Jon Parker loves working with our clients to fix their problems, both big and small, within group housing. A big part of his job is working with the Nedap ESF hardware and the Velos software to make sure that all our customers can make the most of the robust data available from the system. Nedap recently rolled out some new options for backups and notifications so we asked Jon to explain what is available. 

It seems like we never know what kind of late summer we are going to get. It could be hot and dry, it could be unseasonably cool. For most people, hot and dry summer days are a reminder to relax and lounge around the pool, but if you're a barn owner, you should be thinking about how you can use those hot summer days to clean your barns. Here are some tips to help your summer barn cleaning run a bit more smoothly.

We recently had the exciting opportunity to work with Topigs Norsvin as they opened their groundbreaking Delta Canada boar testing barn in Woodlands, Manitoba. This project marks an exciting time in boar research, where intricate data analysis and responsive genetic selection can improve stock in less time. Below we share a time-lapse of the project and an explanation of the overall impact on the pork genetics landscape. 

We often get asked to talk through the process of taking a stall barn and converting it to a loose housing barn, and for good reason! The process seems daunting, but in reality it is pretty painless if you plan ahead. Every barn conversion is different due to a number of factors including barn size, current and desired barn operations, temporary housing options, and a number of other factors. Providing a general outline of the conversion process is helpful, but we decided we could paint a clearer picture if we walked you through a recent conversion. 

As the graphic designer at 5j Marketing + Design, I spend most of my day hidden behind a computer screen creating pretty things to post on the internet (okay maybe I do a little more than that but you get the picture). So of course I jumped at the chance to get out of the office and into a new environment when New Standard invited us to tour their sow barn design at Pig Hill Farms! Little did I know what I was getting myself into! I have compiled a list of a few things that surprised me about getting out of the office and into the barn.

When it comes to building a new sow barn, there are a lot of considerations that factor into the final design. One of the things we've learned as we've designed barns for our customers is that everyone has a wish list. We've also learned that while many customers know they want a less stressful setup, they may not necessarily know that barn technology can help with that goal. With that in mind, here is an infographic with five technologies that should not just be on your "wish" list, but your "must-have" list. 

If you took psychology in high school or college you've probably heard about Pavlov's dogs, but swine are just as suggestible as dogs. With a little creative thinking you can avoid potential training mishaps and prevent your gilts from developing bad habits.

In the last few years Meishan boars (pronounced May Shan) have grown in popularity with producers across North America, and it isn't just for their dashing good looks. While Meishans aren't much to look at—they honestly look like a mix between a basset hound, a pug, and a pig—their breed characteristics are well-suited to open checks and boar stations with automatic heat detection. 

When you work with New Standard, you are working with experts in barn design and management with a heart for service. Over the past few months we have been featuring each of our team members so that you can get to know the experts behind New Standard. Keep reading to learn more about Ben Cochran!

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