July 6, 2023

 

 

Dr Julia Adriana Calderon Diaz, a genetic services specialist at Pig Improvement Company (PIC), said that in order to achieve significant advancements in the swine industry, farmers should expand their understanding of feed efficiency beyond the conventional feed conversion ratio and consider its impact on health, mortality, and overall inefficiencies throughout the production chain, Farmers Weekly reported.

 

She emphasised the importance of evaluating the creation of pork protein relative to total inputs in the production chain, known as whole system feed efficiency, during her presentation at the recent Alltech One Conference in Dublin.

 

Dr Diaz expressed her belief that the industry's focus on the genetic component of feed efficiency was limiting progress. While acknowledging that feed efficiency is highly heritable (30-40%), she said that effective management is crucial to fully realize the genetic potential of animals and optimize output based on input levels.

 

Dr Diaz called for a shift in the industry's perspective on feed efficiency, She said that the industry can breed the best swine for all sorts of traits, but if it is mismanaged, it's a waste of time.

 

Highlighting the value of genetic gains, Dr Diaz presented calculations from PIC that demonstrated how a 0.1 increase in feed efficiency could result in significant savings per pig and per sow.

 

She stressed the importance of considering other management areas, such as robustness and farrowing house performance, to reduce waste and improve profitability at every stage of production.

 

Dr Diaz specifically identified late mortality as a critical factor affecting overall farm feed efficiency, citing the substantial costs and inefficiencies associated with swine dying at 100kg. The wasted feed, nutrients excreted into the environment, and resource utilisation represent significant losses.

 

She also discussed the economic impact of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) and underscored the need for advancements in vaccinations and genetic resistance to combat such diseases.

 

To achieve sustainable progress in genetic improvement, Dr Diaz outlined PIC's strategy, which involves focusing on four key areas in breeding program herds: sow herd productivity, fast and efficient growth, robust genetics, and total carcass value. By making advancements in these areas, more pigs can reach slaughter with reduced wastage, thereby improving overall farm feed efficiency.

 

PIC has reported significant genetic gains over the past decade, including improvements in pig survivability, reduction in the percentage of piglets born under 0.9kg, and faster growth rates. These gains contribute to increased productivity and reduced waste in the industry.

 

-      Farmers Weekly