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I recently had the opportunity to spend a couple of days at EuroTier 2014 (read more……). I asked the same question to the Hog Slat sales teams and country managers, ” What items are selling in your market?”

The answers varied, but they all had one common factor….SowMAX.

From German Country Manager, Karl-Heinz Wöste, “German producers understand feeding lactating sows as individuals results in heavier pigs at weaning. The SowMAX system accomplishes this task while reducing labor. Producers also like how simple the SowMAX is….no electronic ear tags to lose or motors to fail.”

“Our customers are adding SowMAX feeders to existing units” explained Rafal Bozek, Country Manager of Poland. “They tried a few units and saw the results…heavier pigs at weaning. For our producers, the SowMAX is the most durable unit on the market. 100% stainless steel. No plastic parts like competitive products. Simple to use too. Fill the hopper and sow eats as little or as much as she wants every day without wasting feed.”

To see more on the benefits of SowMAX click here……

I have been around Hog Slat for some 22 years now.  In my opinion, one of Hog Slat’s biggest strengths comes from the company’s ability to take its proven equipment designs and adapt to local production methods.

Hog Slat introduced the concept of total slatted, curtain-sided finishing barns to the Midwest during the late 80’s.   Hog Slat quickly changed the ventilation, manure handling and building materials to match local conditions, but the basic concept remained the same.  This style of finishing building changed the way pigs were finished in the Midwest resulting in improved pig performance and increased profitability.

A similar situation is developing in Europe with Hog Slat.

Hog Slat’s display at EuroTier showcased a new line of steel equipment tailored to the European swine market.  It’s a different type of equipment than you would see Hog Slat display at the World Pork Expo.

The first thing that comes to eye is the hot-dipped galvanized finish vs. the painted finish most common in the U.S. market.  Interior space is more confined, and the building layouts reflect in equipment design.   And of course EU regulations are followed regarding square footage allowed, penning and flooring design.

Breeding Stall

The Breeding stall features a split “saloon-style” back door.  The split gate allows the operator to enter the stall while the closed section prevents the sow from backing out.

The gate is designed to operated with only one hand allowing the technician to carry a preg-checker or AI equipment in the other.

 Watch a short Video of the saloon doors

European concrete slats tend to have less open area than slats in the U.S. due to welfare regulations. Stainless steel legs rotate to allow placement of an anchor in a slat opening.  A set bolt is tightened to secure the leg to the stall side.  Three top and four front bars attached to the stall sides with clamps, making it easier to get a straight installation without drilling or welding.

The stainless steel feed trough will outlast composite or concrete troughs.   Because sows can lie with their heads under the raised trough, the overall length can be reduced to 1.8 meters and still meet EU regulations requiring a stall to be 2 meters long.

International Crate

A typical pen layout will have farrowing stalls facing out against the room walls with only a center alleyway.

The combination feed and water trough is raised to allow the sow more effective stall length.  Many producers choose to install the SowMAX (read more…..) and fill with an automatic auger or chain disk system as hand feeding is difficult without a front feeding alley.

To load the crates the rear creep panel is opened, the rear gate unfastened and the movable side panel is slid to its open position. After the sow moves into stall, the operator adjusts the movable side to the size of the sow and selects one of the holes in the rear gate to hold it in place.  The operator then adjusts the bottom bow bar for large or small sows.  The bow bars also include anti-crushing bars to reduce pig mortality.

Hog Slat displayed its plastic flooring and with interlocking cast center sections for farrowing.  Optional types of flooring sections, including red heating sections, allow producers to design a custom floor.  Creep areas are larger than typically used in the U.S.   The EuroTier floor measured 1.8 meters (5.9′) wide by 2.4 meters (7.87′) long.

Hog Slat also featured traditional style European penning with PVC planking on the bottom and galvanized pipes fastened to formed stainless steel posts.  Notice the plastic fasteners at the end of the pipes, after the pipes are cut to length the plastic ends are forced onto the pipe and bolted into place.  U.S. style horizontal penning is also finding some favor with some European producers as it is more cost effective and allows for better ventilation.

