Production Efficiency as a Risk Factor

Doug MacDougald, DVM

MacDougald & Morris, 11 William Street S. Wellesley, ON, Canada N0B 2T0

The title of this paper should probably read;

"Pig production is a simple business; it is just not easy."

What Do We Know?

• We know how to achieve 25+ pigs/ mated sow/ yr.
• We know how to finish pigs at 800 gm ADG with a 2.70 feed conversion efficiency.
• We know how to hit the targeted pigs marketed per week.

What is the Actual Production? (Swine Information Services)

• 22.0 pigs/ mated sow/ yr.
• 720 gm ADG and 3.2 feed conversion efficiency.
• Large variation in pigs marketed per week from most units.

What is the Risk of this Lack of Production Efficiency?

Two standard deviations (or two-thirds of herds) show the following range in performance:

• sowfeed cost per weaned pig $3.64
• nursery feed cost per pig $2.76
• nursery space utilization 44 to 60 kg / sq. ft./yr.
• finisher feed cost per pig $16.56
• finisher space utilization 26 to 36 kg/ sq. ft./yr.

Why is Pig Production Not Easy?

We do not know how to train, supervise, motivate, or listen to staff very well; we haven't figured out the people side of this business.

What are Some of the Tools that We can Apply to Reduce

the Risk of Variation in Production Efficiency?

• Mission statement.
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual.
• Complete and written job descriptions.
• Staff and management evaluation on a regular basis and using a consistent format.
• Use a communication and personnel management consultant.
• Concise and timely staff feedback on key production data; actual vs. target.
• Staff bonus plan based on production.
• Benchmarking within industry.
• Benchmarking with a peer group.
• Management needs to "say what you mean, and mean what you say" (Carroll, 1865), document it, and do it!

References

Carroll, Lewis. (1865) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Swine Information Services. Crossbred Herd Comparative Analysis.