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During a recent virtual Huddle, Dr. Whitney Lincoln, Director of Western Wean-to-Market, shared the team's top priorities. The team is focusing on implementing several initiatives to reduce mortality across the system while celebrating key wins and acknowledging several successful implementation efforts from the summer.
Climbing Towards 8%
The good news is that several flows and farms meet or exceed the 8% mortality goal. We assess performance by looking at both the pig flows from sow farms and the individual performance of each farm.
June closeout data from pigs placed in November and December shows results: of the 467,427 pigs placed, 82% were sold as full-market hogs, with a 16% mortality rate and 2% resale.
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Congrats to the teams at Sow 26, Sow 38, and Sow 35, where the flows from those farms averaged at or below 8%. Additionally, 16 wean-to-market farms were in the 8% Club for June.
July data for pigs placed in December and January resulted in 82% sold as full-market hogs and a 15% mortality rate. Congratulations to the teams at Sow 112, Sow 31, Sow 7, Sow 3, Sow 29, Sow 32, and Sow 34, where the flows from those farms averaged at or better than 8%. Additionally, 18 wean-to-market farms achieved the same or better than the 8% mortality goal.
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Measures in Place to Reach Goal
Dr. Lincoln emphasized that achieving these goals in a large system requires strong collaboration. She highlighted the crucial support from sow supervisors, maintenance, health services, and transportation teams working together to address areas with higher mortality.
Several efforts are happening. Recent supervisor training has emphasized stronger processes to validate that barns are clean before placing pigs. A critical role of the wean-to-market supervisors is to inspect the processes performed by other teams, like washes, barn set up and spring/fall checklists.
We have introduced a weekly '0-60 Day Mortality' conference call with sow farm managers, sow supervisors, Health Services, and the wean-to-market team. This open forum allows us to discuss diagnostic results of challenged flows and collaborate on tools and strategies to improve farm performance.
Individual treatment at the farms is emphasized, especially in post-90-day groups. To support this effort, we’re training on pig observations at the farm level and routinely reviewing treatment data to ensure that those challenged flows are receiving proper care.
Thorough reviews of closeout numbers and data analysis enable the wean-to-market teams to compare flow averages for mortality, average daily gain, and percent to full-value market. This process helps leaders identify opportunities for improvement in areas such as labor, facility design, and biosecurity, ultimately driving better performance.
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Implementation Wins!
Finally, a few shout-outs to the teams on the recent efforts to implement projects and/or initiatives to help us improve. Summertime ventilation adjustments helped improve airflow through the barns during the hotter months. Ongoing evaluations of castration and weaned pig quality will soon be reflected in closeout data. A strong focus on ensuring feeder pigs are placed on medicated diets has required tremendous communication and coordination. Lastly, the wean-to-market team is diligently submitting all-inclusive closeout tickets to the maintenance team, with those assigned maintenance techs working hard to complete tasks at each site.
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In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) | |
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Bert Weide Celebrates Retirement
"Bert was a Godsend," said Mark Lee, Sow Farm Supervisor. "I needed someone just like her on the farm. As an excellent people person and quick learner, she took the team and the entire farm to the next level.”
Known by many names—Bert, Berta, or formally as Roberta—her team at Iowa Select Farms universally recognizes her as an irreplaceable and outstanding manager of Rout Sow Farm.
Bert began her 16-year journey with us as a wean pig specialist and quickly rose to the position of farm manager through her hard work and natural leadership abilities. Reflecting on his experience mentoring Bert for the role, Mark joked, “I feel blessed I had the opportunity to work with her. Now, she’s an even better manager than me!" He added, "I'd teach her something one time, and she would practice it independently until she completely mastered it."
Bert and the Rout Sow Farm team embody a "work hard, play hard" attitude. When the team exceeded production goals, Bert was always eager to recognize their accomplishments, often hosting cookouts at her home or organizing gatherings at their local pub, where some of the team’s favorite memories were made outside the farm. "Bert is a great manager and an all-around awesome person," said Hunter Carmichael, Breeding Department Head. "She always maintained a positive attitude and led the team through some tough times."
As Bert steps into retirement, we have no doubt she and her husband, Jerry, won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Married for over 40 years, the Weides spend their weekends keeping up with their eleven grandkids and embark on many camping adventures.
