and the better the farm will operate throughout the life time of the farm.
During planning and management, it is very important to check the animal flow of the farm, and decide the production target based on genetic line, biosecurity level, technical skills of the staff. The targets set should be reachable within half a year, and should not be too high or too low.
Michael Ellermann (middle), of Carthage & MHJ Agritech doing his advisory work on a Chinese pig farm. Photo: Carthage & MHJ Agritech Consulting
Right management software
And also at the same time, choose the right management software, such as Porcitec, Agrosoft or Cloudfarms, which can help improve efficiency by pinpointing areas that can be improved during production. Besides efficiency software, it is also necessary to establish a whole set of visual management systems to improve communication efficiency between staff.
The production practice during the beginning stage mainly concentrates on gilt developing unit management, boar stud management and production plans and implementation of visual management.
Animal flow and biosecurity
Training about management of animal flow, biosecurity can be arranged before pig enters the farm, while the rest should be in accordance with the production pace. For each production routine, one staff should be certified to do the job. This is done by the staff doing a work process a certain number of times and approved before they are certified. The certification can be done half a year or yearly as follow-up.
Michael Ellermann, Carthage & MHJ Agritech Consulting