The Value of Longevity in Sows

The Value of Pig Recording-Lifecycle Analysis

Following many years of working on developing lifecycle analysis of standard pig production performance data despite the mystical promise of ‘Big Data’ and having nothing more (or less) than my passion for understanding the strategic craft of pig husbandry to inspire me, I have produced Gilt Watch Together?.

To put what I am going to share in this article into context, I am clear in my belief that genetic development of pigs over the last 50 years of my working life has made a significant and invaluable contribution to the seed genetics of today. However, there is an elephant in the room, SOW LONGEVITY. The value of sow longevity has been disregarded, period. Yet, breeding companies have recently been virtue signaling longevity as a genetic benefit.

Here are some consolidated facts reported in the Gilt Watch Together? Introductory Herd Report and Index 100. The data is from 50 individual UK herds, 30 indoor, and 20 outdoor production a total of 24,773 sows within a continuous production population of 44,032 sows. Every result is based on lifecycle analysis.

The average sow retention rate percentage from the data analysis is (Parity = P):

P1 92.60??P2 78.47??P3 67.60??P4 56.32??P5 44.13??P6 27.86

The average number of culled gilts and sows served not weaned/served and weaned is:

P1 124/55??P2 109/40??P3 93/41??P4 100/52??P5 117/76??P6128/91

The average farrowing rate% of culled gilts and sows served not weaned/ and weaned is:

P1 45.09/91.98??P2 37.39/88.85??P3 44.55/91.21??P4 52.69/90.81??P5 64.66/91.23 P6 69.27/93.49.

The average farrowing rate% for the total cohort is:

P1 85.70??P2 85.44??P3 85.46??P4 85.50??P5 85.65??P6 85.54

The averages reported are weighted to herd size to avoid distortion.

The individual herd sow retention rates are then recalculated against a Gilt Watch Together? target of 85% sow retention at parity 5. The results are:

The average herd population is 880, to maintain the current output of pigs weaned from the actual sow retention rate re-calculated against the target rate of 85% at parity 5 the average herd size reduces to 674, a reduction of 204 sows. The reduction in cost of production of pigs weaned is 24.26%. A difference of 308799 pigs weaned.

The range of some of the results is interesting and range across various of the herds:

·????????Herd size, 255 to 2839.

·????????Retention Rate% at Parity 5, 16.46 to 74.40.

·????????Lifetime Output Pigs weaned at Parity 5, 28.62 to 54.62.

·????????Difference 26.00.

·????????Target Lifetime Output Pigs Weaned at Parity 5, 44.40 to 63.31.

·????????Difference 18.91.

·????????Farrowing Rate% of Culls Served not Weaned at Parity 2, 7.69 to 82.81.

For this population of gilts and sows the Gilt Watch Together? target will produce a reduction in cost of production of 24.26%. The value of this for the total herd population of 44,032 within which the lifecycle analysis is made is ￡8,394,815, €9,887,226 or $10,484,191, at an average of 2.33 litters per sow per year. The value for the average herd size is ￡167,650, €197,454 or $209,376. The per sow value is ￡190.65, €224.55 or $238.10.

I currently only receive the PigVision programme data for processing into Gilt Watch Together? because the architecture enables me to curate the data and extract it. I don’t know what any of the excellent pig production performance recording software companies charge per sow for their programmes, but I am sure that it is not ￡190.65, €224.55 or $238.10, the value of recording is clear. Gilt Watch Together? does not compete with these company’s concentration on day-to-day task management and continuous flow reporting, instead it complements the existing data gathering and adds value to the analysis potential, it is not a pig production performance recording programme, it is back-office service.

‘Smart’ data gathering using electronic tag identification is vital to understanding every detail of lifecycle analysis of individual animal and herd performance from the wide range of technologies available to pig production. Lifecycle analysis highlights the value of sow longevity, on average per 100 sows the improvement to an 85% retention rate to parity 5 is worth ￡19,065, €22,454 or $23,810.

You can do the math to see how much this is worth to your business.

I am virtue signaling sow longevity in the context of strategic management planning, as part of the 3E’s principle of 3Economics (Risk Management), 3Ethics (Pig Husbandry), and the 3Evironment (Process Control). The context of isolated solutions, and extended, costly herd profiles upward of parity 6 is a busted flush driven by continuous flow data. Pig Husbandry is the key to achieving successful sow retention, supported by the genetic, feed, health, and technology suppliers to a pig production business, supporting the operational husbandry team. I believe that it is possible, depending on the current performance status of the business to execute a 3-to-5-year plan that will implement significant cost control, and embed a sustainable, consistent husbandry strategy.

Look for the separate LinkedIn post of comment and a PDF of some graphs based on the figures included in this article.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6927947425177337856?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

For further information contact me through: [email protected]