A CASE STUDY:

A COMPUTERIZED PERFORMANCE MONITORING SYSTEM
FOR GROWING-FINISHING PIGS

I. Overview And Required Input To Operate PorkMa$ter

The following is a shortened version of the text that can be accessed under the help menu in the PorkMa$ter software.

Introduction

Lean growth rate represents the accretion of the valuable parts in the pig’s body. It is closely related to the efficiency of pork production and to profitability in growing-finishing pig units. In particular, lean growth rate is the single most important factor that determines dietary amino acid requirements and one of the main factors determining the dietary requirements for energy in growing-finishing pigs. Energy and protein contribute to more than 85% of the ingredient cost in practical pig diets and feeding costs are the single most important cost factors in commercial pork production. Thus, closely monitoring lean growth rate and feed usage in growing-finishing pig units is important. In addition, for determining the optimum shipping strategy, changes in lean growth rates and feed intake around the time of shipping should be considered.

At best, obtaining an estimate of the growth rate or feed usage at various stages of growth has been unfortunately difficult. Generating feed intake and growth data specific to your farm meant having to weigh all feed daily and all pigs weekly for approximately 17 weeks during the time pigs occupy the grower-finisher barn.

PorkMa$ter Growing-Finishing Pig Performance Monitoring System can give you the vital statistics on your herd in only two weeks, assuming you run a continuous flow operation; a fraction of the time and labour, compared to the above method.

Peruse the following to learn how PorkMa$ter can change your total production costs.

What is the PorkMa$ter Growing-Finishing Pig Performance Monitoring System?

This computerized Performance Monitoring System has been developed to estimate feed intake and growth curves based on a limited number of detailed observations on representative groups of pigs in the growing-finishing barn. Various additional (financial) performance parameters can be estimated as well by entering general production parameters into the program, such as:

• Feed intake at the various stages of production
• Gain and feed:gain at various stages of production
• Average days in the growing barn
• Days per rotation
• Average lean growth rate
• Average fat-free lean gain – consistent with NRC (1998)
• Usage of the various feeds
• Feed cost per pig
• Average carcass value
• Gross margin per pig
• Gross income per pig place per year
• Gross income per year for the entire production unit

Obtaining input for PorkMa$ter

Most of the inputs that are required for PorkMa$ter are self explanatory and easy to obtain. By accessing the help menu on the various input screens you can find a description of each of the inputs.

To establish feed intake and growth curves, detailed observations on at least six (6) pens of pigs are required. Select a minimum of two pens of pigs at approximately 30, 60 and 100 kg body weight. The selected pens should be representative of your barn (i.e. the genetics are representative of the herd and the pens offer an environment which is representative of the barn) and the heaviest pigs should be as close to market weight as possible. Body weight of the pigs versus days in the barn, and feed intake versus body weight of the pigs from these six observations will be used to develop growth and feed intake curves unique to your farm. Feed intake data should be collected over at least a two-week period. Examples of data collection sheets are included in PorkMa$ter. The "Information Data Sheets" are saved as ‘dsheet1.rtf’ and ‘dsheet2.rtf’ in the directory of the program (Program Files/porkm is the default after installation).

In addition, estimates of average and variation in both carcass weighs and carcass lean yields are required. A simple Microsoft Excel file is included with the program, to analyze carcass data based on information from year end summaries from the Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board or equivalent reports for generating these inputs. This file can be found in the same directory as the "Information Data Sheets".
 

Using PorkMa$ter

Once the program is installed on your computer (Microsoft Windows 9x), you can access it by clicking on the ‘PorkMa$ter’ icon, or select ‘Start’, ‘Programs’, and ‘PorkMa$ter’.

Once accessed, you will reach the main user interface window for PorkMa$ter. It allows access to the various aspects of the system such as creating new farms, saving farm data, opening previously saved farms, initiating feed intake and growth curve fitting windows, opening the carcass grid data base, and producing reports.

