Who?

Roger Cech

Cech Enterprises

Where?

Clarkson, Nebraska, U.S.A.

About the farm

  • Finishing operation
  • 6,000 pigs
  • Multi-generational farm

Nedap solutions

Nedap PorkSense

Results

Labor savings
User-friendly technology significantly reduces time and labor to sort and load pigs
Accurate forecasting
Reliable data improves delivery forecasts and eliminates sort losses
Raising consistent pigs
Precise feeding and rate-of-gain monitoring ensure consistent pig growth and development

Less labor, timely marketing

Nedap PorkTuner helps Nebraska producer raise high-quality pigs while reducing labor needs

Roger Cech has been involved in pig farming since he was 10 years old when his family raised about 400 pigs each year. Eventually, he took over the family farm and built a 4,000-head finishing facility, and a few years ago he added capacity for another 2,000 pigs, bringing total capacity to 6,000 head.
Along the way, Cech updated his controllers, feeding, monitoring and ventilation systems, but sorting and loading pigs remained a time-consuming, laborious process. It took Cech, his son and his daughter about 100 hours to load out his facilities every turn. Three turns a year amounted to 300 hours or 30 10-hour workdays.
The time investment changed dramatically when Cech invested in Nedap PorkTuner automated sorting scales in March 2019.
Since adopting the technology, Cech loads out each room in about 15 minutes. And it only takes one or two people to get the job done.

“Cutting down labor to sort and load pigs was my main reason to switch to Nedap PorkTuner automated sorting scales,” he says.
Cech had used automated sorting systems in the past, but he says nothing compares to the Nedap PorkTuner.
“Nedap technology is ahead of the competition and system data is simpler to access – it’s an easier, more user-friendly system to run,” he says.

Dialing-in delivery dates

Nedap PorkTuner automated sorting scale technology eliminates the need for estimating weights and manual sorting.
Instead, the system continuously collects growth data which allows for accurate forecasting of daily gains. Farmers like Cech can plan deliveries and transport weeks in advance.
“When it’s time to sell, all you do is make a phone call,” he says. “Three weeks ahead of time I can tell my packer, ‘I’m going to have 328 pigs weighing at least 270 pounds (122.47 kilograms).’”
Once pigs have reached growth goals, Cech heads to his office, and with a few computer keystrokes, schedules the Nedap PorkTuner to sort animals for loading. Pigs at target market weight are automatically sorted and directed to a delivery pen.

“I come back the next day and pigs are ready to load,” he says. It’s that simple.
Because the Nedap technology is so accurate, Cech’s sort loss has dropped from $3.20 to $0.14 (€ 2.71 to € 0.12) per head.
“Our sort loss is phenomenal,” he says. “You’ll never have a single pig slip by you. It just doesn’t happen, which saves a lot of money.”
Research conducted at Purdue University shows when sorting errors occur, the sort loss per pig was $2.50 to $4.55 (€2.12 to €3.86) per pig greater than with accurate sorting.[1]

More consistent pigs

Cech also credits Nedap PorkTuner automated sorting scale technology with helping keep pigs on their planned growth curve.
“It’s a great tool for keeping track of your rate of gain and how pigs are doing,” he says. “You can feed split rations with this system, which I couldn’t do with my old system.”

Precise feeding and sorting helps ensure pigs receive rations based on their actual weight, increasing pen uniformity and overall farm productivity.
Cech notes that pigs utilize feed better, improving overall efficiency.
Integrating Nedap PorkTuner into farm management was a smooth process for Cech, especially since he was already familiar with automated sorting.

“It wasn’t a big change for us,” says Cech. “And, it lived up to its promises. I’ve been especially impressed with Nedap’s customer service – any question I’ve had, they’ve taken care of me.”

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[1] Cheng J, Cabezon F, Schinckel, AP, Que Y. March 2018. Impact of Sorting Errors on Sort Loss and Optimal Market Weight for Market Pigs. Department of Animal Sciences. Purdue University.