Top 5 MealMeter Questions Answered

Over the last few years, we’ve fielded a lot of questions on the MealMeter feed dispenser. There are many I myself would ask if I was in the customers’ shoes.

For those of you who are intrigued, but haven’t caught up with us at a trade show or aren’t ready to make the call yet, here are answers to the top five questions on the MealMeter feed dispenser.

1. What exactly is the MealMeter and how does it work?

MealMeter feed dispenser

The MealMeter is a feed dispensing device that is latched (more on that later) in a drop feed tube in the breeding area of a sow farm. It was developed to convert the feed tube into an ad-lib feeder. 

Ad-lib feeding is popular in lactation because it is known to optimize feed intake at a time when sows need to consume a lot of feed in order to milk a healthy litter and not lose condition to be ready for her next cycle. However, little was done before the MealMeter to improve feed intake for pre-breed gilts, weaned sows and under conditioned sows in the breeding area even though feed intake is very important at this time in her reproductive cycle.

The MealMeter allows these sows the extra time needed to consume their daily ration. Just like in the finishing barn, some sows are “snackers” and some sows are “gorgers”. By giving her the freedom to choose when and how much to eat, she’s able to maximize feed intake so she is in prime condition to have another productive litter.

MealMeter with Breeder Bowl

The breeding area of the sow farm is where you can typically expect a lot of wasted feed because it’s where we all try to push the limit of feed consumption, but not in the way she needs it. Dropping a large amount of feed to her one or two times a day is labor intensive because you’re going to end up cleaning a lot of it out later when it becomes stale or rotten. Hand feeding is labor intensive because staff is hand scooping their estimate of what she is going to eat in each stall multiple times a day in order to drive feed intake yet attempt to lower waste.

The MealMeter takes the human element out of feeding sows. It saves on feed waste while at the same time pushes intake.

There are a couple different ways to set up the MealMeter in the breed row. We’ll dig deeper into these two options later. In the meantime, here’s a comparison between the two. Feel free to call (888) 354-0112 with any questions.

MealMeter in PigEasy Sow Feeder

The MealMeter is also offered in farrowing where it is inserted into an accompanying product, called the Lactation Boot, and installed onto the sow feeder. To optimize feed intake, we suggest using the PigEasy Sow Feeder, but the MealMeter and Lactation Boot can be retrofitted onto most existing feeders, along with the lactation water bracket.

The key to feeding sows in lactation with the MealMeter system is the water pipe in the feed bowl. The button nipple at the bottom of the water pipe requires the sow to “self-regulate” the feed flow into the sow feeder. Every time the sow goes in for a drink, she is cleaning up her eating area so it is ready for her next meal.

2.  Isn’t the sow just going to play with it?

This is probably the most popular question we’re asked about the MealMeter. I believe it’s because of producers’ previous experiences with ad-lib feeders where they see sows continue to fill up their bowl and never fully clean it out.

Is the sow playing with the feed? In our experience, not exactly. 

Before I explain how the MealMeter is set up to not allow the buildup of feed, I’m going to first explain the issue with ad-lib feeders in general and feed build up.

We’ve observed many sows consume feed with different feeders and we’ve come to the conclusion they aren’t playing. They’re layering.

Consider this: if you had a never-ending buffet at your fingertips, would you spend the time cleaning up your plate or would you keep your eye on the untouched, new food?

With ad-lib feeders, sows are dispensing the feed, eating a little bit, then heading back up for the fresh stuff without ever cleaning up what they originally dispensed. That’s where you get this layering effect and a bowl full of half eaten feed.

In breeding, the MealMeter’s set up options combat the layering issue in two different ways. 

The traditional set up has the MealMeter drop feed into a dry trough. Sows are watered via the SnoutSpout nipple bracket installed on the divider. The custom built feed tube has a viewing window toward the front aisle, so as the staff walks the row throughout the day, they can set the boxes to either push intake or hold back depending on the amount dispensed. Like Dad says, “You can either take seconds managing feed at the feed box or on your knees cleaning out the wasted feed that day.” With the MealMeter, feed is staying fresh in the tube until the sow is ready to eat. The traditional set up is where we got our start with the MealMeter and led Klocke Farms to a 1.75 total born increase with P1 sows.

