The Growing Labor Crisis in Swine Farming
Swine farming is a year-round commitment that demands a dedicated workforce. Despite offering competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement, the industry struggles to attract and retain employees. The working environment can be particularly challenging. Elevated disease pressure adds a further strain on farm staff, both from a labor and emotional standpoint. Higher morbidity and mortality rates often lead to increased medication treatment rates, resulting in longer work hours and emotional distress for employees. Empathy for health-challenged animals can also contribute to worker dissatisfaction, leading to employee burnout.
The Impact of Labor Shortages on Farm Efficiency
The ability to hire and maintain a strong workforce is a significant issue in swine production systems across the globe. It can take up to two years to fully train an animal care technician, and the cost of vacancy can account for 100% to 200% of the vacant role itself1. A recent National Pork Board report in the US showed the average turnover rate for animal caretakers on large swine operations was more than 35%2. This high turnover rate impacts productivity, with the total cost incurred by a turnover event estimated anywhere between 30% to 150% of an employee’s salary3. These challenges highlight the need for prioritizing managerial efforts in worker recruitment, training and retention.
Boosting Labor Morale with Nutritional Solutions from Zinpro®
Healthier animals often mean happier farm employees. Providing the right diet throughout a pig’s lifetime can be the difference between a healthy, highly productive animal and an increase in pig morbidity and mortality. Nutrition, particularly the inclusion of Zinpro® Performance Minerals® throughout all phases of production, plays a critical role in reducing health issues and, ultimately, improving employee morale. Studies have shown that these nutritional practices can lead to improved sow retention, reduced medical interventions and greater productivity and profitability for your operation. By addressing both labor and nutritional challenges, you can enhance farm efficiency, improve worker morale, and drive profitability.
Proof of Performance from Zinpro
7,528 first parity (P1) sows were fed Zinpro® Availa® Sow in the gilt development phase starting at 50 lb/22.6 kg body weight, and throughout gestation and lactation. Sow retention increased 4.8% between P1 and P2, and the data showed a 0.25 pig increase in total born alive for P1 sows.
Putting the Power of Zinpro Performance Minerals to Work
Efficient farm operations rely on a motivated and well-trained workforce, achievable through effective employee management and training. Incorporating Zinpro nutritional solutions into gilt and sow diets plays an important role in reducing health issues and alleviating stress on labor. By addressing both labor and nutritional challenges on your operation, you can enhance farm efficiency, improve worker morale and ultimately drive profitability.
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1A Baseline Study of Labor Issues and Trends in U.S. Pork Production. Accessed at https://southeastagnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/August-2021-Labor-Study.pdf.
2Employee Compensation & HR Practices In Pork Production. National Pork Board. Accessed at: https://www.porkcdn.com/sites/porkorg/library/2012/09/2016-NPB-compensation-survey.pdf
3Pig Barn Turnover Rates: Challenges & Costs. Accessed at: https://extension.sdstate.edu/pig-barn-turnover-rates-challenges-costs
4Family Business Facts. Conway Center for Family Business. Accessed at https://www.familybusinesscenter.com/resources/family-business-facts/.
