It captures and records pig weights instantly

Lora Berg 1, Editor

July 15, 2013

1 Min Read
2013 World Pork Expo New Product Tour: Ro-Main OptiSCAN
<p> Marc Leuschner explains the OptiSCAN to the review panel.</p>

Although it is not quite ready to hit the U.S. market, the 2013 World Pork Expo New Product review panel thought the Ro-Main OptiSCAN hand-held pig weight scanner could offer potential benefits to pork producers.

OptiSCAN is a three-dimensional, hand-held camera that captures and records pig weights instantly when it is held over the top of a pig’s back. Producers can click a button and record the weight within 3 seconds. Marc Leuschner demonstrated how two red dots are projected from the unit onto the pig’s back to show that the OptiSCAN is positioned correctly. Three-dimensional images of the pig, along with the weight, are displayed on the hand-held unit’s screen and on a computer. The OptiSCAN downloads the information via a cable attached to a personal computer. Leuschner said while the company is currently working to perfect a wireless interface, the user now must carry the computer in a backpack while scanning the animals.

Steve Hoff asked about the accuracy of the unit. Leuschner said the OptiSCAN currently records weights with close to 97% accuracy.

The panel really liked the concept of the hand-held weight-recording device. “It’s a win-win situation if they can develop the wireless app and get the product delivered to market,” Steve Hoff said. Paul Yeske, DVM, agreed. “Ultimately, the device needs to be able to link up with a producer or supervisor’s smartphone and give the weight.”

The company hopes to begin selling the unit in the fall or winter of 2013. Learn more about the OptiSCAN at www.ro-main.com.

About the Author(s)

Lora Berg 1

Editor, National Hog Farmer

Lora is the editor of National Hog Farmer. She joined the National Hog Farmer editorial team in 1993, served as associate editor, managing editor, contributing editor, and digital editor before being named to the editor position in 2013. She has written and produced electronic newsletters for Farm Industry News, Hay & Forage Grower and BEEF magazines. She was also the founding editor of the Nutrient Management e-newsletter.

Lora grew up on a purebred Berkshire operation in southeastern South Dakota and promoted pork both as the state’s Pork Industry Queen and as an intern with the South Dakota Pork Producers Council. Lora earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from South Dakota State University in agricultural journalism and mass communications. She has served as communications specialist for the National Live Stock and Meat Board and as director of communications for the University of Minnesota College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences. During her career, Lora earned the Story of the Year award from the American Agricultural Editors’ Association and bronze award at the national level in the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ competition. She is passionate about providing information to support National Hog Farmer's pork producer readers through 29 electronic newsletter issues per month, the monthly magazine and nationalhogfarmer.com website.

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