Going forward, you will see a constant blend of American and European concepts reflected in the equipment Hog Slat builds for Europe.  Hog Slat’s manufacturing, sourcing and distribution expertise will lower the final cost to the producers without sacrificing quality.

U.S. concepts in ventilation (tunnel), feeding (SowMAX), and finishing equipment (open horizontal penning) will gain acceptance with European producers looking for maximum efficiencies in producing pork.

In an earlier blog post we reported the interest shown in the SowMax (see more….) at this year’s EuroTier.  Shown is German sales rep Ulf  Maroske as he explains features and benefits to a customer at the show.  We later received this email from Ulf concerning a customer who purchased 20 International farrowing crates and 50 SowMAX dispensers to fit on existing crates this October.

“When visited my customer last week the piglets were 14 days old. He placed the sows with the highest piglet losses in the last farrowing in the Hog Slat International crates. He told me had piglet losses of .6 per sow in the new crates compared to 1 piglet per sow in the old crates. This is nice result.”

“When I asked him how satisfied he is with our SowMAX he gave me the short answer.  Today he regrets that he installed 50 of them…if he had know the SowMAX worked so well he would have equipped all 90 farrowing crates with them.”

“Compared to his other feeding system he has significantly less feed wastage.  Now the sows eat more, the amount is 10kg (22 lbs.), that was not possible before. The sows are much quieter during feeding time”

To see (more…..)

For a farm seeking a premium laying nest, Farmstead nests could be the perfect solution. The Farmstead nest provides hens with sufficient space to lay high-quality eggs, promote optimal hygiene, and above all are user-friendly and durable.

Farmstead nests are constructed of rugged galvanized steel that bolts together for strength, versus nests that are pop riveted. All edges are rolled to prevent injury to the birds, and divider partitions have ventilation holes to allow for air circulation around the hens to keep them cooler.

“We recently built a barn for our chickens and had tried a few different nesting options. We had tried utilizing plastic bins and other nesting systems, but unfortunately none of these options were agreeing with our chickens. We decided to try the Farmstead nests and have been happy with this system. Our chickens adjusted well and are comfortable with this nesting option. We also have some ducks in our operation and they too have been utilizing the nesting boxes.” Pamela – Blanding, UT

“I like how stable the nests are because the chickens are not going to be able to knock it over.” Pamela – Blanding, UT

“I like that it bolts together easily and is made of galvanized material so that it won’t rust.” Casey – Paragould, AR

Suited to fit farms of all sizes, nests are available in 10-hole, 10-hole rollout, and a 4-hole nest. Assembled dimensions of the 10-hole are 34.5” high x 60” long, while assembled dimensions of the 4-hold are 34.5” high x 24” long.

“They provide a larger area for chickens, allowing them greater mobility.” Terry – Virginia, IL

In addition to animal comfort, it is important to note the nest’s user-friendly features. Designed for easy maintenance, nest bottoms are removable to make cleaning and litter replacement effortless. Nests feature hinged perches that flip up to aid egg gathering. The tops of the nests are designed with a steep slope to prevent roosting. In addition, nests can be elevated off of the ground and mounted onto a wall.

“I like the way the bottoms of the nests lift out, allowing the nests to be fairly easy to clean.” Lorena – Hillsboro, OR

“They are easy to clean. I use wood shavings for the bedding and clean out the nests once a week.” Pamela – Blanding, UT

“I like the fact that you can close the boxes at night so that they don’t allow the hens to roost in them.” John – Palermo, CA

For anyone looking into the Farmstead nests, here is what some users have to say.

“I like everything about it. The nests were easy to assemble; we were able to assemble it within an hour.” Terry – Virginia, IL

“This product provides great value for the money.” Lorena – Hillsboro, OR

“I have found nothing wrong with this product and would purchase it again.” John – Palermo, CA

For more information on Farmstead nests, visit www.hogslat.com

Producers, industry leaders, and hundreds of agri-businesses have gathered this week in Des Moines, IA for the 43rd annual Iowa Pork Congress. Held at the Iowa Events Center, the Iowa Pork Congress kicked off on Wednesday, January 28th and will go through Thursday, January 29th.

