In the news
Ron Ketchem and Mark Rix share their thoughts on the progression of batch farrowing over the last 11 years
In what will be Ron and Mark's last article for NHF, they discuss the increasing disease challenges and large sow farms and finisher sites should have producers considering batch farrowing.
Find the full article here.
In what will be Ron and Mark's last article for NHF, they discuss the increasing disease challenges and large sow farms and finisher sites should have producers considering batch farrowing.
Find the full article here.
Compeers' Kent Bang uses the MetaFarms Q2 2021 Production Index to Look at Mortality
In this article, he highlights that at a time when producers’ cost of production is rising quickly, being led by feed costs, the increase in mortality compounds the problem.
Find the full article here.
In this article, he highlights that at a time when producers’ cost of production is rising quickly, being led by feed costs, the increase in mortality compounds the problem.
Find the full article here.
MetaFarms' Brad Eckberg continues with the COVID-19 impact on the pork industry with the latest write-up on wean-to-finish groups
In this article, he analyses the impact that COVID-19 had on wean-to-finish groups.
Find the full article here.
In this article, he analyses the impact that COVID-19 had on wean-to-finish groups.
Find the full article here.
MetaFarms Launches Integration with Pork Checkoff AgView
In partnership with the Pork Checkoff, MetaFarms has built an integration with AgView which assures producers business continuity, as well as the ability to contact-trace and contain herds in real time if needed. By automatically sending movement data to AgView (upon producers permission), producers can continue to operate in the case of a disease outbreak as they will be able to quickly contain the impacted herd.
Find the full press release here.
In partnership with the Pork Checkoff, MetaFarms has built an integration with AgView which assures producers business continuity, as well as the ability to contact-trace and contain herds in real time if needed. By automatically sending movement data to AgView (upon producers permission), producers can continue to operate in the case of a disease outbreak as they will be able to quickly contain the impacted herd.
Find the full press release here.
MetaFarms' Brad Eckberg continues with the COVID-19 impact on the pork industry with the latest write-up on Finishing Pig Growth
In this article, he analyses the impact that COVID-19 had on grow/finish pig performance.
Find the full article here.
In this article, he analyses the impact that COVID-19 had on grow/finish pig performance.
Find the full article here.
MetaFarms' Brad Eckberg continues with the COVID-19 impact on the pork industry with the latest write-up on Nursery Performance and Feed Costs
In this article, he focuses on how COVID-19 impacted the nursery portion of swine production, mainly focusing on mortality, performance, and costs.
Find the full article here.
In this article, he focuses on how COVID-19 impacted the nursery portion of swine production, mainly focusing on mortality, performance, and costs.
Find the full article here.
MetaFarms' Brad Eckberg writes this month about the COVID-19 impact on marketing and finish mortality
By comparing and analyzing data by utilizing the MetaFarms Ag Platform, Brad focused on a few metrics to see what the impact of COVID-19 had on finishing groups’ mortality percentage, days to first sale, and average daily gain.
Find the full article here.
By comparing and analyzing data by utilizing the MetaFarms Ag Platform, Brad focused on a few metrics to see what the impact of COVID-19 had on finishing groups’ mortality percentage, days to first sale, and average daily gain.
Find the full article here.
Ron Ketchem is featured on the Popular Pig podcast speaking to "Selecting and Preparing Gilts for Success"
Join in and listen to Ron's thoughts on the below:
Find the podcast here.
Join in and listen to Ron's thoughts on the below:
- How to properly select gilts for the sow farm.
- Proper management of gilts in the farrowing house.
- The costs that result from neglecting gilts.
- How changes in Prop 12 will affect gilt selection and development.
- Ron Ketchem’s “Golden Chop”
Find the podcast here.
Ron Ketchem to speak at the International Conference on Pig Survivability set for October
The International Conference on Pig Survivability is planned for Oct. 27-28, in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Hilton Omaha. The conference objective is to facilitate the discussion and dissemination of the most current information relative to sow, litter, weaned pig and grow-finish mortality. Come listen to industry experts and say hi to the MetaFarms team!
Find out more here.
The International Conference on Pig Survivability is planned for Oct. 27-28, in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Hilton Omaha. The conference objective is to facilitate the discussion and dissemination of the most current information relative to sow, litter, weaned pig and grow-finish mortality. Come listen to industry experts and say hi to the MetaFarms team!
