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by Lisa Bauer
Minnesota farmer Nolan Jungclaus’ great-grandfather homesteaded
the family farm in 1896. But a century later, the crop farm was
no longer generating enough revenue to support the three families
involved with the operation.
Looking for an income- generating practice
that would allow him to quit his off-farm job and help support three
families, Nolan Jungclaus decided to test a Swedish-style system on
his Minnesota farm. With Iowa State University researchers and farmers,
he traveled to Sweden to look at the systems firsthand.
Jungclaus found that Swedish farmers
fit the system to the animal rather than the animal to the system. In
so doing, hog producers must have excellent animal husbandry skills,
an appreciation of pig behavior, attention to detail and a desire to
work with pigs in a more natural environment.
In 1994, Jungclaus received a SARE
producer grant to adapt an existing 36-by-60 foot machinery pole shed
to accommodate four phases of Swedish-style swine production: breeding/gestation,
farrowing, nursery and finishing. Lack of experience with livestock
led the Jungclauses to decide on a low-cost structure that would be
adaptable enough to allow the family to use their investment in other
ways, if necessary.
“We wanted to maintain flexibility
in our operations so that if we were poor managers or if there were
drastic changes within the hog industry, we could still salvage our
investment,” Jungclaus recalls. “Our goal was to diversify the current
farm operation by establishing a farrow-to-finish swine facility with
attached pasture.”
They purchased 15 bred sows the first
year. Having all of the sows farrow within five days is ideal for the
system, although the Jungclaus’ sows farrowed over a 10-day period.
They started their sows in temporary nesting boxes measuring about 8
feet by 8 feet that they removed after a week to allow sows and piglets
to roam inside the building.
They provided ventilation from intake
and exhaust fans, plenty of space (the equivalent of about 80 square
feet per sow and litter), and quiet surroundings – where the pigs can
exhibit natural desires to nest and live in family units.
In the first year, the operation showed
a small net loss, but that took into account the $10,682 in initial
capital purchases and livestock supplies the first year.
“Overall we had a net worth increase
of $7,213,” said Jungclaus. “Although there will be some capital improvements
made to the system, I anticipate a profitable system based on a capital
investment loan payment of only $2,400.”
Six years later, Jungclaus has found
that he can turn a profit using the Swedish-style system. In fact, he
improved farm efficiency from 65 percent to 70 percent, meaning he now
spends 65 cents per dollar earned, thanks to the more diverse farm operation.
While Jungclaus now raises about 400
head a year and markets the hogs through a buying station, his involvement
with the new Prairie Farmers Cooperative means he will soon be able
to sell his pork as a “natural” meat free of antibiotics. Jungclaus
serves on the co-op board, which is overseeing construction of a new
hog processing facility scheduled to come on line before the end of
2001. Already, two grocery store chains in the area have expressed interest
in the co-op’s product.
The Swedish-style system produces a
happy, healthy pig free of antibiotics and offers the Jungclauses a
clean, healthy working environment. Jungclaus now farms alongside his
children, who are often found playing with piglets.
“We felt diversifying our farm was
the first step, but there were other family and community oriented goals
we considered,” he said. “We wanted a livestock enterprise that would
allow us to work together as a family unit and that would increase our
family time and give us the opportunity to teach our children responsibility.
We also wanted a community-friendly facility because we are one mile
down the road from town.”
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