While the 2012 National Hog Farmer World Pork Expo New Product Review Panel found there were often a number of products targeting the same need at this year’s trade show, they worked hard to make sure they brought forward new ideas for consideration wherever possible.

Lora Berg 1, Editor

July 15, 2012

3 Min Read
2012 World Pork Expo New Product Tour Showcases Innovative Products
<p> The 2012 <em>National Hog Farmer</em> World Pork Expo New Product Review Panel included, from left, Ted Funk, Marcia Shannon, Paul Yeske, DVM, Leon Sheets.</p>

 

While the 2012 National Hog Farmer World Pork Expo New Product Review Panel found there were often a number of products targeting the same need at this year’s trade show, they worked hard to make sure they brought forward new ideas for consideration wherever possible.

The panel takes a look at new products on behalf of our pork producer readers each year. They ask hard questions and discuss new ideas and concepts that have been introduced to the pork industry, while pondering how the products would function in a typical hog operation.

The panel was particularly focused on new technology that would address current issues facing the U.S. pork industry, such as feed costs and feed efficiency, nutrient management strategies and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

This year’s World Pork Expo New Product Review Panel consisted of the following experts:

Ted Funk, Extension agricultural engineer, University of Illinois – Funk’s research interests include livestock confinement structures, indoor climate control systems for livestock, indoor air quality and manure pit foaming.

Marcia Shannon, associate professor and Extension swine nutrition specialist, University of Missouri – Shannon is responsible for developing statewide educational programs in swine nutrition. She focuses on helping producers with phase feeding recommendations, nutrition management for growing pigs and the development of future pork producers.

Leon Sheets, Ionia, IA, pork producer and immediate past president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association – Sheets runs a 1,200-sow, farrow-to-feeder pig operation and a finishing operation, in addition to raising row crops.

Paul Yeske, DVM, Swine Vet Center, P.A., St. Peter, MN – Yeske works with pork producers while providing production and health consulting and management services. He has worked diligently to help control and eliminate a variety of swine diseases during his career.

During the initial product discussions, Yeske noted, “We have to ask ourselves, who are the readers and participants in the pork industry today?”  Shannon agreed with this approach and noted, “When I looked through these products, I looked for the ones that would be appealing at the many levels in the industry, from the owner/operators, who are making buying decisions, to the people who are working every day in the barns.”

When reflecting on the panel’s evaluation process, Sheets said, “When discussing the products with the other panelists, I think we really proved that there is a great variation as to what people want to see at a trade show, and there are opportunities to learn something by considering other people’s perspectives. It’s really helpful to have an extra set of eyes.”

The panel was diligent in trying to do their best at representing the pork producers who were not able to attend World Pork Expo.

“These products are worthy of further discussion, thought and conversation,” Sheets added. As the panel concluded their discussions, Funk summarized the thought behind the panel’s selections: “Look at the technology that these choices and products represent, not necessarily that these specific products are the only way to address these industry concerns.”

The panel does not rank the products. Rather, they selected 10 products they thought producers would be most interested in learning more about. Read more about the panel’s selections by clicking on the product name below:

 

Bioverse - AgraSphere

 

Big Dutchman – DryExact Pro

 

SFP – More-than-Manure Nutrient Manager

 

Ralco Animal Health – DELyte

 

ClicRweight – ClicRweight Weighing System

 

Prima Tech USA – 0.3 ml. Bottle Mount Vaccinator

 

Pfizer Animal Health – Fostera PRRS Vaccine

 

Automated Production Systems (AP) – Flow Hammer

 

Clarcor Air Filtration – Model 2000-P and Model 4000-P Filter Housings

 

Master Trading – Tube-O-Mat Classic

 

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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