![[:es]MCSystems[:]](https://mcsystems.es/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/MCS.HOR_.BLACK_.svg){kind=small}
Pinsos Gòdia is not just a third-generation livestock company, but a true success story in the modernization of the agri-food sector. Starting from a traditional base, they have managed to implement a vertical integration model that encompasses everything from cereal production to feed manufacturing and the management of their own farms. This vision has led them to constantly seek total autonomy and efficiency in all their processes.
To learn firsthand about their trajectory and the key to their evolution, we had the opportunity to visit their facilities. We met with them to tour the farms, the feed factory, and, above all, to discuss how they have managed to optimize their logistics, especially after incorporating silo sensorization solutions.
In this interview, we will discover how Pinsos Gòdia has transformed its daily management, eliminating risks and inefficiencies to become a benchmark for modernity and functionality in the sector. Prepare to learn the history of a family business that has moved from classic livestock farming to precision agriculture.
Interview
Origins and Business Model
A: Who is Pinsos Gòdia?
G: Pinsos Gòdia is a family business that now spans the third generation, the result of the work of two brothers. Our origins date back to the grandfather, who was a livestock farmer, buying cows and selling pigs. The father continued with the same activity. The real change occurred with our incorporation, when we started building our own farms.
Then, we took a step forward: we saw the need to build the feed factory, buy land, and produce some of the cereal. The goal was to create a closed cycle. We are now immersed in the project of a composting plant to fully close the cycle, becoming a modern, functional, and, above all, autonomous company. We do not want to depend on third parties to have total control of our business.
A: What volume of production or facilities do you currently manage? Aside from your own farms, do you work with other external clients or collaborators in the sector?
G: We manage a significant volume, necessary to be competitive today, as sectors tend to consolidate. We collaborate with third parties in the pig farming segment.
Regarding veal, production is practically all proprietary; although we have some integrated farms, almost 90% of the farms are ours.
A: And what volume of silos are we talking about?
G: We are currently managing around a hundred silos. Furthermore, we have sensorized the vast majority: we are over eighty and expect to reach one hundred by the end of the year.
The Adoption of Silometric
A: How did you find out about Silometric and why did you consider it the best option for your company?
G: We were looking for a solution to control the silo stock because every week we encountered the same logistical problems. If we ran out of feed, if a truck went to the wrong silo and had to return full, or if the next day we were left with an empty one at the same farm.
The worst was the weekend: races, bags, wheelbarrows, angry haulers… We all know what happens. The feed goes out at maximum speed on Friday, and we run out of feed on Monday. We looked at other systems, one of which was mechanical, but we didn’t quite like it.
Afterward, we contacted Marta and Àlex from MCSystems. We were talking while they were developing the system. Our collaboration was essential to refining it.
(Alex: You helped us make it better.)
G: Yes, they were very keen to implement a lot of data, but I always kept taking the idea out of their heads a bit. In the end, we are farmers, not IT experts, and we don’t need that much information. The basic information was enough: we wanted to know if there was feed in the silos or not. Simple.
We started with the aluminum prototype. The first ones got a bit hot, but they worked. The programming was gradually changed; at first, it read too much and had too many spikes. Too much information ended up being misinformation. But, we reached a point where things were going well, and we started expanding the installations, and so it has been until today.
Impact and Benefits
A: How has your way of working changed since you started using Silometric? Are there tasks that have disappeared or that are now simpler and safer?
G: Well, Silometric has helped us immensely in our day-to-day work, truly. First of all, and this is very important, we no longer have to climb the silos, which means a huge gain in personnel safety. Additionally, we have been able to avoid the usual stress of Fridays in production management. Since most of the feed is for our own farms, Silometric allows us to get work done ahead of time: we can use Wednesday, which is a quieter day at the factory, to fill the necessary silos. This way, we advance the work by a couple of days, and if all goes well, the staff can leave on time on Friday, and we can have a holiday on Saturday!
Another key point is stock reduction. It seems minor, but we have managed to reduce unnecessary stock in the silos. When you add up 6,000 kilos of extra feed across a hundred silos, that is a very significant monetary value that could be generating returns elsewhere. And finally, we have gained autonomy. The people on the farms no longer have to worry about checking silos, nor do we have to call them constantly for checks. All management is now done autonomously and centralized from the factory.
A: Given the lack of generational replacement and the issue of low-skilled personnel, do you believe Silometric can help or be a small aid in this situation?
G: Absolutely! It is a huge help. We no longer have to depend on whether the staff has checked the silos, and above all, whether they did it correctly. In the end, they limit themselves to throwing four stones to check the level.
(A: And the stone is our competition)
G: We worked with stones for many years, but the farm staff must focus on their job: the care of the animals. Checking the silos is a job for logistics and factory management.
A: After implementing Silometric, have you noticed an improvement in the relationship with your clients? Has it helped you make the job easier and perhaps attract new collaborators?
G: We have clients who have implemented Silometric, and that helps us a lot because they no longer wait until the last minute on Friday to place the order. They can anticipate, which facilitates factory management and improves communication between the feed manufacturer and the final client.
A: What is your routine with Silometric once it’s installed? Do you manage it with a mobile phone, tablet…?
G: It is accessible to everyone: for farm workers and from the factory. Anyone can make a query and verify that the reading is correct. The program is very visual and easy to understand. It has a drawing of the silo with colors: green, yellow, orange, and red. It is so clear that you don’t even need to read the quantities; you can see how the silo is at a glance.
A: After so many years working together, what do you value most about the Silometric team, beyond the product itself?
G: Without a doubt, one thing to highlight is the human relationship. It’s the ease of dealing with Àlex, Marta, or anyone who answers the phone. Obviously, a battery can run out or there might be a fault, but the key is that the technical team is always ensuring that all equipment is functioning correctly, both remotely and in person when necessary, guaranteeing a quick solution.