We knew we could do more though. After coming to understand the layering effect and setting up the sow feeder in farrowing to “self-regulate” with the water pipe, we wanted to mirror that success in the breed row. So, we developed the Breeder Bowl.

MealMeter with Breeder Bowl

The PigEasy Breeder Bowl is a personal sow feeder that is installed on a gestation stall head gate. By serving as both her feed and water bowl, the individual waterer in the Breeder Bowl acts as a “dispensing regulator” for the MealMeter so she does not over-dispense and cleans up her feed with every drink. Feed does not build up in the Breeder Bowl because there are no deep corners.

The Breeder Bowl can be mounted on both straight front and sloped front stalls. This eliminates the need for a trough. Existing troughs do not pose a problem as the Breeder Bowl can be installed above the trough with enough clearance to open the gate. The Breeder Bowl is small enough to not lose any boar exposure and will not protrude into her stall space.

This new set up provides sows the freedom to choose when she wants to consume her feed with little to no daily management.

3. How much feed does the sow dispense at a time?

MealMeter Chambers
(also part called the Elevator)

I have to begin with a disclaimer that the answer depends on your feed type and density. However, we’ve measured our own feed to get a general estimate.

There are four moving chambers inside the MealMeter. As the sow spins the MealMeter nose, the chambers are filled and the feed is dispensed from the top opening of the MealMeter body.  Each of these chambers holds roughly 1/3 oz. Therefore, the sow will dispense 1lb of feed with 12 complete spins.

Watch this video of the MealMeter in the breed row. You’ll see the sow spins the MealMeter 2-4 times before actually eating. She eats for a little bit, then heads back up for another 2-4 spins.

We’ve found the amount the the MealMeter drops to be a sweet spot as it’s enough to satisfy her so she doesn’t get frustrated and not too much that she inadvertently over-dispenses.

Another question we get asked that usually follows #3 is “How much does a feed tube hold?” We custom manufacture 3 inch OD stainless steel feed tubes for the MealMeter and can estimate that each foot of 3” OD tube holds 1.65lbs. 

4. How is the MealMeter removable?

The MealMeter has a latch on the top of the body and is latched onto the stud that is installed at the top side near the opening of the custom feed tube and the Lactation Boot.

To install or remove, stick a pliers handle or screwdriver into the dispensing hole of the MealMeter body. This controls and locks all the pieces together so you can successfully latch the MealMeter onto the stud. Inserting it into the tube, turn the MealMeter toward the latch. You’ll feel and hear a click to know it was successfully latched. Removing is exactly the opposite. After sticking the pliers handle into the MealMeter dispensing hole, you’ll turn opposite the way it was latched in until you feel/hear a click and then pull out.

You can install the MealMeter on either side of the stud, but we suggest you turn the MealMeter away from the sow to install. The sow typically turns the MealMeter up (imagine a sow’s natural rooting movement) and you want the sow to turn the MealMeter into the stud. If it’s installed the opposite way, not to worry. The sow shouldn’t be able to get the MealMeter out because she only has access to the MealMeter’s nose.

5. What if a MealMeter piece breaks?

Sows tend to be a little hard on equipment, so we completely understand why this is a top question. Taking that into consideration, we made the MealMeter into four separate parts that are easily replaceable.

MealMeter Parts

There are two options to the the MealMeter nose, plastic or stainless steel. Most people choose the stainless steel option, but there are certain situations where plastic is most beneficial. Klocke Farms uses mostly plastic MealMeters. The nose is attached to a stainless steel square shaft that holds the rest of the pieces. The chamber or elevator is assembled inside the MealMeter body. The agitator or tail is installed on the back side of that shaft. Everything is held together with a stainless steel roll pin.

Let’s pretend a rock comes through the feed line and busts the MealMeter’s agitator. (I mean, you’ve only HEARD of things like that happening, right? Us too. 😉)

You need a new agitator to keep the feed flowing, so you give me a call, we send you out a replacement piece and a roll pin punch. You simply punch out the roll pin, replace the agitator, put the roll pin back in and you’re back in business.

