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New FarrPro trial shows 20% reduction in mortality of piglets

June 25, 2020

FarrPro, an Iowa City-based agtech startup, has released the results of the second independent trial of its flagship Haven product.

The results of the trial showed reductions in both pre-wean mortality (20.6 %) and energy use (68%) compared to the heat lamp control. The trial was conducted in Illinois by Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions, the research division of Carthage Veterinary Service.

The trial followed a 2019 pilot study conducted by researchers from Iowa State University at a commercial breed to wean facility in Ogden, Iowa. The results of the ISU study were published in the scientific journal Animals last November and they also proved the FarrPro Haven reduced pre-wean mortality (PWM) by 20% and energy use by nearly 50% over the heat lamp control.

On average, commercial pork producers lose around 15% of newborn pigs in the first three weeks of life due to crushing and starvation.

“I have witnessed many worthy innovations for pig housing in my 35+ years of conducting research in this field and I can honestly say without question that the Haven product developed by FARRPRO is at the top in terms of innovation and the prospect for game-changing farrowing room productivity,” said Dr. Steven Hoff, retired Emeritus Professor of Agriculture & Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. “These recent findings, I believe, will propel the Haven system into a standard farrowing room item in the near future.”

To meet the growing demand for Haven units, FarrPro has expanded its sales and distribution network to include nationally recognized farm and livestock supplier’s QC Supply, Vittetoe, Inc. and Sitler’s LED Supply. FarrPro looks to continue to expand sales and distribution throughout the United States and into Canada and Europe over the next 12 months.

“Partnering with top-tier distributors for the Haven is huge, but we are really only getting started. Later this year we will launch the Smart Haven – the industry’s first automated health management system.”

Previous coverage

FarrPro wins Canadian Pork Innovation Award -Jan. 15, 2020

FarrPro successfully wraps up seed investment round -June 29, 2018

Tags: agtech Farrpro

New FarrPro trial shows 20% reduction in mortality of piglets | Clay & Milk

A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

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