Teutopolis, IL….If a feed mill operator could check his or her own computer to know for sure the growth of a client’s pigs, he or she would not have to guess or rely on feed budgets to know when to deliver a different diet. The result would be nutrition programs that were better managed and more effective. This scenario is now possible with an option available with FAST® II (Farmweld Automatic Sorting Technology). FAST II is an electronic sorting system that sorts pigs by weight. Purdue University researchers estimate automatic sorting technology increases annual revenue by $7,000-10,000 per 1,000-head barn by optimizing marketing performance. In addition to improved feeding and marketing results, other potential benefits include reduced labor for sorting and loading pigs, enhanced animal welfare and improved meat quality.

The new option is a web browser-based, subscriber service called eBarn™.  The service enables swine producers and other authorized individuals, such as employees or consultants, to obtain several management reports generated by FAST II from any online computer. The information could then be used to adjust feeding programs, plan marketing loads and track pig health.

eBarn provides several detailed reports, including:

• A histogram that shows distribution of pig weights, a powerful, at-a-glance display that’s helpful for marketing planning.  It includes a built-in Load Calculator to help determine when a load will be ready to ship.
• Five-day tactical summaries and 30-day summaries that display scale activity, average weights plus temperature and water usage. (Additional sensors are required for temperature and water usage monitoring.)
• Active sort summaries that show weight averages for high and low pig groups. 
• Inventory reports to keep managers up-to-date on the number of pigs moved in to the facility, the number that died or sold and other events.  This eliminates the need for labor-intensive hand reporting by growers and field staff.
• A scale report that indicates activity on the scale to help analyze barn activity and pig training.

For example, the person making decisions about marketing has access to FAST II data to better forecast ideal marketing dates.  With eBarn, FAST II’s histogram (showing weight distribution for all the pigs in the group) appears right on his or her own desktop. So that person can determine exactly when load of pigs will be ready for market. Or, the mill operator can access FAST II pig weight information to help plan feed deliveries.  Or, the operation’s veterinarian may be authorized to review growth data for making management recommendations. 

eBarn data is updated continuously -- within 24 hours of real time with an automated connection.  All information is private.  Security measures, including password protection, are in place to prevent access to records without proper authorization.  For more information, contact a Farmweld representative at 1-800-EAT-PORK.

FAST II provides a histogram like this one that shows weight distribution for the current pig group using the FAST II scale. This information can be accessed from any online computer. In this example, the median weight is 228 pounds. The Load Calculator indicates the estimated number of pigs above the chosen sort weight, making it easy to plan for marketing. In this example, there are 94 pigs over 260 pounds.

The Tactical Summary provides a five-day history for temperature, water usage, scale activity (number of hits) and average weight of pigs.  This summary is one of many management reports available with eBarn, a new subscriber service for FAST II users.

 eBarn is a trade name of HerdStar, the Minnesota-based software firm that develops scale software exclusively for FAST II.