BPEX: New project to improve pig profits
A new 2TS Recording Project will help English pig producers understand recorded data to improve their herd performance and profits.
The BPEX knowledge transfer team is working with pig recording analyst Sanne Baden and six different pig producers on the project, as part of the ‘Breed +3’ initiative to help each herd wean an extra three pigs per sow per year.
The 2TS Recording Project will run for the rest of 2013, with the first farm visits by Sanne now complete. The herds range in size from 250 to 750 sows and include both indoor and outdoor units.
Plans producers have made after their initial discussions include: 1) measuring the impact of different genetics through the system 2) reducing the number of non-productive days by scanning twice and using boars to check for heat and 3) recording causes of death in the farrowing house to help pinpoint associations with higher than normal pre-weaning mortality rates.
BPEX knowledge transfer manager, Charlotte West, says: “Herd performance recording and spending time understanding trends and patterns in the data helps pinpoint which changes could make the biggest difference to pig performance and cutting costs. It also helps establish what information is most useful to observe on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis. All businesses, including the top performers, can benefit.”
Sanne will make three more quarterly visits to see how things are going and make further recommendations. All producers involved in the project will be discussing their progress at local Pig Club meetings.
There will also be updates and advice on the BPEX website at www.bpex.org.uk/2TS/breeding
All producers can contact their knowledge transfer manager for help with recording and understanding their data at any time, click here.
