Author: Haverkamp Brothers

Animal Caregiver – Farrowing & Breeding (Auburn, NE)

Summary of Position – Provides daily care to sows and developing gilts following HBI standard operating procedures (SOP’s) as a team member of the farrowing and breeding departments.

 

Physical Requirements

  1. Ability to lift, move, or carry up to 50 pounds with reasonable accommodation
  2. Ability to sit, stand, walk, push, pull, bend, kneel, and squat for extended periods of time on varied surfaces, and capable of being on their feet for up to 10 hours a day
  3. Ability to work in noise levels that may require hearing protection
  4. Must possess ambulatory skills sufficient to move throughout the farm
  5. Must possess good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the use of hands to handle, grasp, or feel objects, tools, controls, or animals.

Responsibilities – Breeding

  1. Daily animal care/feeding
  2. Performing breeding/insemination process by means of PCAI or traditional AI
  3. Administer routine and seasonal vaccinations and injections or recommendations from our vet
  4. Maintain & monitor overall animal health, care, and treatment by PQA+ standards
  5. Maintain proper barn environment through proper ventilation protocols
  6. Adhere to all company policies at all times, including Animal Welfare, Biosecurity, and Safety
  7. Maintain accurate production records
  8. Move animals using safe handling practices
  9. General facility cleaning, maintenance, and hygiene including power washing/disinfecting barns, performing laundry, and office cleaning duties

Responsibilities – Farrowing

  1. Daily animal care/feeding
  2. Assist farrowing sows and attend to newborn piglets
  3. Process piglets according to company protocols
  4. Enter farrowing data into Metafarms on tablets
  5. Maintain & monitor overall animal health, care, and treatment by PQA+ standards
  6. Maintain proper barn environment through proper ventilation protocols
  7. Adhere to all company policies at all times, including Animal Welfare, Biosecurity, and Safety
  8. Maintain accurate production records
  9. Move animals using safe handling practices
  10. General facility cleaning, maintenance, and hygiene including power washing/disinfecting barns after weaning, performing laundry, and office cleaning duties 

 

Requirements

  1. Respect and care for all animals is required. We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to inhumane treatment of our animals. Knowledge & enforcement of the latest industry biosecurity practices must be observed and enforced throughout the farm.
  2. Individual must be dedicated, goal-oriented, motivated, and able to work effectively as a team member
  3. Positive, friendly, and respectful demeanor at all times
  4. Must be a self-starter that can operate at times unsupervised
  5. Previous experience in pork industry desired, but not mandatory
  6. Ability to do basic math (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication)
  7. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
  8. Regular, consistent attendance required with flexibility in hours a plus. Must be willing to work some weekends.

HBI reserves the right to make any necessary changes to this job description and to request that the Animal Caregiver perform additional duties as the need arises. These additional requests will be reasonable and respectful of the Animal Caregiver’s time.

Maintenance Position (Bern, KS)

The main goal of this position is as follows:

Work in a Team Effort with HBI Management, Farm Owner, and Farm Employees in the Strategic Planning and Execution of the day to day repairs and maintenance on all company owned and leased assets within our farms.

Physical Requirements

  1. Ability to lift, move, or carry up to 50 pounds with reasonable accommodation.
  2. Ability to sit, stand, walk, push, pull, bend, kneel, and squat for extended periods of time on varied surfaces, and capable of being on their feet for up to 10 hours a day.
  3. Ability to work in noise levels that may require hearing protection.
  4. Must possess ambulatory skills sufficient to move throughout the farm.
  5. Must possess good hand-eye coordination, arm, and hand and finger dexterity, including the use of hands to handle, grasp, or feel objects, tools, controls, or animals.

Responsibilities

  1. Perform daily repair and maintenance duties.
  2. Routinely report progress to management.
  3. Evaluate future facility and equipment requirements, upgrades or replacements.
  4. Use best management practices to ensure strong and safe execution in the field.
  5. Complete detailed one trip material list and needs for work orders.
  6. Diagnose and provide plausible solutions for electrical, ventilation, and other facility challenges that arise throughout the company owned facilities.
  7. Complete tasks efficiently, safely and thoroughly with emphasis on a like new result after completion of each project or work order.   
  8. Ensure that routine maintenance work is conducted in a manner that safeguards the environment and maintains regulatory compliance.
  9. Collaborate and closely align with barn owner, farm manager and staff to consistently and efficiently deliver best in class quality products and workmanship in order to ensure a seamless working relationship.
  10. Maintain tools associated with job in working condition and be accountable for inventory of said tools.
  11. Promote safe work habits and maintain a safe working environment.
  12. Ensure that all the best practices are consistent with commonly accepted standards for animal welfare.
  13. Assist with animal movements as needed.

