With equipment, feed and production costs near record high levels, hog producers have to be pro-active at finding new ways to raise their pigs more efficiently, says Dr. Marvin Wastell.  One solution discussed by the Omaha, Nebraska-based animal nutritionist (he is associated with Gro Master, Inc.) is the use of large group auto sorting systems for managing growing/finishing pigs.  Wastell was in Winnipeg on January 31 to explain the

benefits of the systems to producers attending Manitoba Swine Seminar 2008. In addition to higher production costs, he noted, consumers are demanding consistent quality and many care that the animal products that they buy come from animals that were raised in a friendly environment.

In December 2005, Wastell reported, swine producers from five different countries met with a group of scientists in Le Mars, Iowa, to discuss and evaluate raising hogs in large pens using Auto Sorters.  The producers learned that there is an economic improvement potential of up to $16 US per pig marketed by raising pigs in this way.

He noted that there were rumours at one time that Auto Sorters resulted in some pigs dying. He dispelled that myth by citing results in northwest Illinois where 21,000 Auto Sort spaces have been installed with no fatalities.

He compared the results of using an Auto Sort system versus a small pen on the Blue Marsh Hog Farm near Plum Coulee. Manitoba.  The Auto Sort system resulted in slightly higher average daily weight gain, considerably less man hours involved in marketing (2.7 as compared to 32 for the pigs in the small pens) and more than $1 per pig less in labour costs.

A South Dakota producer found he could sell his Auto Sort-raised hog carcasses for $5.44 more than carcasses from hogs raised in small pens.  His production costs were $1.31 a head less. Wastell added that Hormel, an American packer in attendance at the Le

Mars meeting, reported that pigs marketed by producers with auto sorters have a $5.70 increased value over producers who don’t use auto sorters.

“A second question that is frequently asked is how many pigs can be sorted by a given sorter.” Wastell noted.  “One manufacturer recommends 1000-1400 pigs per sorter, but there are several different systems.”  Food court design can also have an effect on pig gains, he said.  A Saskatchewan producer was able to increase average daily gain by 160 g/day by changing the design of his food court.  Large pen auto sorting is not for everyone though, Wastell noted. “Preplanning is a must,” he said.  “The system must be designed for pig flow and people and training for pigs and people is a must.  There also

has to be changes in management procedure. “To be successful the AutoSort system requires a commitment from the producer, the employees managing the barns, the distributor and the manufacturer.”