The same goes for all of the other MealMeter parts. If you’re having issues with a certain part of the MealMeter, there’s no need to replace the entire thing. We can supply you with replacement parts and it takes little effort to fix.

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Our goal when developing the MealMeter was to make it easy to use and manage and that’s not just because our name is PigEasy; it’s because we’re pork producers too and understand what’s important to you.

If any of your top MealMeter questions weren’t answered, send me an email (Katie@pigeasy.com) or give me a call (888) 354-0112. I’ve got more information up my sleeve and would be happy to help!

Until next time,

Katie

Reproduction is a Luxury

A consulting veterinarian we’ve utilized for years at Klocke Farms has the heart of a teacher. He likes to stay focused on the fundamentals and uses phrases that stick in your head long after he heads back to the office. We often catch ourselves repeating these one-liners when we talk about the MealMeter feed dispenser. Yes, he’s a good teacher.

We were reminded of one of them recently that sums up the importance of feed intake at key points in a sow’s reproductive cycle.

“Reproduction is a luxury.”

Basically, a sow’s primary physiological goal is to keep herself alive. Only when her needs are met and she is in the right body condition is her body able to successfully reproduce. Therefore, reproduction is a secondary goal, or a luxury.

A sow enters into a catabolic state when she begins lactation. This means that if she’s not consuming enough calories, she will rapidly burn through her fat stores. Losing condition quickly in lactation increases the sow’s likelihood of prematurely leaving the herd due to reproductive failure. Because her body’s primary objective is survival, her body’s energy is going to be solely focused on building back those fat stores.

However, our consulting vet points out that even in the best of conditions, a sow is still in a catabolic state in lactation. No matter how much she eats, she’s still burning fat. And if she drops off feed post wean, her body could still be burning those fat stores for 2-4 more days.

Jumping species, he recently told us about this Holstein in Wisconsin that broke the record for gallons of milk produced in a year. He said even with this cow in the best of conditions and eating top notch feed, she still ended up losing 300 lbs.

We all think sows can make up for it throughout gestation, but research indicates that the best shot for a sow to rebound is in the first trimester.

This is why feed intake post wean is imperative to the sow’s reproductive success. A sow can rapidly rebound post wean in the right conditions and when given a chance. As pork producers, it is our job to ensure all of the sow’s needs are met before we can expect her to produce and milk large litters.

We hear from consultants and experts across the industry that we need to feed as much as we can to newly weaned sows. And we all try. Unfortunately, what you end up with is a bunch of feed to clean up.

That’s why we developed the MealMeter. The MealMeter for weaned sows serves as a transition from lactation to the gestation barn. It gives each sow TIME needed for her to eat fresh feed when she’s ready for it without the waste associated with feeding weaned sows. If she’s ready to eat at 10:00 at night, feed remains fresh in the tube ready for that moment. In a typical setting, her feed would either be washed down to her neighbor or remain stale and eventually build up into a mess.

Farms using the MealMeter see improvement in feed intake, and the benefits of that are widespread. At Klocke Farms, we observed an improvement in overall sow herd condition and that translated into higher sow longevity and a huge increase in pigs per sow per lifetime. PigEasy customers are noticing are getting similar results as they have greatly improved feed intake while at the same time reducing feed and water waste.

Reproduction is a luxury so it is important to make sure she is in a condition that allows for a successful subsequent litter. The MealMeter can help you accomplish that. Visit www.pigeasy.com or call (888) 354-0112 to learn more.

Until next time,

Katie



*** We have a new set up option for the MealMeter in breeding called the breeder bowl. For more information, call (888) 354-0112 or email Katie (katie@pigeasy.com).

Pork Producer Intuition turns Innovation

World Pork Expo, Des Moines, IA

The 2017 World Pork Expo is around the corner and we’re putting the finishing touches on PigEasy products that will be featured in our expanding booth (#V729). Even as we focus on promoting our tried and true product line, Dave never stops developing new innovations.

The tough decision every May is “What do we put in our booth this year?”