The window has three areas:
 

1. An area for entering a description of the farm.
2. An area for entering Production and Financial Inputs.
3. A selection of buttons for file management, and to allow access to other areas of the system for data entry and analysis.

In order to use the PorkMa$ter system successfully you must:

1. Enter appropriate data into the main user interface window for PorkMa$ter:
• The entry of general farm information in the main window is optional. However, completing this section is highly recommended, as this information is printed on all reports.
• The entry of production and financial inputs in the main window is essential. The data is used in calculations throughout PorkMa$ter. If you are unsure of a particular value, enter a figure that is reasonable. If the entered values are not reasonable, an error message will be given.
• To enter the data use the mouse to move the cursor to the appropriate data entry field and enter or edit the data. The ‘tab’ key on the keyboard may also be used to move the cursor.
2. Access the feed intake curve window (click on the ‘Feed’ button), enter feed intake observations and fit a feed intake curve:
• Enter the body weight(s) at which feed is changed. The data can be entered directly into the data entry box, the small box at the left and just above the graph. The data will appear in the data box at the top of the window and a vertical line will appear in the graph. Points can be removed by clicking on the appropriate data point in the data box (you will see the line highlighted in red on the graph) and pressing the "Delete" key on your keyboard.
• Enter the specifications for the particular diets. Hold your mouse pointer over the phase in the graph and click on the right mouse button. A dialog box pops up and prompts you for the following information:
• Digestible Energy (kcal/kg)
• Price ($/tonne)
• Wastage (feed wastage as % of allowance; 5% is typical)
• Click on the ‘Close’ button when data are entered.
• Add feed allowance data points to the graph. The data can be entered directly into data entry boxes located at the right side of the screen just above the graph and below the larger data points box. Points can be removed by clicking on the appropriate data point in the box (you will see the point highlighted in red on the graph) and pressing the "Delete" key on your keyboard.
• The final step, once all of the data has been entered, is to click the ‘Fit’ button to generate the feed intake curve.
• Two curves will appear on the graph. One is the estimated feed intake curve for your pigs, based on the on-farm observations. The other (labelled NRC) is a standard feed intake curve according to the National Research Council (1988, 1998). This NRC curve is determined by live body weight of the pigs and the digestible energy content of the diets.
• You can choose two mathematical models to fit the feed intake data. Just click "fit" under either model (Asymptolic or Exponential) and decide which model fits the data best. You can do this visually or based on the highest "chisq." and "r2" values in the yellow box at the bottom of the screen. The curve that is fitted last, and of which the name is coloured will be used in subsequent calculations.
• Close the Feed Intake window when you have finished in order to do calculations for the final report.
3. Access the growth curve window (click on the ‘Growth’ button), enter growth observations and fit a growth curve:
• Enter the growth performance data points to the graph. The data can be entered directly into the small data entry boxes located above the graph. Points can be removed by clicking on the appropriate data point in the box (you will see the point highlighted in red on the graph) and pressing the "Delete" key on your keyboard.
• Once all of the data has been entered, click the ‘Fit’ button under the appropriate model to generate the growth curve.
• You can choose two mathematical models to fit the growth data. Just click ‘fit’ under either model (Gompertz or polynomial) and decide which model fits the data best. You can do this visually or based on the highest "chisq." and "r2" values in the yellow box at the bottom of the screen. The curve that is fitted last, and of which the name is coloured will be used in subsequent calculations.
4. Choose a carcass grading grid (click on the arrow button, to access a scroll down menu, select the appropriate grid and hit ‘enter’ on your keyboard).
5. Preview, annotate, and print the final report (push on the ‘Report’ button):
• The report is generated in Rich Text Format, allowing you to view it using Microsoft WordPad^TM. Corresponding filenames have an "rtf" extension, e.g. farm1.rtf.
• You will be prompted for a file name and given the option of viewing the report immediately. If you select Yes, WordPad will automatically launch and bring up your report. If you say No, you will be returned to PorkMaster.
• You can launch WordPad at any time to view any report you have generated, as long as you know where the reports are stored and as long as you look for files with the "rtf" extension.

