21 The Trusted Source for Canada’s Pork Producers Better Pork | October 2024 What livestock technology do you use in your barn? Scott: We have the Maximus controller, which handles the ventilation and feed. When we renovated our barn, we took it upon ourselves to convert our gestating barn to loose sow housing. We installed eight Nedap feeding stations in our gestating barn to supply food and water to all gestating sows. The Nedap is equipped with heat detection as well, and that has been a useful tool for our operation. We’re always amazed at how everything can be pulled up on our phone, so even when we’re not in the barn, we can still check on things. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned? Scott: Don’t be intimated by automation, as it has freed us up to focus more on animal care and perform the tasks a machine can’t do. Automation has allowed for a consistent feeding schedule for the sows and facilitated a better work/ life balance for all employees. It was definitely a learning curve, but once we got through that first year, we’ve seen the benefits. What is your guiding management principle? Scott: Communication and honesty go a long way with everyone and everything. Jessica: Approach all situations with empathy. It’s okay to have expectations, but understand that some days are better than others, and everyone has something different on their plate for that day. It’s about improving and growing together. What are the biggest farming challenges you face? Scott: The biggest challenge we have faced to date has definitely been breaking with S. zooepidemicus. Because the disease was relatively new when we broke, there wasn’t much information, so it seemed everyone was learning in UP CLOSE Reliable Inputs, Sustainable Outlook Contact your Trouw Nutrition representative to learn how Watson can help you make sustainable management decisions on your farm www.trouwnutrition.ca Jessica and Scott met at a St. Paddy's Day dance. Bickle Family photo
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