Easy weighing of pigs for slaughter

Farmer Rick Bosgoed is using smart technology to feed each of his finisher pigs the optimum diet and automatically sort them so they are delivered to the slaughterhouse at exactly the right weight. A higher price per pig has led to a gross margin increase of 6.8%.

He is also saving 20% on the costs of starter pig feed alone as the system enables him to adjust the feed type and quantity, based on the individual pigs’ weights and performance in his new finisher building. The building houses 3000 pigs, in groups of 375 which are managed with the Nedap Pig Sorting system, making the management of finisher pigs in large groups more efficient and more accurate.

Results

There are large feed cost savings as it means feed is not wasted on heavier pigs, because Nedap's smart technology automatically adjusts to make sure each pig is fed exactly what it needs.

Benefits:

• Daily liveweight gain is 20g/day higher than the control group
• Feed conversion ratio is improved by 0.1
• Mortality rate is slightly lower
• 0.50ct lower feed costs per slaughter pig
• Better feed efficiency and a higher price per optimal weight pig results in a gross margin increase of 6.8%

Costs:

• The Nedap Sorting Pigs systems has an investment cost of €30 per slaughter pig
• Five hours per week extra labout is needed per week for 3,000 slaughter pigs
• Increase in production cost of 1.7%

Innovation in practice

The system consists of a weighing unit with individual identification and three exits. The combined feed and sorting station weighs and identifies each pig and automatically leads it to the right feed type or to the separation area. Smart technology adjusts the feed type and amount to each pig automatically to ensure the group stays as uniform as possible, therefore reducing feed waste: the system ensures that the heaviest 40% of the pigs receive growing-finishing feed, while the lightest 60% get starter feed.

Rick monitors the activity and health of the animals and records growth and the number of visits to the feeding station.

More about this best practice

To access more information, contact RPIG (Netherlands): Jos Peerlings