Combining Technology & Expertise to Enhance Profitability

Monday, September 22, 2025

By Laurie Dickner-Ouellet, Trouw Nutrition

We live in an age in which technology and access to mass amounts of data are central to our lives. The agricultural sector is no exception, with technology being increasingly central to day-to-day operations.

Automated feeding and ventilation systems, load-sensing bins, GPS truck tracking, real-time mobile applications and advance order systems are just some of the ways technology can now be integrated into swine operations.

While these technologies offer valuable opportunities, they can also be confusing. Too much information can be just as problematic as too little, and we often end up getting lost in it.

Nonetheless, swine producers have had great success with the implementation of technology, particularly when paired with the expertise of swine nutritionists.

To demonstrate the power of incorporating technology into your swine operations, I’d like to share the case study of one Canadian swine producer.

The producer recently made the decision to modernize several of their swine maternity units, not only to meet animal welfare required standards, but also to incorporate some of the latest technological advances. This ambitious project involved depopulating and cleaning up buildings, installing ESF (electronic sow feeder) systems in gestation pens and automated feeding systems for lactating sows, stocking with animals of high health status and integrating a computerized herd management tool.

For me, a nutrition consultant with a passion for data analysis, having access to such advanced tools is a real blessing!

From the very first months of using the automated feeding system, it became clear that technology, however advanced, is no substitute for the human touch. For example, a poorly configured automated lactation feeding system can lead to wastage of feed or limit sow intake. Daily vigilance is essential, as is understanding the tools and having the correct supports in place.

Several farm visits led to many adjustments, notably adjustments to feeding parameters and lactation curves. The sows, in excellent health and with high genetic potential, had a lactation intake capacity 10 to 15 per cent higher than the required standards.

A predictive model (the NutriOpt Sow Model) was able to incorporate information about genetics, production history and environmental conditions to assess these sows’ nutritional requirements. The model confirmed that the sows were consuming well in excess of their requirements. This conclusion was reinforced by the low loss of body condition observed while in lactation, revealing an obvious savings opportunity.

Thanks to the predictive model and a strong understanding of swine nutrition, we established new nutritional specifications for lactation feed. The new feed had a lower density and incorporated other nutritional technologies, such as nutrient kinetics. Nutrient kinetics assesses the speed at which a nutrient is digested, providing a comprehensive and dynamic approach to optimizing swine diets.

For this specific customer, potential savings on lactation feed were substantial, representing more than $25,000/year for a herd of 1,500 sows. The producer was already satisfied with his 13 weanlings/litter averaging over 6 kg, so they were nonetheless reluctant to make any drastic changes to their budget. A gradual transition plan with close monthly monitoring of herd performance was therefore put in place.

The story continues, but the customer is already satisfied. In just a few clicks, the implementation of these technologies enabled us to quickly sketch a farm portrait and identify potential savings on feed.

Success was possible thanks to the progressive implementation plan and real-time monitoring tools, which altogether minimized the risks associated with change while optimizing performance and profitability.

This example perfectly illustrates how the judicious use of technology, combined with the expertise of a nutrition consultant, can optimize both profitability and animal welfare. As both the swine industry and technological innovations continue to evolve, swine producers should consider embracing these advancements and seeking the right support to fully capitalize on them. BP