This two-day conference attracts over 5,000 producers and industry specialists from not only Iowa, but across the Midwest – leading to a well-attended tradeshow and conference.

Producers can find feeding systems, ventilation systems, and flooring for swine production highlighted at the Hog Slat booth. This year at the show, Hog Slat is showcasing our GrowerSELECT line including a full feed line display, an interactive Grow Disk Controller, Sow Drops, and the GrowerSELECT Curtain Machine. New at the show is GrowerSELECT AirStorm Fiberglass Fans, fans that deliver superior ventilation performance to producers who demand the best value.

The 2015 Iowa Pork Congress will be another outstanding event going in the books! Thank you to all attendees that stopped by to say Hello! You can find us at the Hog Slat booth, number 301.

We just released our new SowMAX ebook.

It’s the illustrated manual on feeding sows in lactation with SowMAX. See the section on ordering hardware and brackets to add SowMAX dispensers to your farrowing crates.

Click here to download your free copy.

Go to our web page to watch SowMAX videos .

Official Swine ID – FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

With the USDA Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rules now in place there is an increasing emphasis on livestock traceability within State and Federal agencies and the livestock industry. More and more producers are hearing about Official ID products and specifically to this article, how it pertains to swine.

There are two main categories when it comes to Official ID for Swine. There are “840” tags and there is the “Swine Premises Tag”. Below are the details and common questions for both.

840 Tags:

What is an 840 tag?

840 tags are USDA approved tags for official individual animal identification. They will have a unique 15 digit number that always starts with “840” which is the country code for the United States. A manufacturer has to be approved by the USDA to produce a specific 840 tag.

What is a common use for 840 tags in Swine?

Increasingly 840 tags are being required for Swine Shows, State and County Fairs and Auctions. They can also be used for Interstate Commerce.

How do I purchase 840 tags?

You must have a registered Premises ID before you can purchase 840 Tags. If you don’t have your Premises ID you should start with contacting your State Animal Health Agency. You can find your respective state’s contact information at the following link: http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

Once you have your Premises ID you can order your 840 tags and tag applicator by Destron Fearing from Hog Slat.  (See chart below)

Swine Premises (PIN) tags:

Why is a Swine Premises tag commonly referred to as a PIN tag?

Swine Premises tags are official location identification for cull breeding stock (cull sows and boars). The minimum requirement is for them to be used on cull breeding animals just prior to entering harvest channels from their farm of origin.

What does PIN stand for?

Premises Identification Number. It is a unique 7 character alpha-numeric national site identifier.

Can I use them for identifying feeder pigs/weaner pigs for movement and/or show pigs?

No, they are for use with animals in the breeding herd only.

Why was January 1st, 2015 important for Swine Premises tags?

That was the date that the swine industry and packers/processors agreed on to make PIN tags a requirement of sale. If a producer wants to receive full value for their cull breeding animals from that date forward, the animals need an Official Swine Premises tag in their ear before leaving their farm of origin.

When should I apply the PIN tags to my animals?

Most producers are applying them to new breeding animals as they enter the breeding herd and are using it as their management tag. You may also apply them when culling an animal from the farm, just prior to the animal entering harvest channels.

How do I purchase Swine Premises (PIN) tags?

You must have a registered Premises ID (National 7 character alpha-numeric ID) before you can purchase Swine Premises Tags. If you don’t have your Premises ID you should start with contacting your State Animal Health Agency. You can find your respective state’s contact information at the following link: http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

Once you have your Premises ID you can order your Swine Premises tags and tag applicator by Destron Fearing™ from Hog Slat.  (See chart below)

Hog Slat also offers a wide selection of Destron Fearing™ livestock identification tags for your cattle, swine, sheep and goats. Click here to shop the entire line of animal identification tags and accessories.

