Performance Series | ProSort Systems
Executive Summary
Every pork producer is looking for less labour.
The better question may be whether they’re making the most of the labour they already have.
Automated sorting systems are often viewed as labour-saving technology, but after working with producers across North America for decades, George Waldner of ProSort Systems believes that’s only part of the story.
The greatest opportunity isn’t replacing people.
It’s helping good people spend more time where they create the greatest value.
As labour shortages continue to challenge the pork industry, producers are increasingly looking for technologies that improve efficiency while allowing employees to focus on animal care, management, and decision-making rather than repetitive manual tasks.
We sat down with George to discuss how sorting systems fit into that conversation—and why the future of labour is about working smarter, not simply working with fewer people.
Q&A with George Waldner, ProSort Systems
1. Producers often ask if automated sorting systems reduce labour. Is that the right question?
I think the better question is whether they improve labour efficiency.
Every successful pork operation still depends on good people. Technology isn’t there to replace experienced employees—it’s there to make better use of their time.
Instead of spending hours manually sorting pigs or moving animals between pens, employees can focus on observing pig health, identifying issues earlier, improving welfare, and making better management decisions.
That’s where the real value comes from. It’s not simply doing less work—it’s spending more time on the work that has the biggest impact.
2. Where do producers typically see the greatest labour benefits after implementing a sorting system?
The biggest benefit is consistency.
Manual sorting often requires pulling employees away from other responsibilities, disrupting routines, and dedicating significant time to moving pigs.
When sorting becomes part of the normal daily workflow, those interruptions are greatly reduced.
That gives employees more time for preventative maintenance, animal observation, health management, and the countless small tasks that improve overall barn performance.
Over time, those efficiencies compound throughout the operation.
3. How does automation change the role of employees inside today’s barns?
It allows experienced people to spend more time thinking and less time reacting.
Technology handles many of the repetitive tasks, while employees can concentrate on monitoring pig behaviour, identifying opportunities for improvement, and responding to issues before they become larger problems.
That’s where people create the greatest value.
The best operations aren’t replacing good stockpeople—they’re giving them better tools to manage the barn more effectively.
4. What expectations should producers have before investing in an automated sorting system?
Technology works best when it’s part of a well-managed system.
A sorting system can’t overcome poor pig flow, inconsistent routines, or management practices that create unnecessary bottlenecks.
The greatest returns come when producers combine good facility design, consistent management, and technology that supports natural pig movement.
Automation isn’t a shortcut.
It’s a tool that helps good systems perform even better.
5. Looking ahead, what role will sorting technology play in helping producers address future labour challenges?
Labour will continue to be one of the biggest issues facing our industry.
Finding and retaining skilled employees isn’t getting easier.
That’s why I think technology will increasingly focus on helping people accomplish more without sacrificing animal care or production performance.
Sorting systems are one part of that future.
As farms continue adopting connected technologies and using more production data, we’ll see even greater opportunities to improve workflow, reduce unnecessary labour, and help employees make better decisions every day.
Closing Thought
The conversation around automation often focuses on replacing labour.
But perhaps the better conversation is how technology can help good people become even better at what they do.
Operations using ProSort Systems often discover that the greatest return isn’t measured by having fewer employees.
It’s measured by giving those employees more time to focus on animal care, observation, management, and continuous improvement.
The farms of the future won’t necessarily have fewer people.
They’ll have people making better decisions.
Because in modern pork production, the most valuable resource isn’t technology.
It’s good people.
Technology simply helps them do what they do best.
About George Waldner & ProSort Systems
George Waldner and the team at ProSort Systems have spent decades helping pork producers improve pig flow, labour efficiency, and barn management through practical sorting solutions designed for real-world production environments.
Their approach goes beyond equipment, focusing on how technology, pig behaviour, facility design, and management practices work together to create more efficient, productive, and consistent operations.
