Martin Kramer profile
Martin Kramer pets his dog outside one of his hoop houses.
PFI member Martin Kramer has been raising pigs near Algona since 1975. He grew up on a farm ½ mile from where he currently farms. He has around 90 sows in his farrow-to-finish operation. Martin started selling to Niman Ranch in 1999 when conventional hog prices were extremely low. He continues to market his hogs to Niman Ranch because they pay a premium for his animals and are a reliable market.
Martin does not use antibiotics or artificial hormones, and feeds his pigs a vegetarian diet. His operation consists of bedded farrowing pens with access to the outdoors, and hogs are finished in bedded finishing facilities with access to the outdoors. He follows the Animal Welfare Institute guidelines for humane treatment of his pigs.
Martin cleans thoroughly between litters and makes sure everyone is well tended to. "I make a comfortable place for sows and pigs," he said, "it is important to keep them warm enough in the winter and cool enough in the summer." Martin has heat coils in the floor to insure winter heat, and fans in each farrowing pen to keep the sows comfortable in the summer. He said that the fans prevent the sows from being restless, thus preventing crushing. Martin also has crush rails in most farrowing pens to further prevent crushing.
Martin is a believer in good genetics. He introduced Berkshire heritage to his gene pool to increase meat quality. Martin keeps his own replacement gilts back from sows he has identified as good breeders from an early age. "The breeding stock you keep back makes a difference," says Martin. He considers the mother's demeanor, litter size, and ability to milk as well as the health and underline of the young gilts.
Martin was selected by the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa State University to received the 2007 Master Pork Producers award . This award is given to farmers who are recognized for their innovation, quality, efficiency and production records.