Pig's progress - attention to detail

To induce or not to induce? This was one of the topics identified by benchmarking at a recent Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF) farm business club meeting at Skimble Crown pig breeder/finisher unit on the outskirts of Dudley.

Hosted by farm manager, John Webster, club members were given a tour of the farm and an insight into their production methods. What impressed the other farmers most was the eveness of the pigs throughout their development - from new-born piglet to finishing pig.

According to John: "We take great care of our sows throughout pregnancy. Because of the high numbers born and to help with fostering we induce sows when required. Eveness starts even earlier with sows being served with home produced semen from our two AI boars.

"Good boars, coupled with a good feeding scale, enables us to record good birth weights of around 1.6 kgs per pig. From this even start we are able to tailor the pigs' feed requirements more accurately. This has a knock on effect with reduced days to slaughter and more kilos of pig meat sold per pig."

The farm tour provoked a discussion about mortality and birth rates and how improvements could impact on the bottom line. A comparison of costs revealed that amongst the farm club members an increase of just 0.1 per litter per 100 sows would produce approximately an extra £11,000 income per year and to improve the post-weaning mortality by 1% would bring in an extra £7,000.