Find out more here.
Ron Ketchem, Mark Rix and Connor Sharp with SMS wrap up their series in National Hog Farmer on KPIs that every producer should focus on
The first one, titled “Part 1: Looking at KPIs in more detail” was published January 6, 2021, and “Part 2: KPIs for detailed review” was published February 3, 2021. In this third installment, SMS reviews the last KPIs: piglet survival percentage, total born/female farrowed-P1, total born/female farrowed (P1+P2+ P3) and then review the SMS Production Index that uses the 11 KPIs.
Find the full series here.
The first one, titled “Part 1: Looking at KPIs in more detail” was published January 6, 2021, and “Part 2: KPIs for detailed review” was published February 3, 2021. In this third installment, SMS reviews the last KPIs: piglet survival percentage, total born/female farrowed-P1, total born/female farrowed (P1+P2+ P3) and then review the SMS Production Index that uses the 11 KPIs.
Find the full series here.
MetaFarms' Brad Eckberg talking with Dr. Marcio Goncalves at Swine it about "Nursery pigs: what are we doing wrong?"
Production consultant Bradley Eckberg speaks to trends and room for improvement he sees in Nursery barns on the latest Swine it podcast.
Find the full video here.
Production consultant Bradley Eckberg speaks to trends and room for improvement he sees in Nursery barns on the latest Swine it podcast.
Find the full video here.
Ron Ketchem speaks at Passion for Pigs 2020 around how to reduce stillborns
With COVID precautions in place, Passion for Pigs was able to continue in Sedalia, MO is mid-December with a focus on reducing stillborns.
Ron spoke to this topic and mainly keyed in on how the industry really needs to invest in the proper gilts and set her up for success as a mother. There were many other speakers as well speaking to this importatn subject.
Find the formal writeup by PigProgress here.
With COVID precautions in place, Passion for Pigs was able to continue in Sedalia, MO is mid-December with a focus on reducing stillborns.
Ron spoke to this topic and mainly keyed in on how the industry really needs to invest in the proper gilts and set her up for success as a mother. There were many other speakers as well speaking to this importatn subject.
Find the formal writeup by PigProgress here.
Top vets say MetaFarms benchmarking is critical in reducing wean-to-finish mortality
Ryan Strobel, DVM, and Chris Sievers, DVM, with Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, Minn offered 10 strategies to reduce wean-to-finish mortality during an Iowa Swine Day webinar, organized by Iowa State University. The presentation can be accessed here.
Strategy # 1 is benchmarking through MetaFarms for Swine Vet Center because “if you don’t know where you’re at, you don’t know the direction you are headed,” Sievers said.
For the rest of the 9 strategies, check out the full article here.
Ryan Strobel, DVM, and Chris Sievers, DVM, with Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, Minn offered 10 strategies to reduce wean-to-finish mortality during an Iowa Swine Day webinar, organized by Iowa State University. The presentation can be accessed here.
Strategy # 1 is benchmarking through MetaFarms for Swine Vet Center because “if you don’t know where you’re at, you don’t know the direction you are headed,” Sievers said.
For the rest of the 9 strategies, check out the full article here.
Sow death loss continues, a deep dive by SMS: Part 3.
This is the third part of articles looking at female death loss, culling and combined looking at total removals.
Article can be found here.
This is the third part of articles looking at female death loss, culling and combined looking at total removals.
Article can be found here.
MetaFarms Makes it Possible for Producers to Leverage Coronavirus Food Assistance Programs
The Pork Journal recognizes the work MetaFarms has been aiding our producers with in applying for the CFAP programs.
The MetaFarms team has worked with producers and made the process easy for them to apply for the CFAP programs immediately upon their application opening dates. Because the required inventory data was quickly available through the MetaFarms AgTech Platform, producers have thus been reimbursed as fast as possible through the program.
Article can be found here.
The Pork Journal recognizes the work MetaFarms has been aiding our producers with in applying for the CFAP programs.
The MetaFarms team has worked with producers and made the process easy for them to apply for the CFAP programs immediately upon their application opening dates. Because the required inventory data was quickly available through the MetaFarms AgTech Platform, producers have thus been reimbursed as fast as possible through the program.
Article can be found here.
Sow death loss continues, a deep dive by SMS: Part 2.
Sow death loss continues to be top of mind for many producers and Swine Industry allies. See what SMS thinks about this issue in Part 2 of 3 diving into this topic. Article can be found here.
