This can aid in differentiation of causes and identify strategies to alleviate the problems. Since we are attempting to produce a lean pork product with a minimum amount of feed, it is important to know the characteristics of the pigs that are marketed. Using this information, grow-finish performance can be calculated and used in various ways. The methods used are dependent upon the data collected. Probably the most simple method of evaluating performance is by weighing the group of pigs as it enters a facility and as it is marketed.
Feed is tabulated as it is received.
This first method has it's limitations. Pigs that have died, are moved back or are culled are not included. Thus the average daily gain only portrays those pigs that are marketed and may be over estimated as the culled pigs are likely slow-growers. Likewise, average daily feed intake is over estimated as the feed eaten by culled pigs is not taken into account. For a third method, the weight gained by the culled and dead pigs is included in the calculations, and this may add more difficulties in interpretation.