Congratulations, Bert! Here’s to an amazing career and many great times ahead.
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Next Up, Retirement!
"Jessica is a true representation of our culture at Iowa Select Farms," said Cassandra Jass, DVM and Director of Biosecurity and Production Well-Being Compliance. "She is kind, hardworking, selfless, and always goes above and beyond to ensure the best care for the animals and employees."
Jessica Rosener has dedicated her career to Iowa Select Farms for ten years. She is passionate about teaching people and improving farms and has played an integral role on the Production Well-Being team. “Jessica is a great leader who was exceptional at development and training on the farms,” said Jeff DeWeese, Production Well-Being Specialist. “She truly lived by the motto ‘If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right’.”
Over the years, Jessica traveled to farms throughout southern Iowa, conducting biosecurity and animal well-being assessments. She also drove animal care efforts alongside farm managers, supervisors, and entire teams of caretakers, creating many impactful relationships. Jessica was often one of the first faces our new employees would meet as she welcomed them through new hire orientation, introducing them to their careers at Iowa Select Farm. “Jessica will be hard to replace,” said Kailey Einspahr, Production Well-Being Specialist. “She had a great balance of honesty, compassion, and the best interest in mind.”
Her energy, passion, and dedication will be missed, but Jessica’s commitment to helping people will undoubtedly continue after she leaves Iowa Select Farms and starts to enjoy retirement.
Congratulations on a wonderful career, Jessica! May your days be filled with hiking with Ernie the dog, gardening, tending to your flock of chickens, and spending quality time with your family. We appreciate all that you've done for Iowa Select Farms.
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Key Win: Weaned Pigs Making Progress
Looking at week 35 data, our gilt and sow teams have successfully boosted our weaned pig numbers to nearly 123,000 per week! Last time we reported it was 120,000 weaned pigs/week. Bravo to everyone involved and for their incredible efforts. Let's keep going! #ONEMOREPIG
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Congratulations!
Congratulations to Dr. Lynn Riedell, Staff Veterinarian, and her husband Chase Riedell, Maintenance Technician, on the arrival of their baby girl, Autumn Grace Riedell!
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Words of Thanks
John Stinn, Director of Ventilation and Filtration, thanks James Allison for his years of service as a ventilation and filtration technician who spent countless hours checking filters, smoking dormers and repairing ventilation systems. We wish him all the best in his new job!
Travis Albers, Wean-to-Market Supervisor, expresses gratitude to Jose Pompa and his wife for their assistance in cleaning pit fans, shutters, and offices.
Do you want to give thanks to someone in the Weekly Update? Please send it to Abby Fausch at afausch@iowaselect.com.
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Joke of the Week
Who is the unknown pig ancestor?
The missing oink!
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This Week's Years of Service
Check out all of the employees below celebrating their work anniversaries this week and last week. If you see these folks out and about, be sure to congratulate them!
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16 Years
Elzette Dean, Health Services Technician
15 Years
Trent Holdgrafer, CDL Driver
13 Years
Julie Hase, Farrowing Department Head Sow 023 Erickson
11 Years
Dennis Luhmann, Wean-to-Market Manager Finisher 013 Engstrom
10 Years
Blake Winther, CDL Driver
Anthony Olson, Truck Wash Biosecurity Monitor
8 Years
Valeria Leija Bustos, Sow Retention Specialist
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6 Years
Employee Transport Driver
4 Years
Darci Neubauer, Newborn Pig Specialist Sow 007 Jacobson
3 Years
Chris Maier, Farrowing Department Head Sow 034 Derby
Jesus Guzman Dominguez, Heat Check/AI Specialist Sow 013 Miller
Sarah Heaton, Newborn Pig Specialist Sow 001 Cadillac
Daniel Velasco Anzueto, Animal Breeder GDU 760 Wood
Jason Bruns, CDL Driver
2 Years
Tabitha Ploof, GDU Manager GDU 540 Conway
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Internal Job Openings
Looking for a new role within Iowa Select Farms? Check out what you may have missed last week. To see a list of our current and new job openings and information on applying, click here or contact Human Resources at 641-648-4479.
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On-Call Maintenance Schedule
Stay up-to-date with the on-call maintenance schedule and never lose track of its location. This schedule can be found here, and it will continually be updated in real-time.
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