You can create a new file, open an existing data input file, or save the data at any time (simply click on the appropriate buttons at the bottom of the main user interface screen; use standard Microsoft Window^TM‘s procedures to manage files).

You can enter new carcass grading grids to the carcass grading grid data base, as well as make changes to the carcass grading grids that are stored in the data base (click on the ‘Carcass’ button). A detailed description of procedures to add or alter carcass grading grids is provided in appendix 1.
 
 

The purpose of this case study is to make you familiar with the PorkMa$ter program - a computerized performance monitoring system for growing-finishing pigs. You will then use the program to demonstrate the potential value of altering shipping strategies and to obtain relevant information that is required for the development of effective feeding programs.

Use the procedures, earlier described in detail, to access PorkMa$ter and to enter the data given below. For your convenience important instructions are provided in this case study as well. Answer the questions and enter the results in the various tables.

I. Accessing the program

In Windows9x^TM , either click on the PorkMa$ter icon, or select ‘Start’, ‘Programs’ and ‘PorkMa$ter’.

II. Main user interface window

Enter the following data:

General Farm Description (not essential)

Use the mouse to move the curser to the data entry boxes and enter or edit the values. You can also use the ‘tab’ key on your keyboard to move the cursor.
 
 

Name: Yours	Date: Current
Location: Yours	Phone:
Barn/Unit: Basis	Fax:

Production and Financial Input (reasonable values must be entered)
 
 

Number of pig places 100	Fixed costs ($/pig place/year) 40
Body weight at barn entry(kg): 25	Pork Price ($/kg): 1.40
Age at barn entry (days): 70	Dressing (%): 79
Body weight at marketing (kg): 105	Carcass weight S.D. (kg): 6
Open days per rotation (days): 14	Maximum carcass weight (kg): 103
Mortality (%): .5	Lean Yield (%): 60.5
Weaner pig price ($/pig): 45	Lean Yield S.D. (%): 2
Other variable cost ($/pig): 18	Carcass grading grid: Ontario New

III. Feed intake screen

Click on the ‘Feed’ button in the main user interface window.

Enter the following data.

Move the cursor to the small data entry boxes just above the graphs, type in a value and hit ‘Enter’ on your keyboard. The entered data will then appear in the larger data boxes at the top of the screen. If you wish to delete data, click on the data in the larger data boxes at the top and hit ‘Delete’ on your keyboard.

Body weight(s) at which feed is changed:

Body weight (BW, kg)

65

Feed allowance data points:

(BW, kg)	Allowance (kg/d)
32	1.55
33	1.60
52	2.10
53	2.30
71	2.60
72	2.70
98	3.00
104	3.15

Enter the following information for each diet.

Move mouse pointer either left (diet 1) or right (diet 2) of the blue line in the graph; click the right mouse button and a dialog box will appear. Once the data are entered click on the ‘Close’ button.
 
 

	Diet 1	Diet 2
Digestible energy (Kcal/kg)	3400	3200
Price ($/tonne)	205	185
Wastage (% of allowance)	5	5

Click on the ‘Fit’ button below ‘Asymptotic’ and answer the following questions:

1. Why is there a sudden increase in the reference NRC feed intake curve when the diet is changed?
 
 
 
 

2. Is this a good fit of the feed intake curve? How did you assess this?
 
 
 
 

Return to the main user interface screen. Close the feed intake curve window as this information is required to generate the report.

IV. Growth curve window

Click on the ‘Growth’ button in the main user interface window.

