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Ag startup develops farrowing heat lamp replacement

An ag startup based in Iowa has developed a replacement for heat lamps in farrowing facilities.

FarrPro CEO Amos Petersen says they can offer pork producers an enclosed micro-climate that evenly heats piglets, reducing mortality and energy costs.

“The farmers actually wanted a sensor to be placed in the farrowing crates to measure the temperature underneath the heat lamp.  I saw that it could be a problem nexus, (which) it turned out to be.  So the more studying I did and the more customer discovery I did on my own, the more we were sure it was going to be a great product.”

He tells Brownfield preliminary data shows piglets respond favorably to the FarrPro system.

“The piglets seem to really like it, and they actually changed their behavior a little bit around it.  Huddling more and nursing half-in and half-out of the enclosure.  It was really encouraging.”

Petersen anticipates a limited product launch in 2018.

FarrPro was one of six startup companies selected for the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator program that graduated its first class in October.