To measure is to begin to manage. We recently held our annual Pig- CHAMP sow farm production meeting here at the clinic. Since 1983, the Pipestone Veterinary Clinic has hosted a yearly meeting to compare sow farm productivity.
Computerized records arrived with the introduction of PigCHAMP from the University of Minnesota in 1982. Some Pipestone Veterinary Clinic clients were among the first to use this recordkeeping service, and we started a bureau at the clinic soon after.
In the beginning, our annual gathering was an opportunity to measure and share data generated by sow farm owner/operators and was attended by owners themselves. Back then, the typical farm was a farrow to finish operation using family labor. The measure of success or failure was fairly straightforward, focusing on profits at the end of the year or maybe the occasional measure of pigs weaned per litter or per year.
Farms would periodically submit production data, and a meeting annually was a way to summarize and look back over the past year’s data and to share successful production tips and methods between farms.
Over time, the size of sow farms has increased and so has the size of the meeting—our back conference room was nearly full this year! While a few owner/operators continue to attend, the majority in the room are sow farm managers, supervisors, and department heads of farms owned by Pipestone System members. The meeting attendees also include representatives from many other farms for which we provide consultation services.
Sow farms have grown larger and more productive since 1982. The number of farms we either manage or provide consultation services for increased, too. Improvements continue, and if the current trend holds, it has been projected that we’re on track to reach 30 pigs per sow per year in November 2013. Mark your calendars, and I’ll see you at that meeting to celebrate another milestone! |