Sow death loss continues to be top of mind for many producers and Swine Industry allies. See what SMS thinks about this issue in Part 2 of 3 diving into this topic. Article can be found here.
MetaFarms and SMS work with the National Pork Board to help study swine sustainability.
The 15-page report, titled "Production Analysis Summary for U.S. Pork Industry: 2017-2019", prepared by MetaFarms and its subsidiary SMS (Swine Management Services), looked at sow, nursery, finish and wean-to-finish data over a three-year period. The results reconfirmed long-term trends of increasing efficiency, which has the additional benefit of reducing production costs -- a crucial factor, especially in 2020. Find the full report here.
The 15-page report, titled "Production Analysis Summary for U.S. Pork Industry: 2017-2019", prepared by MetaFarms and its subsidiary SMS (Swine Management Services), looked at sow, nursery, finish and wean-to-finish data over a three-year period. The results reconfirmed long-term trends of increasing efficiency, which has the additional benefit of reducing production costs -- a crucial factor, especially in 2020. Find the full report here.
Sow death loss continues, a deep dive by SMS.
Sow death loss continues to be top of mind for many producers and Swine Industry allies. See what SMS thinks about this issue in Part 1 of 3 diving into this topic. Article can be found here.
Sow death loss continues to be top of mind for many producers and Swine Industry allies. See what SMS thinks about this issue in Part 1 of 3 diving into this topic. Article can be found here.
Swine Management Services continues their two part series on "What does it cost to wean on older pig?"
Read part 2 of the article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Read part 2 of the article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Swine Management Services speaks to the advantages, disadvantages and costs of weaning an older pig this week in National Hog Farmer.
If you are moving to an older weaning age, some advantages may be being able to sell older pigs for more dollars, reducing feed cost for starting pigs in the nursery, a need to wean bigger pigs to meet a contract obligation, or being able to increase the value of the pigs by increasing weaning weight bonuses.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
If you are moving to an older weaning age, some advantages may be being able to sell older pigs for more dollars, reducing feed cost for starting pigs in the nursery, a need to wean bigger pigs to meet a contract obligation, or being able to increase the value of the pigs by increasing weaning weight bonuses.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Connor joins the Swine Management Services team and SMS gives advice on what steps you can take during the COVID-19 crisis this week in National Hog Farmer.
Swine Management Services (A MetaFarms Company) explains "What can you do to lower production during this crisis" and offers insight into the future of SMS with their new hire, Jeffry Connor Sharp, who goes by Connor.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Swine Management Services (A MetaFarms Company) explains "What can you do to lower production during this crisis" and offers insight into the future of SMS with their new hire, Jeffry Connor Sharp, who goes by Connor.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
This week in National Hog Farmer Ron Ketchum and Mark Rix advise on how to increase pigs weaned.
Ron Ketchem and Mark Rix with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) write this week about "What to change" and "What to change to" in regards to how to increase pigs weaned.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem and Mark Rix with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) write this week about "What to change" and "What to change to" in regards to how to increase pigs weaned.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem with SMS looks into what producers can further do for their total live born this week in National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) writes this week what you can change to drive up live born and save more pigs.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) writes this week what you can change to drive up live born and save more pigs.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem will be speaking at the International Conference on Pig Survivability set for October 28-29 in Omaha, Neb., at the Hilton Omaha.
The conference’s objective is to facilitate the discussion and dissemination of the most current information relative to sow, litter, weaned pig and grow-finish mortality. Ron will be speaking about the trends of U.S. swine survivability using anonymous information collected from more than 50MM+ pigs.
You can read more and register here.
The conference’s objective is to facilitate the discussion and dissemination of the most current information relative to sow, litter, weaned pig and grow-finish mortality. Ron will be speaking about the trends of U.S. swine survivability using anonymous information collected from more than 50MM+ pigs.
You can read more and register here.
Ron Ketchem with SMS advises "What can you change to drive up total born and save more pigs."
Ron Ketchem with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) writes this week that until you can control management of gilts for at least 60-plus days before breeding, your gilts will under-perform their genetic potential.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) writes this week that until you can control management of gilts for at least 60-plus days before breeding, your gilts will under-perform their genetic potential.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Two MetaFarms producers share their secrets for keeping high-quality labor in the National Hog Farmer.
