Swine Farm Supervisor

Job Description

The Farm Supervisor is responsible for overseeing and managing the daily operations of their assigned unit, ensuring the productivity, health and welfare of the swine herd. This role involves supervising farm staff, implementing management practices and maintaining high standards of animal husbandry, biosecurity and animal welfare and assisting with administrative and operational tasks.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

UNIT: BREEDING & GESTATION

• Implement, monitor, and evaluate the farm's genetic program, analyzing the results to ensure optimal outcomes.
• Recommend enhancements to the genetic program by analyzing results and incorporating feedback from external customers regarding herd performance and hog quality.
• Ensures the proper implementation of the approved genetic program.
• Monitor and ensure accuracy, completeness and correctness of breeders' profile and breeder animals' individual records in the field and in the swine management software.
• Oversee and manage heat detection, artificial insemination, boar semen collection and processing and gestation by ensuring that SOPs are complied to.
• Supervise the health and well-being of pregnant sows, ensuring proper nutrition and care throughout the gestation period.
• Conduct regular health checks and manage any issues related to gestation, such as complications or illnesses.
• Ensure sows are housed in appropriate conditions to promote comfort and reduce stress.
• Ensure the achievement of production performance targets.
• Maintain detailed breeding records and ensure data accuracy for analysis and reporting.
• Recommend and implement enhancements to existing breeding programs.
• Monitor and manage barn conditions, including temperature, humidity and ventilation, to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for sows.
• Implement and maintain cleaning and sanitation schedules to prevent disease.
• Ensure proper functioning of all barn equipment, such as feeders, waterers, and environmental control systems.
• Monitor and adjust environmental conditions to promote optimal health of sows.
• Implement strategies to minimize stress and promote welfare through environmental enrichment.
• Ensures maintenance and upkeep of the breeding and gestation facilities by coordinating with concerned teams.
• Prepares budget and ensures unit costs are within budget limit.
• Prepares breeding and farrowing projections as guidelines for breeding volume.
• Coordinates with swine sales the hog classification and volume available for sale.
• Implement and enforce biosecurity protocols to prevent disease outbreaks.
• Supervise vaccinations and treatments as prescribed by the veterinarian.
• Ensure that all staff follow proper handling and welfare guidelines for swine.
• Train and supervise staff working in the breeding and gestation unit.
• Schedule and assign tasks to ensure efficient and effective operations.
• Foster a positive work environment and encourage teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Ensure that breeding and gestation facilities are clean, well-maintained, and biosecure.
• Coordinate routine maintenance and minor repairs on equipment and facilities.
• Assist with the setup and operation of breeding and gestation pens.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records of all breeding and gestation activities.
• Prepare reports on reproductive performance, sow health, and unit operations for management review.
• Analyze data to identify trends and implement improvements in breeding and gestation practices.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Conduct regular safety training and ensure staff adhere to safety guidelines and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Assist with other farm operations as needed, including farrowing, nursery GDU, and finishing units.
• Support the Farm Manager in implementing efficient workflows and improving overall farm operations.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to farm planning and decision-making processes.

UNIT: LACTATION

• Oversee the farrowing process to ensure the safe delivery of piglets.
• Monitor sows during farrowing and provide assistance as needed.
• Ensure piglets receive colostrum and proper care immediately after birth.
• Monitor the health and growth of newborn piglets, ensuring they receive proper nutrition and care.
• Supervise piglet processing activities such as teeth clipping, tail docking, iron injections and castration as needed.
• Identify and address any health issues in piglets promptly. 
• Supervise vaccinations and treatments of sows and piglets.
• Ensure sows receive proper nutrition and care during farrowing and lactation.
• Monitor sows and piglets for any signs of illness or distress and implement appropriate treatments.
• Maintain accurate records of sow health and lactation performance.
• Ensure sows and piglets are housed in appropriate conditions to promote comfort and reduce stress.
• Ensure the achievement of production performance targets.
• Ensures maintenance and upkeep of the facilities by coordinating with concerned teams.
• Prepares budget and ensures unit costs are within budget limit
• Ensure that farrowing facilities are clean, well-maintained, and biosecure.
• Monitor and manage barn conditions, including temperature, humidity and ventilation, to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for sows and piglets.
• Implement and maintain cleaning and sanitation schedules to prevent disease.
• Ensure proper functioning of all barn equipment, such as feeders, waterers, and environmental control systems.
• Monitor and adjust environmental conditions to promote optimal health of sows and piglets.
• Implement strategies to minimize stress and promote welfare through environmental enrichment.
• Assist with the setup and operation of farrowing pens.
• Train and supervise staff working in the farrowing unit.
• Schedule and assign tasks to ensure efficient and effective operations.
• Foster a positive work environment and encourage teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Implement and enforce biosecurity protocols to prevent disease outbreaks.
• Conduct regular safety training and ensure staff adhere to safety guidelines and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records of farrowing and piglet care activities.
• Prepare reports on farrowing performance and unit operations for management review.
• Analyze data to identify trends and implement improvements in farrowing practices.
• Assist with other farm operations as needed, including breeding & gestation, nursery, GDU and finishing units.
• Support the Farm Manager in implementing efficient workflows and improving overall farm operations.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to farm planning and decision-making processes.