Requirements

  1. High School Diploma or GED. Trade School/Associate Degree preferred.
  2. One to three years of repair and maintenance experience preferred
  3. Have knowledge of operating and servicing equipment, i.e. tractors, backhoes, and ATV’s.
  4. Have knowledge of electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems.
  5. Willingness to learn new skills.
  6. Must be able to adapt to new and changing technology.
  7. Individual must be skilled in organization, planning, and project management
  8. General computing and the ability to manage workload through mobile handheld devices.
  9. Follow written and verbal instructions as well as have excellent verbal and written communications
  10. Ability to Weld, Fabricate, and perform General Carpentry.
  11. Work independently, as well as part of a team.
  12. Work on rotating weekend shifts.
  13. Be “on call”, with-in reasonable limits, to answer questions or give advice to employees. Return voice messages as promptly as possible.
  14.  Follow policies outlined in the Employee Handbook
  15. Maintain bio-security.
  16. Keep costs contained.
  17. Environmental Management.  Ensure that all operations are performed in accordance with Best Management Practices determined for cleanliness, manure management, odor control, and animal well-being.
  18. Have a comprehensive knowledge of swine building ventilation and ventilation controls.
  19. Have a comprehensive knowledge of auto sort scales controls and set-up.
  20. Treat all animals in a humane way.

Email application and/or resume to contactus@haverkampbros.com

HBI reserves the right to make any necessary changes to this job description and to request that the Maintenance Employee perform additional duties as the need arises. These additional requests will be reasonable and respectful of the Maintenance employee’s  time.

Production Service Representative

The main goal of this position is as follows:

Work in a Team Effort with HBI Management, Consultants, Farm Employees, and Growers to meet or exceed current Nursery, Grow-Finish and Wean to Finish Production Targets as set by Management.

 

Physical Requirements:  Must be able to lift at least 50# on a regular basis.

 

  • It is the main responsibility of this position to assist Farm Employees and Growers in proper management of Facilities and Haverkamp Bros. swine, while maximizing quality and quantity of pork sold in a cost effective manner.
  • Be accountable for the performance of this farm as a whole, your personal performance, and the performance of each farm under your supervision.
  • Be “on call”, with-in reasonable limits, to answer questions or give advice to Employees or Growers. Return voice messages as promptly as possible.
  • Follow policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.
  • Follow and enforce Operating Procedures and policies for each phase of production.
  • Revise and or develop new Operating Procedures as conditions dictate.
  • Maintain bio-security. Follow Bio-Security Procedures when consulting with multiple farms.
  • Maintain herd health. Consult with Farm Vet, Farm Employees, Growers, and Production Manager on a regular basis concerning health and production issues.  Post swine, collect tissue and fecal samples, conduct periodic slaughter checks, and work closely with Farm Vet to diagnose health challenges.
  • Consult with Farm Vet, Production Manager and Feed Mill Manager regularly in order to address health issues promptly. Provide input for prevention or treatment therapy program to use.
  • Keep costs contained. Determine costs of implementing prevention or treatment programs.  Provide suggestions to reduce costs.
  • Keep accurate and timely records. Provide reports and other pertinent information to the Main Office on a regular schedule as set up by Production Manager.
  • Environmental Management. Ensure that all operations are performed in accordance with Best Management Practices determined for cleanliness, manure management, odor control and animal well-being.
  • Assist Production Manager in scheduling swine movements and marketing dates and times. Oversee movements of weaner pigs, feeder pigs, market hogs, and cull animals.
  • Provide swine transport drivers information related to load #s, culls, segregating groups or special circumstances of next load.
  • Mark market hogs in barns w/o auto-sort scales in such a way as to minimize sort loss and optimize returns.
  • Assist Barn Managers in determining which animals are to be culled or otherwise sorted off.
  • Provide Site or Barn Managers with necessary forms, vet supplies, and related items needed to perform job.
  • Have a comprehensive knowledge of swine building ventilation and ventilation controls.
  • Have a comprehensive knowledge of auto sort scales controls and set-up.
  • Develop strong working relations with growers, employees, swine health care professionals and others.

Email application and/or resume to contactus@haverkampbros.com

HavWin, LLC – Producer finds solution to save fallback pigs

Story by Kevin Schulz

An esteemed panel of judges chose eight products from the World Pork Expo New Product Tour as finalists.

Farmers have always been good at seeing a problem, and rather than waiting for someone else to fix it, they find the solution themselves. Roy Winkler fits that mold.

Winkler, a wean-finish production manager with Haverkamp Brothers at Bern, Kan., was tired of seeing weaned pigs fall back and he sought a better way to save more of the challenged pigs in their fallback pens. The result: the Gruel-O-Matic Rescue Feeder from HavWin LLC that allows feedstuffs to be put in a feed tray, which also has nipple waterers so the piglets can mix gruel to their own desired consistency.

Spring-loaded fasteners anchor the feeder securely to the floor. There are two models: a larger model with two feed trays and four nipple waterers for each tray, and a smaller unit with two feed trays and two nipple waterers for each tray. The larger model accommodates about 50 to 60 head; the smaller unit works with 25 to 30 head.