Enter the following data:

Body weight data points
 

Day	BW(kg)
8	27
9	28
26	40
28	42
40	35
71	80
74	83
99	103
101	105

Click on the ‘Fit’ button below ‘Poly’ and answer the following questions:

3. Is this a good fit of the growth curve? How did you assess this?
 
 
 
 
 
 

Obviously one data point does not fit the curve. This data point should be considered unreliable. Remove this data point and refit the curve.

Select the data point that is to be deleted (40 days, 35 kg body weight) in the data box at the top of the window. This point should be highlighted in red in the graph. Hit ‘delete’ on your keyboard. This click again on the ‘Fit’ button below ‘Poly’

Return to the main user interface window. Either click anywhere on the main user interface screen or minimize (click on the ‘-’ in the growth window). Close the growth curve window as this information is required to generate the report.

V. Report

Click on the ‘Report’ button in the main user interface window. You will be prompted to enter a name for the report file, enter ‘report1’ and hit ‘enter’ on your keyboard; when you are prompted to view the report, click ‘Yes’.
 
 

Please carefully review the report and answer the following questions:
 
 

5. How does feed intake during the grower phase compare to the reference curve (NRC, 1988)? And during the finisher phase? What may have contributed to this drop in feed intake between the grower and finisher phase?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

6. What is the (marginal) feed conversion for the pigs between 100 and 105 kg body weight? How does this compare to that between 25 and 30 kg body weight How do you explain this large difference ?
 
 
 
 
 
 

7. What is the average lean tissue growth rate? Please recognize that this value and the feed intake data at the various stages of growth are essential for the estimation af optimum dietary nutrient levels at the various stages of growth. Also try to find out how this average lean growth rate is calculated (using the help menu).
 
 
 
 
 
 

8. Which proportion of total feed usage is consumed between 25 and 65 kg body weight (grower) and between 65 kg body weight and market? Based on this which of these two diets deserves more attention in terms of costing and formulation?
 
 
 
 
 
 

9. What are the feed costs per pig, gross margin per pig and gross margin per pig place per year? Also try to find out how this value is calculated (using the help menu).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Close the report file by clicking on the ‘x’ at the right in the blue bar at the top of this screen. You can create a new file, open an existing data input file, or save the data at any time (simply click on the appropriate buttons at the bottom of the main user interface screen; use standard Microsoft Window^TM’s procedures to manage files).

You can enter new carcass grading grids to the carcass grading grid data base, as well as make changes to the carcass grading grids that are stored in the data base (push on the ‘Carcass’ button). A detailed description of procedures to add or alter carcass grading grids is provided in appendix 1.
 
 
 
 

VI. Evaluating alternative management strategies

Now that you are familiar with running the program, let’s see how much money there is to be made by changing some of the current management strategies. In particular let’s look at the effects of varying the average body weight at which pigs are shipped to market, of manipulating the variation in shipping weight, and of introducing a third diet.

To determine the effect of final body weight on profits, fill in the table below. Simply alter the final body weight and the corresponding lean yield in the main user interface window, generate new reports after you changed the numbers, review the reports and enter the required information from the reports in the table, and answer the following questions.

After you have entered the data in the main user interface window, click on the ‘Report’ button. You can simply replace the old version of the report with the new version . Click on ‘report1’ in the listing of files in the dialog box, hit ‘Enter’ on the keyboard and click on ‘Yes’ when asked whether you want to replace the previous version of the report. Then click ‘Yes’ when asked whether you want to view the report.
 

	Shipping weight (kg)
Final Body weight (kg) Carcass Lean yield (%)	105 60.5	107.5 60.4	110 60.3	112.5 59.9
Average carcass index* Days per rotation Feed : Gain Gross margin ($/pig) Gross Income  ($/pig place /year)

*average carcass table value in the report

10. At what shipping weights are margin per pig and gross income per pig place per year maximized ? Why is there a difference between these two optimum shipping weights?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

There is considerable variation in the weight of the pigs shipped to market. Typically the standard deviation on carcass weight is between 4 and 6 kg. Fill in the table below to determine the effect of this variation on profits. Simply alter the final body weight, the corresponding lean yield, and standard deviation on carcass weight in the main user interface window, generate new reports after you changed the numbers, enter the required information from the reports in the table below, and answer the following questions.
 

