Finished pigs 'like peas in a pod' -- if only!

摘要

Variability in the time to reach finishing weight is a perennial problem in all pig production units. SCA's Green Hill Farm, which maintains a high health status, is no exception and there is always variability within groups says Dr Mike Varley. Whenwithin pen or within batch variability is high it takes longer to empty the pens. When variability is low better use is made of expensive buildings and fixed costs are generally spread over more pigs produced per year. The range in time to reach 90kg can vary from 135 to 175 days on the same unit. I suspect that this range has reduced, on most units in the past 20 years, but there is still scope to improve on many of our units. A mean of 145 days with a range of 135 to 155 days would be ideal. Evidencehas shown that birth weight variance and particularly weaning weight variability are the main factors affecting time to finishing weight.