Large Pen AutoSort Working For Illinois Producer

Scale barns have fallen out of favor with many producers for a variety of reasons, often mostly related to an unacceptable loss in pig growth and performance.  But work has been done to improve the design and equipment to overcome some of these negative factors.

One Illinois producer is having success with one of these new style scale barns. Don and Bert Huftalin of Hufco have 18 auto-sort scales and have seen over $6 per pig in savings from marketing around 4,800 pigs. 

The savings have come in reduction of labor, reduced sort loss, improved lean value, and a premium from their packer (Hormel Red Box Premium).

Hufco is leveraging a new technology from Gro-Master known as Large Pen Auto-Sort.  Gro-Master’s Marv Wastell says producers have removed their older technology auto sorters for a variety of reasons - 10 to 15% decreased gains resulting from pigs dying in food courts, pigs dying in one-way gates, and the increased management requirements of these systems.  One U.S .producer is removing 80 auto sorters. 

Wastell says large pen auto-sort allows for targeted marketing; enables optimal facility use; ensures animal welfare; permits animal performance monitoring; and provides ability to administer a targeted feeding program to deliver the proper diet for each weight of pig.

In developing large pen auto-sort technology, Gro-Master has learned a lot about how producers can make good decisions about the right technologies to lead them into the future.

First, the technology is not for everyone.  With large pen auto-sort, preplanning is vital to the success of the operation, and a producer must be willing to invest the time and energy upfront to ensure success.

Second, the system design must take into account both pigs and people. It must be designed for pig flow and for people, and training of both pigs and people is a must.

Third, a change of management procedures is required.  Surge protection is a must, as is direct communication with the Auto-Sort System.  Also, it requires the commitment of both the manufacturer and producer to ensure success. 

Gro-Master recommends a maximum of 600 pigs per sorter. The preferred number is actually 500 pigs per sorter, but 600 are feasible with proper pen management.  The food court must be large enough for pigs to move freely and small enough to minimize pigs lying in the food court.  Ultimately, the size depends on the feeder type, and Gro-Master has exact specifications for dry and tube feeders as well as Crystal Spring Wet/Dry Feeders.  Stainless steel one-way gates are required in the food court at the rate of 1 per 150 head.  These gates are easy to install and friendly to pigs, as they create easy pig flow.

Gro-Master also offers recommendations on sick pens.  The placement of these sick pens is dictated by the feed system location.  It usually consists of one dry feeder with one or two water cups.  The location of the sick pens should be at the end of or beside the sort alley for easy sorting off of a sick pig.  A location close to the door is ideal for removing deads. 

Profitable Pork is published by Feedlogic Corporation. The information contained herein is not a substitution for professional services of any kind. The editor of this newsletter claims no responsibility for the use or misuse of the information.

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