1. MealMeter feed dispenser -

Stainless Steel MealMeter

No question about it, we’ll have the MealMeter set up in a g-stall display. The MealMeter is what launched PigEasy and we are proud of how it boosts feed intake while preventing waste with incoming gilts, weaned sows and under conditioned sows.

PigEasy Sow Feeder

2. PigEasy Sow Feeder - 

The MealMeter will also be installed in the PigEasy Sow Feeder. The sow feeder’s one-of-a-kind design eliminates feed waste. (Yes, it really does!) By removing the corners, making this her only water source and using the MealMeter as the ad lib feed dispenser, you will get rid of the tedious task of cleaning out feeders.

PigEasy Farrowing Crate

3. PigEasy Farrowing Crate - 

The PigEasy Sow Feeder will be displayed with the PigEasy Farrowing Crate. Simple design with exclusive features, the PigEasy Farrowing Crate is built with durability, ease of use, and sow comfort in mind. (Remember the Flip Over feature?) Stop by our booth (#V729) to check out the one crate that makes sow care a whole lot easier.

We’re launching a number of new products this year. Some continue to focus on feeding because we know ourselves how feed is one of the biggest expenses on the farm and is always an area of improvement at every stage.

4. Breeder Bowl -

PigEasy Breeder Bowl

Speaking of PigEasy Sow Feeder, we’ve also wanted to allocate the success of the PigEasy Sow Feeder over to the breed row. To have the same feeding system in the breed row that’s also in farrowing makes the transition seamless and avoids any reproductive hiccups in the future.  To mirror the inner workings of the Sow Feeder, we’ve developed the PigEasy Breeder Bowl. The Breeder Bowl benefits from the same bottom design as the Sow Feeder without interfering with her access to boar exposure during breeding. Like the Sow Feeder, the Breeder Bowl serves as both her feed and water source, which regulates over-dispensing and over-watering and is self-cleaning. If you’re wanting to take feed intake to the next level pre-breed, you need to check out the MealMeter with the Breeder Bowl set up.

5. PigEasy I.D. Cart

PigEasy ID Cart

Finally, we’ve branched out from feeders and tackled another major migraine on a sow farm; pig tagging.  Certain programs require ear tagging all pigs farrowed on a sow farm and it becomes a time-consuming, fatigue-inducing chore. Ear tagging hundreds of pigs a day takes a huge toll on staff and can add stress to your hands and back.  Klocke Farms employees were wearing down after starting a new program that required ear tagging, so Dave got to work. With help, he invented the PigEasy ID Cart. The PigEasy ID Cart is a foot operated double tagger that also serves as a holding cart for the litter. The PigEasy ID Cart also comes with a tagging sheet to organize your tags.  I can’t even come close to being able to describe how cool this cart is.  Check out this video to watch how quickly the team can tag pigs accurately and with much less effort.  We’ll have one of these at the show as well, so you can test it out for yourself at the PigEasy Booth (#V729).

We’re looking forward to another wonderful year at the World Pork Expo June 7-9 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds!

See you then!

Katie

Strengthening your Weakest Link

"You’re only as strong as your weakest player."

We’ve heard this line from our coaches throughout our childhood.  Maybe you were the star athlete who mentored teammates that could use some improvement after you heard these words of wisdom. Or maybe you were the kid who immediately thought, “Crap! Is that me?” (guilty!) and spent the rest of the season paranoid you’re bringing down the team.

Regardless of where you were on the spectrum, this statement carries much truth.  If you have a weak center fielder, experienced players at bat are going to try to hit it to them EVERY TIME.

The prime intention for signing kids up for sports isn’t to create star athletes who go on to make millions in the big leagues. Our kids are part of the team to learn invaluable life lessons about working together toward a common goal.

As sow farm operators, our common goal is to keep sows healthy and productive throughout their life so they farrow healthy and productive pigs for market. I would say we’re succeeding as an industry with increased numbers of pigs out the door every year.

All too often though, our focus on the number of pigs out the door overpowers our focus on sow longevity. This can be a costly mistake.

Regardless of farm size, if you had the ability to change the outcome of just a handful of young sows each week in farrowing or pre breed, the affects could very well transform your herd.  

