Company History
A group of local Osborne businessmen recognized in 1973 that the agricultural
base of the local economy would soon no longer be sufficient to sustain the
community. They organized Osborne Industries, Inc., to manufacture industrial,
agricultural, and consumer products. Over thirty years later, the Company is a
leading manufacturer of a wide array of innovative products for industry and
agriculture and the leading employer in the area.
Drawing from their farming heritage, the founders of the company initially
entered the rapidly evolving livestock equipment business by introducing its
line of Stanfield® Heat Pads for baby animals, especially piglets. In 1981,
based on extensive research on feeding behavior, the Osborne Big Wheel® Feeders
with patented mechanical-flow feed delivery were introduced, and by 1985 the
Company was producing nearly one-half of all confinement feeders used in the
U.S. From this base, innovative weighing and ventilating systems were designed
and added to the Osborne line of products to position the Company as a key
innovator and supplier to the livestock industry.
In the mid-1980’s, we began to explore new methods of animal management
based on electronic identification of individual animals and automation of
management functions using microcomputers. A long-term demonstration of these
methods was needed to show the value and validity of Electronic Animal
Management Systems to the livestock industry and to train dealers, technicians
and Osborne sales personnel in these new methods. Building and operating the
Osborne Demonstration Farm was the logical solution. This facility has been in
operation since 1993 and has fostered the development of new automated products
to enhance producer productivity and profits.
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