While it seems counterintuitive that euthanizing pigs would be an opportunity to improve throughput, from a health and welfare standpoint, it is very important.

Every farm should have a written euthanasia protocol that describes methods and responsibilities. The most important responsibility producers have is to prevent animal suffering when the prospect of response to therapy is poor.

Timely euthanasia improves throughput by quickly identifying and euthanizing sick pigs that have little or no chance of recovery. When handled properly, there will be less disease pressure and less potential for shedding pathogens to barnmates.

Timely euthanasia allows the remaining pigs to perform better with less competition and lower stocking density. It also pays the largest benefits at closeout by reducing the variation and severe discounts that can affect the entire turn of pigs.

The ultimate tool for disease prevention is to never allow the introduction of new infectious agents.

The finishing phase of most operations is often considered to be at the bottom of the herd health pyramid. Consequently, the safeguards are usually fewer and less stringent than we see at sow sites and nurseries.

Arguably, this is backwards thinking. Recent studies show that the majority of the cost of a PRRS outbreak in a farrow-to-finish operation is borne by the grow-finish stage of production. One study put the postweaning cost share of a PRRS break at 88%!

The primary objective of any biosecurity protocol is to prevent the entry of new pathogens, regardless of the stage of production. While location of the site and proximity to other pigs are important biosecurity risks, there is usually little that can be done on these issues once a barn is sited. We can, however, work to reduce the risks associated with many other practices, vectors, and fomites that present biosecurity risks.

Start by having your swine veterinarian perform a biosecurity audit of your farm. Your veterinarian will point out ways to reduce the disease risks and close holes in the biosecurity net. In the case of PRRS, small investments in biosecurity measures may prevent entry of a virus that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in production losses.

Biosecurity does not come without some cost, but mostly it is investment in time, education and discipline. Some estimate the cost of a PRRS outbreak to a farrow-to-wean farm at $200/sow or half a million dollars for a 2,500-sow farm. That will buy a lot of biosecurity!

Variation should be viewed as a “lost opportunity.” Every carcass that is “outside the box” results in unrealized revenue, even when that cost is spread across a truckload of pigs.

Of course, each packer has a matrix that dictates the upper and lower limits for carcass weight. Some matrixes are tighter than others, and they vary by the degree of penalties assigned when carcasses land outside the box. Typically, the “sweet spot” of the matrix will range from 271 to 300 lb. live weight.

A typical load of pigs weighing 285 lb. with normal variation could still have over a third of the pigs outside the box. Some studies have shown that the standard deviation of market weights (the weight above and below the average encompassing two-thirds of the set) is about 25 lb. Put another way, two-thirds of a set of pigs that average 285 lb. will fall between 260 and 310 lb. The farther away from the minimum and maximum weights, the higher the penalty will be for being outside the box.

Again, depending on the packer, the penalty might be as little as $5/head for the first 10 lb. on either side of the box, but stepping up to nearly $40/head for those pigs under 230 lb. or over 310 lb.

At current feed prices, it is foolish to send extremely heavy hogs to market. But, packer matrixes really tip the scale against light carcasses, which is where most of the opportunity lies.

We have many tools for lowering variability, especially when dealing with health issues.

First, early detection and treatment with the appropriate antibiotic will reduce mortality and variation by lowering the days that the pigs are not eating or gaining weight.

Certainly, accurate diagnosis, then prudent use of the antimicrobial that is most effective on the problem a farm is facing, are essential.

Most veterinarians recommend hospital pens for disadvantaged pigs to reduce competition for food and water, allow them more space and provide the greatest chance for full recovery. The hospital pen allows for sorting off the pigs that fall back, as well as giving special attention to sick or injured pigs. To reduce variation at market time, these disadvantaged pigs must be identified early so their particular challenge can be addressed, which will help them to keep up with their healthy peers.