The “weakest” sows, typically lower parity sows that lose condition in farrowing, often get moved back to breeding with the idea that she will regain condition over the course of gestation. Unfortunately, studies indicate otherwise.  

“Anil et al., (2006) reported that sows consuming ≤ 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) of feed per day during the first two weeks of lactation were more likely to be removed from the herd before their next parity. The odds of removal were highest for sows that did not consume any feed during any single day for the first 14 days of lactation. The bottom line from this study is “if the sows don’t eat in lactation, they are going to leave the farm.”” - Managingsows for optimum retention by Zach Rambo, Dr. Jerry Torrison, Mark E. Wilson

If there was a solution that could change the outcome of five lower parity sows a turn in addition to raising the bar on the high performing sows, how much would you save a year in replacement costs? Five sows doesn’t sound like much, but similar to compound interest, the returns keep building. Let’s say you made a change that resulted in saving 5 P1s and P2s each turn of a group. If you’re weaning a group each week, five sows saved per group turn would equal out to around 260 productive younger sows remaining in the herd each year. That’s 260 less replacement gilts to purchase and acclimate to the farm, not to mention 260 better performing animals taking up space.

We learned these effects are long term at Klocke Farms. By focusing on ad lib feeding at key points in a sow’s reproductive cycle (prebreed and in lactation), sows choose to consume their daily ration at their own time throughout the day instead of when we decide. By giving sows the choice, limited intake days are avoided and sows stay in great condition and remain productive in the herd.

Initially, we observed a huge jump in Total Born with P1 gilts and over time lowered our replacement rate because our Pigs per Sow Lifetime continues to increase. Saving those bottom tier sows changed the entire makeup of our sow herd. Not only do we get more out of each gilt investment, but the herd is healthier and much more uniform overall.

Just like our coaches drilled into us when we were kids, the weak players on a team affect the team’s overall success more than we all think and by bringing that lower tier up, it boosts the team up all around. I guess we can chalk another one up for our childhood coaches!

Until Next Time,

Katie

Conquering the Pain of a Production Migraine

I started getting migraines in middle school. 

I left most softball games with a bad migraine
from getting overheated.

Mine had typical triggers, but as a 12 year old I barely understood what migraines was and didn't understand why they were happening.  By the end of high school, I was getting 3-4 a week and only my mom was able to notice. I’d walk in the room, she’d look at me and say, “You have a migraine?”

“Yep.” 

I was so used to the throbbing pain and nausea that I could function like a normal human being and while people knew I suffered from migraines, no one realized the extent of it.

As I matured, I learned some of what set them off and tricks to lessen the blow, but they were still there.

This little guy was a blessing in more ways than one.

It wasn’t until I was in the second trimester of pregnancy with my son that it clicked one day; I hadn’t had a migraine in over a month. I haven’t gone that long since I was a little girl! Today, migraines have become few and far between in my world, which is a good thing, but it has also been eye-opening.

Now when I get a migraine, they are KILLER. I need a dark room, an ice pack, and some time to get over it. Is it that these migraines are worse than before? Has my pain tolerance gone down?  I don’t think so.

I believe I was so used to being in semi-constant pain that it was a continuous reality of mine and I just lived with it. Because what was the alternative?

How often do we have “migraines” in our lives that we just live with? They are constant, throbbing problems that bring huge hiccups to our business and its success, but 1) we can’t find the trigger, and 2) even if we found the trigger, a solution isn’t readily available.

Feeding sows was a migraine for my dad. We knew how important optimal feed intake was, but we couldn’t get it right. We set the boxes too high, there was too much feed waste; we set the boxes too low, production suffered.

We hear about it a lot with other producers. Everyone knows it’s a problem. Each farm does what it has to do to get feed into these animals, but at what cost? The cost might be pretty clear, as in excess feed waste. That is something you can clearly see and quantify. OR the cost might be considered gray area, where your crew is having to spend time hand feeding sows when they should really be focusing on XX and YY tasks. Quantifying those added costs can be difficult. But, you do what you have to do to get through it. What is the alternative?

