A pig farm in Ningbo, China, achieved a remarkable 4.27-point increase in PSY within one year by integrating Cargill’s Agriness platform. Farm owner Zhang Hua combined stable management practices with real-time digital analytics to improve sow health and culling strategies. This case highlights how medium-sized farms in China can boost productivity through precision farming without expanding in size.
A medium-sized operation, Ningbo Miaofeng Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., has recorded a PSY (pigs sold per sow per year) increase of no less than 4.27 over the span of 12 months, a jump from 21.10 in 2023 to 25.37 in 2024. This leap is well above the national benchmark and earned the farm the inaugural “White Pig Award” from Agriness—a digital platform integrated by Cargill in China.
Traditional Management Meets Smart Tech
At the helm of the farm is Zhang Hua, a former public servant born in the 1980s. His approach is defined more by pragmatism than by scale. Zhang’s farm houses 825 breeding sows and has embraced Agriness, a digital management platform with global roots and over 4 million pigs connected across China.
Nationally, users of Agriness experienced an average PSY increase of 0.73—rising from 24.32 to 25.03 in 2024. In contrast, Zhang’s gain of 4.27 heads is nearly six times greater, despite using American genetics typically favoured for resilience rather than prolificacy.
Speaking at an awards ceremony in Qingdao, Zhang emphasised, “This isn’t just a platform—it’s a brain. It supports us in every aspect of our daily management.”
A Modern Chapter in a Family Legacy
Zhang’s path into agriculture was not a direct one. His early career spanned education and retail before returning to his family’s agricultural roots in 2010. His aunt and uncle had left government jobs in the 1990s to start pig farming, and in 2020, the family bought and rehabilitated a rundown farm in Ninghai County. “My uncle and aunt are the architects; I’m the engine,” Zhang explained, drawing a clear distinction between vision and execution.
While the swine industry in China has evolved significantly—with more regulation, stricter biosecurity, and escalating costs—Zhang’s focus remains unchanged: “It’s still about raising healthy pigs.”
Cargill’s Role: From Feed to Farm Solutions
Cargill has been a constant throughout the family’s journey. “We’ve always used Cargill feed—consistent quality, transparent pricing,” said Zhang. But he points out that Cargill’s value extends far beyond nutrition. “They don’t just push product. They help calculate costs, adjust strategies, and even show up when issues arise. It’s about trust.”
Real-Time Decisions and Tangible Results
Prior to adopting Agriness, Zhang’s farm relied on handwritten records and gut instinct. Today, real-time performance monitoring enables data-backed decisions. The most impactful gains came through improved sow culling strategies. The platform flags underperforming sows based on daily feed and health data, with Cargill’s technical team offering on-site support.
Two KPIs stood out: Non-Productive Days (NPD) dropped sharply from 29.93 to 16.05, and litter size at weaning increased from 9.86 to 10.85 piglets. These improvements underline the synergy between digital insights and practical farm management.
Agriness’s own 2024 analysis confirmed the trend: timely gilt integration and strategic culling strongly correlate with PSY improvements. Conversely, 8% of farms with declining PSY were operating with outdated sow herds.
Quality Over Quantity
Despite his success, Zhang is not chasing expansion. “We’re at a size where we can stay nimble—scale up or down as needed,” he said. “In an unpredictable market, stability is the real asset.”
Industry observers view Zhang’s operation as a model for the future—a blend of traditional experience and digital innovation. As more producers across China adopt precision farming tools, the swine sector may well enter a new era of productivity.
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