Our newest product offering for backyard flocks helps reduce feed loss from pests like mice, rats and wild birds. Known as a treadle feeder, the Feed-O-Matic incorporates a step activated gate to control access to the feed trough.

The treadle requires two pounds of weight to open the slide gate. As a chicken steps on the treadle to eat, it is depressed, and the gate opens. When the chicken finishes and steps off, the treadle rises shutting the gate to limit access to lighter weight pests.

The trough features several refinements to limit feed loss as the chickens are eating. Solid plastic dividers prevent feed from piling up in the corners and falling out. A feed-saving plastic lip on the trough keeps birds from “raking” feed out of the trough as they eat.

Constructed of 20 ga. galvanized steel, the Feed-O-Matic holds 26.5 pounds of feed. A plastic lid keeps the feed hopper clean with a snap latch to secure it.

To order go to http://hogslat.com/feed-o-matic-chicken-feeder

Hog Slat’s introduction of the Poly Lamp improves several features of plastic heat lamp shades used in swine farrowing houses. Plastic heat lamp shades have become popular since being introduced several years ago. Polypropylene shades don’t dent or corrode like aluminum shades. Plastic shades also have a some cushion or “bounce” when knocked against the crate or creep panels reducing bulb breakage.

The Hog Slat’s Poly Lamp improves several key features of the plastic heat lamp, most notably to the nylon fixture.

First, the nylon fixture screws together on the shade top, instead bolting. The two-piece fixture reduces breakage occurring with the bolt-on style of earlier models.

Second, we use a rigid fixture instead the flexible type used on other poly lamps. The rigid design eliminates cord twist when replacing bulbs.

And third, the porcelain socket resists heat damage better than plastic types.

The Poly Lamp comes with a choice of hanging options; adjustable sliding poly hanger on the 9′ cord or a wire hanger mounted on fixture top.

Rated a maximum 250 watts at 120 volts, the Poly Lamp is UL listed. The Poly Lamp also comes with an extended Three-Year Warranty.

Overall the Poly Lamp is an improved version of earlier plastic lamp shades at very attractive price. For ordering information go to http://hogslat.com/hog-slat-poly-heat-lamp

Hog Slat’s launch of AirStorm fiberglass fans continues our commitment to reducing the price swine and poultry farmers pay for production equipment. Manufactured at our facilities in Iowa and North Carolina, AirStorm fans offer dependable performance at very attractive prices. Here is a look at several key features illustrating the quality designed into AirStorm fans.

Quality starts with Resin Transfer Molded (RTM)  fiberglass housings. Fiberglass parts produced by a RTM process have two finished surfaces and high glass-to-resin ratio. The result is a very finished looking product with high weight-to-strength characteristics. A direct side-by-side comparison of competitive brands shows AirStorm housings to be noticeably thicker. Polyethylene discharge cones reduce weight and cost. 

True airfoil vanes on the PVC shutters reduce air drag to improve fan delivery. Full-length spring steel rods, instead of short endpins, keep the vanes securely mounted into the frame.

Heavy-weight, stainless steel motor mounts, and hardware offer more protection from rust and corrosion than comparable aluminum mounts. Stainless Steel (36″ & 54″) or composite (24″) props outlast plastic or aluminum and stay “in-balance” through actual on-farm conditions. High service factor motors provide protection against varying line voltages common with rural power sources. 

The lower purchase price of AirStorm fans results from a different type of distribution model. The traditional marketing channel for ventilation equipment consists of a manufacturer selling fans to a local dealer who marks the price up before selling to livestock producers. The cost of AirStorm fans is lower because we manufacture and sell directly to the end user. Hog Slat controls the distribution chain from start(manufacturing and sourcing) to finish (sale to the end user) and can limit the amount of “stacked margins” in the final purchase price. (See more about Margin Stack) Our network of local stores provides service at a cost lower than typical dealer distribution systems.

For pricing and ordering information go to Airstorm Fans