MealMeter with pre-breed gilts

We’re passionate about feeding sows for a number of reasons, but I think the unbridled excitement comes from the sow production “migraine” we found a solution for without adding a bunch of management to the workforce and outlandish costs per crate.

The MealMeter feed dispenser became a huge game changer not just on our farm, but for customers.  We recently caught up with a customer who said, “How else could we get this intake in these sows?”

We know what it’s like to live with production migraines because our roots are in sow production, right along with you. There’s nothing more frustrating than a migraine where you know the trigger, but you can’t do anything about it.

With the MealMeter, you can do something. There is an alternative to living with this production migraine, and it’s PigEasy.

Until Next Time,

Katie

Striving to Find the Better Way

“There’s a way to do it better – find it.”
– Thomas Edison

While innovation never quits at PigEasy, it can certainly ebb and flow.  Sometimes great ideas get stuck in Dad’s noggin for quite a while before he begins messing around in the shop creating the first proto-type. Even then, parts and pieces to the "next big thing" have been known to collect dust waiting to prove their worth.

Who can blame the guy? We’ve been busy.

Traveling all around the Midwest has us thinking we wished we would have tracked all the back roads we’ve zoomed through driven the appropriate speed on back when we started promoting the MealMeter almost four years ago. We aren’t sure if they really look familiar or the landscape is just beautiful everywhere we travel.

For instance, we were up in Winnipeg, Manitoba a few weeks ago for the Prairie Livestock Expo. We thought we knew cold weather here in Iowa…that is until we visited our Canadian neighbors. WOW! That’s a whole new level of freezing cold. Not counting a little run-in with black ice and a median on the way home, the trip was all positive. Everyone at the Expo was exceptionally friendly and we look forward to heading back there again (preferably when it’s warmer).

Our time back in Iowa has been spent developing new products as well as creating different options of our tried and true ones.

Chuck-It Bucket XL

We’ve had some customers request larger Chuck-It Buckets. Our regular Chuck-It Bucket size is great for a typical 3000 head sow farm with a regular loader bucket size, but could be small for larger operations. The Chuck-It Bucket XL is the answer for your larger farm with a 3,000lb and 48 cu. ft. holding capacity.

New MealMeter Applications

We often hear positive feedback on the MealMeter feed dispenser and have found other areas in a farm that benefit from maximizing feed intake while eliminating feed waste, such as a sick pen or boar pen. Customers have been happy with the amount of feed saved, in addition to eliminating the need for another watering pan.

More applications for the MealMeter are in store for 2017 – unfortunately, we’re not at a point where we can disclose all of them, so we’re going to have to leave you hanging in suspense!

Feedback Cart

Another item that has been working on our farm for years is a feedback or back-feeding cart. Ours is an easy tool (go figure!). To use, simply open the valve and walk down the aisle at a pace that gives you the recommended dosage. This is a superior solution in many ways. 1) There’s no heavy lifting or bending involved, and 2) feedback dosage is uniform. You know that the first sow in the row is getting the same amount as the last sow in the row. A 5 gallon bucket just can’t compete.

The PigEasy feedback cart is so new, it’s not even on our website or brochures yet. Call (888) 354-0112 for more details.

ISU Ventilation Project

The most exciting news I have is one I can tell you the least about. What I can disclose, though, is that PigEasy is working with Iowa State University on a preliminary trial to improve pit ventilation with one of Dad’s patented inventions. This idea pre-dates even the MealMeter. Dad was beginning to see all the benefits of this ventilation proto-type right around the time the MealMeter was taking off and requiring more attention.

With the original proto-type in for over 5 years and what we’ve seen with improvements to air quality and pit foaming issues, we have high hopes for the trial’s results and simply cannot wait to get this solution out to producers!

Upcoming Trade Shows

We will be showcasing a lot of the stuff discussed up above at the winter pork shows in January/February. Make sure to check out our booth location at the Expo you’re attending and stop by. We’d love to catch up with you!