Final body weight (kg) Carcass lean yield (%)	107.5 60.4		110 60.3
Standard deviation on carcass weight (kg)	4	6	4	6
Average carcass index Gross margin ($/pig) Gross income ($/ pig place/ yr)

 

11. What is the effect of variability in carcass weight on profitability?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

12. Discuss some practical means to reduce variation in carcass weight? How much funds and time would be required to implement a means to reduce variability in shipping weight.
 
 
 
 
 
 

A means to reduce feed costs is to increase the number of diets that are used and adjust the nutrient levels in the diets more closely to the animal’s nutrient requirements. Even though PorkMa$ter cannot directly be used to set target nutrient levels it can be used to demonstrate the benefits of incorporating an extra diet in the feeding program.

Introduce a 3rd diet, a late finisher diet fed to pigs over 90 kg body weight and evaluate the (potential) effects of this on profitability.

Return to the main user interface window, change the final body weight to 107.5 kg, change the average lean yield to 60.4%, and change the standard deviation on carcass weight to 4 kg. Access the feed intake curve window (click on the ‘Feed’ button), and enter a new body weight at which feed is changed: 90 kg (enter 90 in the small data entry box on the left and just above the graph; hit ‘enter’ on your key board). Now enter the following information for this diet (Move mouse pointer to the right of the right blue line in the graph (diet 3), click the right mouse button and the dialog box will appear).

Diet DE (Kcal/kg 3200

Price ($/tonne) 170

Wastage (% of allowance) 5

Now fit again the feed intake curve (click on ‘Fit’ below ‘asymptotic’), return to the main user interface window, create and review the report.

13. How did the use of a third diet affect feed cost per pig, gross margin per pig and gross income per pig place per year? Compare this value to that in the left column in the last table, the only difference is the use of 2 vs 3 diets. How did feed cost per pig, gross margin per pig and gross income per pig place per year change?
 
 
 
 

14. Discuss some practical means to use a third diet in the feeding program. How much funds and time would be required to use a third diet?
 
 
 
 
 
 

Now that you have reviewed three aspects of changing management of grower-finisher pigs, answer the following questions:

15. Which practice (increasing shipping weight, reducing variability in carcass weights or introducing a third diet) increased profit the most?
 
 
 
 
 
 

16. What prevents you from implementing all three management practices?
 
 
 
 
 
 

17. What is the overall effect on profitability if all three management practices are implemented?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Appendix 1: procedures to add or alter carcass grading grids
 
 

Click on or press:	To:
First	Show the first carcass grading grid in the alphabetical list.
Previous	Show the previous grid in the alphabetical list.
Next	Show the next grid in the alphabetical list.
Last	Show the last grid in the alphabetical list.
New	Create a new blank grid, prompts you for a name.
Copy	Create a copy of the grid currently being displayed, prompts you for a name. This is very useful for quickly creating similar grids that differ in a few cells.
Delete	Delete the grid currently being displayed.
F2	Edit the cell you currently have your cursor on.
F3	Edit the row heading for the row you have your cursor on.
F4	Edit the column heading for a column you have your cursor on.
F5	Add a row to the grid where you have your cursor.
F6	Delete the row you have your cursor on from the grid.
F7	Add a column to the grid where you have your cursor.
F8	Delete the column you have your cursor on from the grid.

Two types of grids can be entered. The "percent" grid is currently used in Canada. In this type of grid, carcass value is calculated as:

carcass weight (kg) x (index/100) x pork price ($/kg)

Alternatively "deviation" grids can be used. When this option is selected, carcass value is calculated as:

carcass weight (kg) * (pork price plus value in cells)

This type of grid is used in some European countries, such as Germany.