The Makings of Stockpeople
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on July 22, 2015
Traditionally, the producer of the swine unit was the stockperson and pig handling skills were passed down from the previous generation. Because of the increasing numbers on Pigs on nowadays farms, the demand of reliable and motivated stockpeople is gaining in the last years. Finding stockpeople with an appropriate character is important to the productivity and welfare of pigs and the future of the farm. As producers hire and train employees as stockpeople, many of them are new to the industry, their attitude and ability can be shaped through constant information and on-farm training of best-management practices for animal handling and movement, animal health diagnosis and treatment and other topics related to animal care. Research indicates that the productivity of pigs is related to the interaction with stockpersons, so well training people can be a chance for the barn.