Published on June 5, 2018
Smart Traceability Project Keeps Hypor Clients on Cutting Edge
Doing things better and faster is nothing new for Hypor. But a current project combining ultra high frequency ear tags and a cutting edge app to boost the quality and quantity of data collected on farm is great news for Hypor clients.
A weighty challenge
For many years now, producers have employed a combination of tags with low frequency ear tag transponders in collecting reproduction and finishing data. While this method is precise, that precision comes at a high price per pig, and it’s not optimal for use on piglets due to the transponder’s weight.
Hypor decided there must be a better way, and by collaborating with a key client, they found it.
“We entered an agreement with a pig integration company in Spain to help them make data collection and exchange easier,” said Jose Maria Requejo, Data and Technology Manager at Hypor.
Taking the high road
The solution started with ultra high frequency transponders, technology currently used in the clothing sector, to control stock by tracking inventory and sales volume. In addition to being half the price of the low frequency approach, these transponders are much lighter, meaning they can be used right from birth, and their use of radio waves lets them track both individuals and groups.
By combining this technology with a new smart phone app, producers can read the transponders and track all animals on their farm. It’s an exciting breakthrough for Hypor and, more importantly, for their clients.
“This is something completely new in the pork sector,” said Jose Maria Requejo.
Big step, big rewards
Implementation is underway in the niche Iberian pig market in Spain. It’s a sector that’s used to working in traditional ways, so the move to ultra high frequency transponders and smartphone apps is a big step for them, but one that’s well worth taking.
When you think about the importance of traceability today, this technology lets you collect data in real time and offers full transparency of everything happening in the integration chain. By enhancing traceability, the industry can improve food safety and boost their reputation with ever more demanding consumers.
For Hypor, this new approach reinforces their commitment to Total System Profitability. Because data flows in real time, producers know exactly what stock they have at any moment, allowing them to optimize processes and management while minimizing operational costs. And since data reading is done automatically, the process is extremely accurate and efficient in labor use. That’s critical, for as anyone in business can attest, your output is only as good as your input.
High hopes for ultra high frequency
While data collection is just recently underway at a small farm, the prospects are intriguing. The combination of the ultra high frequency transponder and the app is collecting data on all animals from birth until they leave the farm, giving the breeding program full traceability and using the information in multiple ways. Once proof of concept is achieved on this farm, the technology, and the benefits that go with it, can be shared with other sites. In this way, the project supports the three pillars of innovation, collaboration and sustainability that form Hypor’s commitment to its clients and the pork sector as a whole.
If all goes as planned, this breakthrough by Hypor will give producers what they want, industry what it needs and consumers what they demand. And at the end of the day, what more can you ask for?