 

South Dakota Pork Congress

Wednesday & Thursday, January 11-12, 2017

Sioux Falls, SD

http://www.sdppc.org/events-4/pork-congress/

Booth #112

Minnesota Pork Congress

Tuesday & Wednesday, January 17-18, 2017

Minneapolis, MN

https://www.mnporkcongress.com/

Booth #641

Iowa Pork Congress

Wednesday & Thursday, January 25-26, 2017

Des Moines, IA

http://www.iowaporkcongress.org/

Booth #114

Missouri Pork Expo

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Columbia, MO

http://www.mopork.com/event/missouri-pork-expo/

We hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas and wish you all the best in 2017!

Until next time,

Katie

"We can rebuild her. We have the technology."

Steve Austin. Astronaut. A man barely alive.

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. 

We have the capability to make the world’s first bionic man. 

Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better. Stronger. Faster.

Gentlemen, we can rebuild her. We have the technology.

Comparing a sow to the 6 Million Dollar Man is probably a bit of a stretch, but there are similarities if you really think about it.

Steve Austin was an astronaut, someone the US Government invested in to take us into outer space and advance NASA’s interests.  After enduring a catastrophic crash of his aircraft, doctors realize Austin will only survive and continue his life’s work if extreme measures are taken. And with this tragedy comes a huge opportunity; to build the first bionic man who is stronger and faster than any human on earth.

Pork producers invest in each sow as a productive entity on the farm. Because sows do not reach profitability until after their third parity, it’s imperative to build momentum with incoming gilts and maintain that momentum throughout her lifetime by keeping her in condition at critical points in her reproductive cycle.

But what if a catastrophe occurs where she loses condition, such as an illness in lactation or can’t keep up nursing a big litter? Studies suggest if a sow loses condition in lactation, she’s more likely to be culled after her next parity. Typically, this sow is never able to regain condition throughout gestation and performs poorly the next litter. We all have the best of intentions to get her back into condition in gestation, but how often are we successful? Do we have the ability to change this trend?

We now have the technology. (Okay, “technology” might be pushing it, but we DO have a solution.)

We have the capability to keep this sow productive in the herd.

Losing condition in lactation happens, but it doesn’t have to be the end for that sow.

Klocke Farms has set up what is called a “Recovery Row” in the breeding barn. This row is intended for sows that are under conditioned, coming off of an illness or are not eating well. MealMeter feed dispensers are ready in the recovery row and feed boxes are first set at roughly 4-6 lbs (2-3 lbs per feeding). The viewing windows and troughs are monitored to assess intake. If by the end of the day the viewing window is empty and the trough is clean, the staff know it’s time to bump up the feed box to allow more feed.

Even being under conditioned, KFI breed these sows if they cycle, knowing that the MealMeter will get them back into condition.

The MealMeter feed dispenser allows the sow to consume her daily ration when she is ready without fear of her feed going stale or being washed down the trough to her over conditioned neighbor. By giving her time and choice, KFI is able to feed these recovery sows 16 lbs or more a day and can then easily get her back into condition before her 35 day preg check. 

Because KFI is able to condition these sows when they need it most, they are able to run a 35% replacement rate and are pushing over 60 pigs per sow lifetime.

This sow will be better than she was before.

Better. Stronger. More Productive.

It could be argued that a gilt entering the herd, given all vaccinations, undergone the feedback program and has built immunity to the population of the sow herd, is a wasted resource if no effort is given to build her back up after she loses condition in one of her earlier parities. Sows that can get past their third parity are able to reach the next level of maturity and that is why pigs from multi-parity sows fare better than P1 progeny in thegrow/finish sector.

Klocke Farms hypothesizes that a lot of the sows that left the herd early due to losing condition in lactation were in fact the more productive sows. By giving them the extra attention they need post-lactation, we are able to “re-build” her so she is ready for the next parity and beyond.

Steve Austin was a man of skill, experience and knowledge. If they had the technology to save him and allow him to reach his potential yet chose not to try, think of how much would have been lost… Dad wouldn’t have had a TV show to watch in high school!

We have the capability to keep these sows productive in the herd. By tapping into the potential of the MealMeter, our herd is better, stronger and more productive than ever before.

Until next time,

Katie

This blog post is Part #3 in a series on the long term benefits of the MealMeter.