Carthage Veterinary Service Director of Nutrition Jorge Estrada, Ph.D. spoke recently about the importance of data records and analysis in determining the best feed plan for each group of a producer’s pigs. Some of his statements include:

“Feed represents the largest variable cost in pork production, typically accounting for about 60% of total wean-to-finish expense. That makes nutrition one of the most impactful areas to evaluate.”

“Even in operations with strong recordkeeping, timing is often the constraint. If data are collected but not evaluated until a group closes, the opportunity to make in-cycle adjustments is lost. That delay reduces the ability to correct inefficiencies and capture performance improvements within the same production group.”

“Predictive models will allow us to forecast changes in intake, growth or health status based on historical patterns and current conditions. That creates opportunities to implement nutritional adjustments earlier in the production cycle, improving both feed efficiency and resource utilization.”

Read the full article here for Dr. Estrada’s full answers to these important questions.