Description, evaluation, and validation of the Teagasc Pig Production Model1

Abstract

The Teagasc Pig Production Model (TPPM), a stochastic simulation model of a farrow-to-finish pig farm, was developed to investigate effects of changes in production systems on farm profitability. The model simulates, on a weekly basis, the annual production of a farm. Biological [e.g., herd size, number of litters/sow/year, and mortality rates (%)], physical (e.g., infrastructure), and technical (e.g., feeding practices) variables and their associated costs are included as components of the model. These inputs are used to calculate physical (e.g., feed usage and number of pigs slaughtered) and financial (e.g., annual cash flow, profit and loss account, and balance sheet) outputs. The model was validated using the Delphi method and by comparing the TPPM outputs to data recorded on 20 Irish pig farms through the Teagasc e-Profit monitor system and with complete receipts for the year 2016. Results showed that the TPPM closely simulates physical and financial performance of pig farms indicating that the TPPM can be used with confidence to study pig production systems under Irish conditions. Model applicability was demonstrated by investigating the impact of 2 changes in technical performance: 1) building of extra accommodation to increase body weight (BW) at sale by 15 kg (EXTRA ROOM) and 2) a change in feeding practices by providing finisher feed from 28 kg of BW (EARLY FINISHER) compared with over 38 kg of BW. In both scenarios, the same biological parameters were used. Mortality rates, feed ingredients costs, and price per kg of meat produced were included as stochastic variables with the input distributions derived based on historical data simulated using Monte Carlo sampling using the Microsoft Excel add-in @Risk. Annual mean net profit was €198,101 (90% confidence interval [CI]: €119,606–€275,539) for the TPPM base farm, €337,078 (90% CI: €246,320–€426,809) for the EXTRA ROOM, and €225,598 (90% CI: €146,685–€303,590) for the EARLY FINISHER. EXTRA ROOM was associated with higher costs and required higher income to cover the additional costs. The 90% CI of the EARLY FINISHER was similar to the TPPM base farm while the EXTRA ROOM scenario resulted in a wider confidence interval, suggesting that a change in feeding practices could be a better option for farmers looking to improve profit with minimum investment. Thus, the TPPM could be used to facilitate decision making in farrow-to-finish pig farms.

Financial Analysis of Herd Status and Vaccination Practices for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Swine Influenza Virus, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in Farrow-to-Finish Pig Farms Using a Bio-Economic Simulation Model

“…The Teagasc Pig Production Model [TPPM; Calderón Díaz et al ( 26 )] was used to simulate the effect of herd status and vaccination practice for PRRSv, SIV and MHYO on farm net profit. The TPPM is a stochastic budgetary simulation bio-economic model developed in Microsoft Excel, for farrow-to-finish pig farms with weekly farrowing batches.…”

“…Buildings depreciation, long term bank loans, labor requirements, animal health and other costs including electricity, annual subscription to the Environmental Protection Agency, manure handling cost and transport costs to the abattoir are also included in the TPPM. The only source of income in the TPPM is livestock sales including culled sows and slaughtered finisher pigs [Calderón Díaz et al (26)].…”

“…Stage 1 weaner pigs were fed a pre-starter diet during the first week post-weaning, a starter diet during weeks 2 and 3 post-weaning and a weaner diet for 2 weeks. Stage 2 weaner pigs were fed a second weaner diet for 4 weeks and finisher pigs received a finisher diet [see Calderón Díaz et al (26)].…”

“…Costs for medications (e.g., antibiotics) were not included because of lack of data. Other costs, including electricity use and price per kwh, annual subscription to the Environmental Protection Agency, feedstuff prices, manure handling and transport costs to the abattoir were obtained from the Teagasc pig e-Profit Monitor [for more information please refer to Calderón Díaz et al (26)]. The only source of income was livestock sales including culled sows and slaughtered finisher pigs.…”

“…Average annual physical outputs per simulated scenario from the Teagasc Pig Production Model, a bio-economic model for farrow-to-finish farms developed by Calderón Díaz et al(26) for the simulation of production effects associated with herd status for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv), swine influenza virus (SIV), and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO).…”