UNIT: NURSERY

• Oversee the feeding, care, and management of weaned piglets to ensure their health and growth.
• Monitor piglets for signs of illness or distress and implement appropriate treatments.
• Ensure piglets receive proper nutrition, vaccinations and treatments as prescribed by the veterinarian.
• Supervise vaccinations, treatments and medications to piglets as needed.
• Maintain accurate health records for all piglets, including treatments and growth performance.
• Implement biosecurity measures to prevent disease outbreaks. 
• Monitor and manage barn conditions, including temperature, humidity and ventilation, to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for piglets.
• Implement and maintain cleaning and sanitation schedules to prevent disease.
• Ensure proper functioning of all barn equipment, such as feeders, waterers, and environmental control systems.
• Monitor and adjust environmental conditions to promote optimal growth and health of piglets.
• Implement strategies to minimize stress and promote welfare through environmental enrichment and proper space allocation.
• Ensure that nursery facilities are clean, well-maintained, and biosecure.
• Ensures maintenance and upkeep of the facilities by coordinating with concerned teams.
• Assist with the setup and operation of nursery pens and environmental controls.
• Train and supervise staff working in the nursery unit.
• Schedule and assign tasks to ensure efficient and effective operations.
• Foster a positive work environment and encourage teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Implement and enforce biosecurity protocols to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases.
• Conduct regular safety training and ensure staff adhere to safety guidelines and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records of nursery activities, including feed consumption, health treatments and growth performance.
• Prepare reports on piglet performance and unit operations for management review.
• Analyze data to identify trends and implement improvements in nursery practices.
• Assist with other farm operations as needed, including breeding, farrowing, GDU and finishing units.
• Support the Farm Manager in implementing efficient workflows and improving overall farm operations.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to farm planning and decision-making processes.

UNIT: GILT DEVELOPMENT 

• Oversee the feeding, care and management of gilts to ensure their health and development.
• Monitor gilts for signs of illness or distress and implement appropriate treatments.
• Ensure gilts receive proper nutrition, vaccinations and treatments as prescribed by the veterinarian.
• Conduct 150 day tests and regular assessments to select gilts with the best genetic potential for breeding.
• Implement and oversee testing protocols to evaluate gilt performance and health.
• Maintain detailed records of selection and testing results to inform breeding decisions.
• Utilize genetic and performance data to improve the overall quality and productivity of the herd.
• Ensure proper tagging and identification of gilts for accurate tracking and record-keeping.
• Implement tagging procedures that align with identification systems and that adhere to animal welfare guidelines.
• Maintain detailed records of gilt identification, including tag numbers and corresponding health and performance data.
• Use identification data to monitor individual gilt progress and make informed management decisions.
• Implement and oversee heat detection procedures in gilts.
• Regularly monitor gilts for signs of estrus (heat) and ensure timely identification.
• Maintain detailed records of heat detection, including dates and any related observations.
• Collaborate with the breeding team to ensure gilts are bred at the optimal time for successful conception.
• Implement protocols to expose gilts to sows, ensuring they develop immunity to common farm diseases.
• Monitor the health status of gilts during and after exposure to sows, addressing any health concerns promptly.
• Maintain detailed records of sow exposure activities and outcomes to optimize immunity-building practices.
• Implement acclimatization protocols to expose gilts to sows or other identified biological material, ensuring they develop immunity to common farm diseases.
• Monitor the health status of gilts during and after exposure to sows, addressing any health concerns promptly.
• Maintain detailed records of sow exposure activities and outcomes to optimize immunity-building practices.
• Ensure that gilt development facilities are clean, well-maintained, and biosecure.
• Ensures maintenance and upkeep of the facilities by coordinating with concerned teams.
• Assist with the setup and operation of pens and environmental controls.
• Monitor and manage barn conditions, including temperature, humidity and ventilation, to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for gilts.
• Implement and maintain cleaning and sanitation schedules to prevent disease.
• Ensure proper functioning of all barn equipment, such as feeders, waterers, and environmental control systems.
• Monitor and adjust environmental conditions to promote optimal growth and health of gilts.
• Implement strategies to minimize stress and promote welfare through environmental enrichment and proper space allocation.
• Train and supervise staff working in the gilt development unit.
• Schedule and assign tasks to ensure efficient and effective operations.
• Foster a positive work environment and encourage teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Implement and enforce biosecurity protocols to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases.
• Conduct regular safety training and ensure staff adhere to safety guidelines and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records of gilt development activities, including health treatments, growth performance, training progress, identification data, acclimatization and immunity-building activities.
• Prepare reports on gilt performance and unit operations for management review.
• Analyze data to identify trends and implement improvements in gilt development practices.
• Assist with other farm operations as needed, including breeding, farrowing, nursery, and finishing units.
• Support the Farm Manager in implementing efficient workflows and improving overall farm operations.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to farm planning and decision-making processes.

