Zinpro Corporation has developed a new digital calculator that helps estimate the economic cost of lameness in a sow herd.

The calculator is an economic model based on research conducted by University of Minnesota Associate Professor and Feet First team member Dr. John Deen.

To illustrate lost productivity in an operation due to lameness, the calculator takes into account a number of variables. These include replacement costs, various discounts related to lameness, number of pigs produced, and reduced output. The calculator then demonstrates the revenue opportunity associated with reducing the prevalence of lameness in the herd.

Lameness is a significant issue in sow herds, and this model helps put a number to the problem, said Dr. Mark Wilson, Feet First team member and Zinpro researcher.

''A reduction in lameness prevalence of even a few percentage points can result in tremendous gains in revenue,'' said Wilson.

Zinpro provides trace mineral nutrition for livestock and poultry, and delivers the products and educational tools needed to help customers improve the performance and profitability of their operation.