January 2026 - Journal_Final - Flipbook - Page 8
Management
Mastering Pig Flow:
CONFUSION TO CONSISTENCY
Rick Jordahl
Director of Pig Flow Logistics
Pipestone Management
Rick grew up in Ivanhoe, Minnesota, and earned a business degree
from Metropolitan State University in 1994. He joined Pipestone in 1997
and has held multiple production roles, including sow farm manager
and production supervisor. Since 2018, he has served as Director of Pig
Flow Logistics, helping farmers optimize pig movement and operational
ef昀椀ciency.
Pig 昀氀ow, sometimes called the “pig wheel,” is the
planned pattern of how pigs move from sow farms
to nursery or 昀椀nishing barns over time. While it may
sound simple, getting pig 昀氀ow right is one of the most
important drivers of barn ef昀椀ciency, pig performance,
and overall pro昀椀tability. Swine production can be
chaotic—multiple barns, varying pig ages, labor
challenges, and health pressures all collide—but a
well-designed pig 昀氀ow brings clarity to that complexity.
Understanding and managing pig 昀氀ow is critical for
any producer or barn operator looking to protect pig
health, control costs, and make the most of available
space and resources.
Pig 昀氀ow affects nearly every aspect of a swine
operation. Poorly timed placements or overcrowded
barns increase stress, slow growth, and can
compromise animal health. A clear, organized pig
wheel allows pigs to move ef昀椀ciently through each
stage of production, giving staff the time and
resources they need to manage barns effectively.
Whether you manage your own sow herd,
operate a contract 昀椀nishing site, or receive
pigs from a commercial source, establishing
a predictable 昀氀ow provides a roadmap
through the day-to-day complexity of swine
production.
Planning for Ef昀椀cient Barn Operations
Effective pig 昀氀ow starts with understanding
your barn and how it operates. Document
each site with key details such as barn type,
capacity, and desired downtime between
groups. This includes everything from the
number of pens or rooms available to the
labor and equipment needed to handle
each group ef昀椀ciently. Knowing how many
pigs your barn can handle, how quickly it
can turn, and when each 昀椀ll should start
is the 昀椀rst step toward turning production
8 | PIPESTONE JOURNAL
chaos into clarity.
Wean schedules are a key driver of pig 昀氀ow. Weekly
forecasts of pig availability, whether from your own
sow herd or a contracted source, determine how
many pigs can be placed in each barn. Maintaining a
small buffer—often 5–10% of total capacity—provides
昀氀exibility for minor production disruptions and reduces
reliance on the open market.
The type of barn and desired turn speed dictate the
pattern of 昀椀lls. Nursery barns may rotate every 42, 46,
49, or 63 days, while wean-to-昀椀nish barns typically
operate on 168, 175, or 182-day cycles. Aligning
your team on turn speeds is crucial, as it affects feed
planning, staf昀椀ng, and barn utilization. Older wean
pigs generally allow for faster turns, while younger pigs
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