UNIT: GROWING-FINISHING

• Oversee the feeding, care and management of pigs to ensure their health, growth, and development.
• Monitor pigs for signs of illness or distress and implement appropriate treatments.
• Ensure pigs receive proper nutrition, vaccinations and treatments as prescribed by the veterinarian.
• Administer vaccinations, treatments and medications to pigs as needed.
• Maintain accurate health records for all pigs, including treatments and growth performance.
• Implement biosecurity measures to prevent disease outbreaks.
• Monitor and record pig growth rates and feed consumption.
• Analyze growth performance data to ensure pigs are meeting target weights and achieving optimal feed efficiency.
• Implement strategies to optimize growth rates and feed conversion ratios.
• Conduct regular sample weighing of pigs to monitor growth and readiness for market.
• Ensure accurate weighing procedures are followed to determine market weight.
• Prepare and declare pigs for sale based on weight and quality criteria.
• Maintain detailed records of sample weighing and sales declarations for transparency and traceability.
• Monitor and prepare pigs for market, ensuring they meet weight and quality standards.
• Coordinate the transportation of pigs to market or processing facilities.
• Ensure that growing-finishing facilities are clean, well-maintained, and biosecure.
• Ensures maintenance and upkeep of the facilities by coordinating with concerned teams.
• Assist with the setup and operation of pens, feeders, and water systems.
• Monitor and manage barn conditions, including temperature, humidity and ventilation, to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for pigs.
• Implement and maintain cleaning and sanitation schedules to prevent disease.
• Ensure proper functioning of all barn equipment, such as feeders, waterers, and environmental control systems.
• Monitor and adjust environmental conditions to promote optimal growth and health of pigs.
• Implement strategies to minimize stress and promote welfare through environmental enrichment and proper space allocation.
• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and sustainability practices.
• Train and supervise staff working in the growing-finishing unit.
• Schedule and assign tasks to ensure efficient and effective operations.
• Foster a positive work environment and encourage teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Implement and enforce biosecurity protocols to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases.
• Conduct regular safety training and ensure staff adhere to safety guidelines and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records of growing-finishing activities, including feed consumption, health treatments, and growth performance.
• Prepare reports on pig performance and unit operations for management review.
• Analyze data to identify trends and implement improvements in growing-finishing practices.
• Assist with other farm operations as needed, including breeding, farrowing, nursery, GDU and finishing units.
• Support the Farm Manager in implementing efficient workflows and improving overall farm operations.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to farm planning and decision-making processes.

PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT

• Supervises, monitors and evaluates the performance of direct subordinates.
• Builds IDP and provides intervention for the development and growth of direct subordinates.
• Monitors the services of the third party manpower service providers.

FOOD SAFETY:

• Ensures execution of quality and food safety policy, standards and regulations within the team.
• Responsible for reporting problems related to Halal, food safety & quality management system to identified authorities.

OTHER TASKS:

• Actively participate in all company programs and activities under quality improvement, safety & security, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, risk management etc.
• Participates in the expansion projects and/or projects improvements of the swine division as may be assigned.
• Performs other tasks related to the job as may be assigned by the immediate superior.

Qualifications

• Must be a graduate of a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine, or any related course.
• Must have at least 1 year of supervisory experience in the farm industry.
• Preferably with 3 years of work experience in a 500-sow level swine operation, particularly as a supervisor in the Breeding and Gestation unit.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Working knowledge in swine breeding, heat detection, artificial insemination, boar semen evaluation and processing and gestation procedures.
• Basic computer skills
• Basic communication skills
• Above average numerical skills
• Very good leadership abilities
• Very good problem solving and analysis
• Fast Tempo
• Highly detail-oriented
• Very good organization skills
• Very Good coordination skills

Work Conditions:

Physical Effort:

• Moderate physical effort, working with moderate heavy weight (10 to 20kg)

Working Conditions and Hazards:

• Occasional exposure to some disagreeable elements.

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Additional Information

Must be amenable to the following work arrangements:

• Stay-in setup (26/4)