REMINGTON, Ind. — March 18, 2019 One of the greatest challenges currently faced by the swine industry is not pigs, but humans. That’s according to Jonathon Hoek of Summit Precision Production (SPP), a division of Summit Livestock Facilities, who addressed a record crowd attending the Emerging Technologies session of the 50th Annual meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Hoek’s presentation, “HUMATEC™: People – pigs – process – performance: creating the irresistible place to work,” introduced a new system designed to offer significant paradigm shift in swine production. Hoek said, “By establishing engaging lean processes and continuing improvement, SPP’s HUMATEC provides transformational step change in pig production. By factoring in the human element with the health, safety and well-being of the livestock, producers have the potential to provide an efficient, productive, and ultimately more profitable delivery of protein.”
The HUMATEC system is measurable, providing benchmarks critical to driving livestock producers’ strategies. Hoek added, “The bottom line of the ledger speaks volumes. The cost of high turnover of employees alone has a dramatic effect. The cost on the health of the pigs is also measurable. Healthy pigs thrive better when cared for by satisfied and engaged humans working in their spaces.”
People, pigs, process, and performance are capable of being harmonized and optimized as a system, Hoek said. “As we develop successful precision livestock ecosystems, an engaged and capable workforce is imperative to make disruptive change for the good of the animal and the people who care for them. The convergence of animal science, technology, and human psychology will lead to protein production being an irresistible place to work.”
Hoek’s presentation was well-received by session attendees. Further, it generated strong interest from several U.S. companies responsible for producing roughly ten percent of the swine industry’s sows. According to AASV, more than 1,200 professionals from 29 countries attended the conference held in Florida March 9-12. The white paper can be accessed here: www.summitlivestock.com/
Summit Livestock Facilities is a pioneer in the development and construction of innovative protein-producing livestock facilities. Their facilities do more than house animals—they improve animal health and production, reduce operational inefficiencies, solve regulatory issues, and alleviate social concerns. Their reputation for structural integrity, quality materials, and professionalism stands strong today. Summit Livestock’s goal is to build better lives. They go beyond buildings to create innovative and cost-efficient livestock facilities and forming long-lasting relationships and partnerships. True to their guiding principles, they do right, on time, with excellence.
— Summit Precision Production
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