Monsanto Choice Genetics

When safety matters...

Monsanto Choice Genetics® operates, among others, one nucleus boar stud in Canada. This stud supplies semen to their internal and external nucleus farms. After visiting several facilities already equipped with the COLLECTIS® technology Ken Mathias, Safety & Reproduction Manager for Monsanto Choice Genetics, decided to install the COLLECTIS® at this location in early 2005.

Genes Diffusion (GD) : When did you decide to invest in the COLLECTIS® technology?

Ken Mathias (KM) : We decided to invest in the COLLECTIS® during the fall of 2004 and actually installed the equipment in the spring of 2005.

Why did you decide to invest in the COLLECTIS® technology?

KM : Safety was the number one reason we decided to go with the COLLECTIS®. We implemented an Ergonomic Collection Technique about 5 years ago and when I saw the COLLECTIS® I knew right away this would be the next step we needed to take to be totally hands free.

What was your decision making process ?

KM : Safety is a core value at Monsanto. When we see something that can create a safer environment for our employees, our management team is fast to get onboard and take a look at it.

What were the key arguments in making the decision?

KM : Obviously when you invest in technology like this, there is always a discussion about the return. As mentioned earlier, our primary reason for pursuing the COLLECTIS® was to improve our safety program and we felt if this can keep us from having an ergonomic injury then it has paid for itself.

Did you have to make any modifications to your building?

KM : We had to redesign our collection pens to accommodate the COLLECTIS®. At first we were a little reluctant because we didn’t know how the boars were going to react to not only changing the collection dummies, but also reconfiguring the collection pen. When it was all said and done, the boars didn’t seem to mind and the sliding doors that were installed were a great bonus.

Do you believe a pit design would have been better ?

KM : We were unable to utilize a pit, but we were able to utilize the sliding doors that you see with a pit design. We didn’t recognize it at first, but this added an additional safety feature to our program. Not only have we reduced the number of boars that are collected by hand, we have reduced the employee to boar contact and this reduces the risk of the boar falling off the dummy and landing on the employee during the collection process.

How did you implement the transition from manual collection to the COLLECTIS® automated boar collection system ?

KM : Since we have never worked with the equipment both the employees and the boars needed to be trained. We started by training the manager and a few boars. Within a week our manager felt comfortable enough to begin training the staff and began training one person every week to two weeks until they felt comfortable. While the employee training was taking place, our manager was also training new boars. We found it was best to collect the boars for the first three collections with the hand collection method and then introduce them to the COLLECTIS®. Most of the boars did not seem to mind the change.

Have you seen an increase in number of collections per hour per employee?

KM : Efficiency is a nice bonus, but was not a focus for us. We are still in the process of training some of our newer employees and we only have the COLLECTIS® set up in one of the two barns. However, we have not decreased the number of boars collected per person per hour and while the boar is on the COLLECTIS®, it allows the employees to train another boar or clean a pen. For now we have not changed our organization, but we know we have created an environment that is safer for our employees.

Have you noticed any difference in semen quality after you had installed the COLLECTIS® ?

KM : We have not seen a change in semen quality. However, it does appear the ejaculates are more consistent with the doses yielded from one week to the next. We know boars will perform better for certain employees when a hand collection method is used and with the COLLECTIS® the pressure is always the same and the boars become accustomed to this.

Do you believe there is an improvement in the hygiene of the collection process?

KM : We have always stressed proper hygiene and conduct routine semen quality evaluations through a third party as a check and balance. We anticipated that proper hygiene would be at risk and need to be modified, however we have been able to achieve the same excellent quality results after implementing the COLLECTIS®.

Have you noticed a difference in semen output per boar after the COLLECTIS® had been installed ?

KM : We haven’t observed an increase or decrease, but dose volumes have been more consistent.

What was the employees perception of the COLLECTIS® ?

KM : Our employees see the value in creating a safe environment, and were willing to work with change. Sure, there were some reservations and the unknowns that come with any process change, but today everyone is on board.

How was Genes Diffusion service and support ?

KM : Genes Diffusion has been supportive from the time we began looking at the possibilities. We had to see the equipment in operation before we could consider bringing one into our stud and Genes Diffusion was very accommodating. Genes Diffusion helped us with the installation, training the stud manager, and trained a few boars.

Has the COLLECTIS® delivered as promised ?

KM : We have accomplished our goal to create a safe environment--probably even more so than we expected. I’m sure we will see more benefits as we move toward implementing the COLLECTIS® in both barns.

Would you recommend the COLLECTIS® ?

KM : The COLLECTIS® has allowed us to use technology to improve the personal safety of our employees -a core value for Monsanto-. It’s hard to put a price tag on safety. At Monsanto, we have chosen to invest in technology that will reduce personal injury risks. The reassurance of knowing we have a safer environment out weighs the investment cost of the machine. We did it for our employees. If I were operating a large commercial stud I would seriously consider installing this technology. We know you get benefit from a safer work place as well as possibly gaining efficiency. Genes Diffusion allowed me to see one of these studs in operation and I saw for myself 3 employees collecting at a rate almost 3 times the industry average.

 

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