EU PiG – 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%.

Ambassador: Rick Bosgoed, Netherlands

Publication date: June 2019 

Theme: Meat quality

Challenges: Homogenous groups of pigs for slaughter

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 accurate.

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

Costs:

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

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, reducing feed waste. The system ensures that the heaviest 40% of the pigs receive the 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.

For more information, contact RPIG (Netherlands): Jos Peerlings or EUPig@ahdb.org.uk

This project has received funding from the European Union`s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 727933.