A poly tank attached to the system can administer water, electrolytes and antibiotics to the pigs that need it. Not medicating the entire barn helps promote the responsible use of antibiotics, Curt Haverkamp says.

Winkler, a wean-finish production manager with Haverkamp Brothers at Bern, Kan., was tired of seeing weaned pigs fall back and he sought a better way to save more of the challenged pigs in their fallback pens. The result: the Gruel-O-Matic Rescue Feeder from HavWin LLC that allows feedstuffs to be put in a feed tray, which also has nipple waterers so the piglets can mix gruel to their own desired consistency.

Spring-loaded fasteners anchor the feeder securely to the floor. There are two models: a larger model with two feed trays and four nipple waterers for each tray, and a smaller unit with two feed trays and two nipple waterers for each tray. The larger model accommodates about 50 to 60 head; the smaller unit works with 25 to 30 head.

A poly tank attached to the system can administer water, electrolytes and antibiotics to the pigs that need it. Not medicating the entire barn helps promote the responsible use of antibiotics, Curt Haverkamp says.

The feeder helps weaned pigs transition to solid feed in the high-stress, post-wean time frame. As pigs recover, they’re moved to a recovery pen so the rest of the challenged pigs have full access to the feeder.

“Pretty simple design and pretty sturdily built,” says judge Brad Leuwerke, Swine Vet Center. “If it does what they say it does to get pigs started or help the fallbacks, there is tremendous value.”

Winkler and Haverkamp say pigs dive into the trough to get the gruel, and that the troughs are licked clean. However, judge Gary Anderson, ag engineering professor from the South Dakota State University, wants assurance that all the pigs are getting the needed gruel. “Will the runt still be getting pushed out of the way?” he asks.

Technology Developments help Advance Family Farm

Technology Developments help Advance Family Farm Photo

Story and photos by Sara Schwertner

Some may say that the good old days included times without computers, pagers and cell phones. But to Alan Haverkamp, these technological advances have aided in the growth and management of his family farm. Technology has come a long way in helping this Kansas hog farmer produce a healthy and delicious pork product and he wouldn’t go back. Haverkamp is one of five brothers involved in Haverkamp Brothers Inc., located in Bern. The four oldest brothers, Alan, Robert, Mark and Leon, started raising feeder pigs in high school, which slowly grew into a full farrow to finish hog operation. In 1982, the brothers decided to form a partnership and constructed their first building. Now, Haverkamp Brothers Inc. is involved in all aspects of pork production.

Haverkamp lives near the operation with his wife, Ronda. They have three kids, Curtis, Cole and Kristin, all which grew up helping their dad on the farm.

Although family owned and operated, Haverkamp Brother Inc. has incorporated state of the art products into their facilities. Two advances which have recently been made include auto sort scales and a feed bin monitoring system.
The auto sort scales are located in the wean-to-finish barns and each hog must cross the scales in order to reach the feed. These are located in ten barns and weigh over 25,000 hogs daily. This allows Haverkamp to view a graph with the hogs grouped by weight online. “The auto sort scales allow us to monitor and sort hogs to a specific market weight,” said Haverkamp. “We can monitor the number of hogs in each weight and make changes accordingly.”

After monitoring the hogs’ weight, Haverkamp may make changes by adjusting the feed intake of the smaller pigs and separating the hogs which have met market weight and are ready to be shipped.

Another state of the art advancement Haverkamps use on the farm is the bin monitoring system. This is used to track timing of the delivery of feed. It ensures space is available in the bins before feed is delivered. Haverkamp is able to view this information online as well, so he can keep track of which feed bins are full or running low.
“With the technology that is avail-able today, I have the ability to spot problems early before they evolve into a larger issue,” said Haverkamp. “I have monitoring and diagnostic tools available and can be very accurate and stay in tune with the health of my animals.”

And with 7,400 sows producing over 180,000 pigs per year, accuracy is extremely important to the Haverkamps and how they operate on a daily basis. Advances in technology over the past thirty years have helped the Haverkamp family farm become one of the most well managed pig farms in Kansas.

Haverkamp is a member of the Kansas Pork Association and currently serves on the Executive Board. He is serving his second term on the board and said he joined to help promote pork.

“I wanted to be involved in the producer organization and I enjoy working with other pork producers,” said Haverkamp.
Being involved in KPA has also helped Haverkamp see how other producers of the state have used technology on their operations. In turn, it has helped him build and sustain his operation to involve the next generation.

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HBI featured in EatPork.org

Hello, and thank you for visiting our page! My name is Alan (third from left). My brothers and I farm one of 1,500 pork farms in Kansas. My family and I live in the northeast part of the state.

My four older brothers started raising pigs in high school and in the early 1980’s … Read More on eatpork.org.

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