A great read for any producer looking to gain insight on what has been working for employee retention and satisfaction at three different producers.
Read the full article here.
A great read for any producer looking to gain insight on what has been working for employee retention and satisfaction at three different producers.
Read the full article here.
The MetaFarms Sow and Finish Production Index is featured in the January 2020 Swine Vet Center Newsletter!
This month in the Swine Vet Center P.A. newsletter, the recently produced MetaFarms Q4 2019 production index for finish and sow are highlighted. This is a great newsletter that we highly suggest you subscribe to. As always, if you have any questions on the numbers, please reach out to us!
Read the full newsletter here, and don't forget to subscribe to their newsletter here.
This month in the Swine Vet Center P.A. newsletter, the recently produced MetaFarms Q4 2019 production index for finish and sow are highlighted. This is a great newsletter that we highly suggest you subscribe to. As always, if you have any questions on the numbers, please reach out to us!
Read the full newsletter here, and don't forget to subscribe to their newsletter here.
Ron Ketchem with SMS talks about "Are you ready for changes coming in the next decade?"
Ron Ketchem with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) writes this week about how to be the change agent that your staff needs in order to be prepared for the coming decades.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) writes this week about how to be the change agent that your staff needs in order to be prepared for the coming decades.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem with SMS to talk at the 2020 Missouri Pork Expo
The 2020 Expo Educational Series kicks off February 11 at the Missouri Pork Expo.
At 10:00 am on 2/11/20, Ron Ketchem with Swine Management Services will present An Overview of Performance Challenges We Are Facing Today in the Pork Industry.
Read more here.
The 2020 Expo Educational Series kicks off February 11 at the Missouri Pork Expo.
At 10:00 am on 2/11/20, Ron Ketchem with Swine Management Services will present An Overview of Performance Challenges We Are Facing Today in the Pork Industry.
Read more here.
MetaFarms featured in the Midwest Messenger!
The Midwest Messenger recently focused on our acquisition of SMS, as well as how we are positioning ourselves for 2020. Read more here.
The Midwest Messenger recently focused on our acquisition of SMS, as well as how we are positioning ourselves for 2020. Read more here.
Ron Ketchem with SMS talks about "Does gilt total born predict future farm performance?"
Ron Ketchem with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) writes this week about the importance of a total born rate in your sow barns and how this can be used as an indicator of future farm performance.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
Ron Ketchem with SMS (A MetaFarms Company) writes this week about the importance of a total born rate in your sow barns and how this can be used as an indicator of future farm performance.
Read the full article here in the National Hog Farmer.
MetaFarms customer Excelsior Farms, Inc. (EFI) recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2019
Entrepreneurs Alvin S. Hing and Paul T. Holaysan were brought together by their shared vision of improving food security in the country through advanced, sustainable hog farming practices that would enhance livestock quality for breeding and consumption.
MetaFarms is proud to partner with EFI in helping them revolutionize the local swine industry by leveraging innovative farming techniques.
Read more about how they are using innovation here.
Entrepreneurs Alvin S. Hing and Paul T. Holaysan were brought together by their shared vision of improving food security in the country through advanced, sustainable hog farming practices that would enhance livestock quality for breeding and consumption.
MetaFarms is proud to partner with EFI in helping them revolutionize the local swine industry by leveraging innovative farming techniques.
Read more about how they are using innovation here.
MetaFarms acquires Swine Management Services (SMS) to Expand Services Portfolio
On October 1st, 2019, MetaFarms acquired Swine Management Services LLC (SMS) of Fremont, Nebraska to expand its services portfolio. SMS will join the MetaFarms family and operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary, while continuing to provide all its current analytic and consulting solutions to the swine industry.
Customers and industry experts look to the MetaFarms platform for insights and benchmarking. With this acquisition we will be able to consolidate and further enhance our benchmarking services to deliver more value to your organization.
You can find the full announcement here.
On October 1st, 2019, MetaFarms acquired Swine Management Services LLC (SMS) of Fremont, Nebraska to expand its services portfolio. SMS will join the MetaFarms family and operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary, while continuing to provide all its current analytic and consulting solutions to the swine industry.
Customers and industry experts look to the MetaFarms platform for insights and benchmarking. With this acquisition we will be able to consolidate and further enhance our benchmarking services to deliver more value to your organization.
You can find the full announcement here.