April 2005

The challenges of maximizing pig flow and profits are addressed in this 40th edition of the Blueprint series published by National Hog Farmer.

In the overview article, University of Nebraska Extension Swine Specialist Mike Brumm writes about the balancing act of matching production with facilities, and the problems presented by the lack of flexibility in dealing with variation.

North Carolina State University Professor and Swine Commodity Coordinator Todd See suggests ways to establish and achieve reproductive goals and maximize litters/ female.

Joining a weaned-pig sow center instead of breeding sows and moving to a later weaning schedule are two ways to optimize growth, says Illinois swine veterinarian William Hollis, Carthage (IL) Veterinary Service. He describes two options for farrowing crate utilization, the impact of average daily gain and variation in auto-sort systems.

In the final article, University of Minnesota Swine Center Director John Deen, DVM, closes the throughput discussion by exploring the impact of pig variation on all production phases.

Blueprint Features: Maximizing Throughput

Throughput The Ultimate Test for Production

Apr 15, 2005 12:00 PM, by Mike Brumm Northeast Research and Extension Center University of Nebraska

It sounds simple enough. Flow as many pigs as you can through a given set of facilities to maximize profits (income over expense), while at the same time...

Optimizing Reproductive Efficiency

Apr 15, 2005 12:00 PM, by M. Todd See North Carolina State University

Maximizing throughput or production of a pork enterprise begins with the breeding herd. In order to achieve a consistent flow of pigs, and the minimum...

Producing Repeatable, Efficient Growth

Apr 15, 2005 12:00 PM, by William L. Hollis, DVM Carthage Veterinary Service Ltd. Carthage, IL

Pork producers in our client base are searching for predictable, efficient growth with every insemination in the breeding barn and with every load of...

Solutions To Control Variation

Apr 15, 2005 12:00 PM, by John Deen, DVM, Director, University of Minnesota Swine Center

Managing variation in pig production involves examining what can be accomplished within the current production system model. For example, if we realistically...