Lyvers noted that the bare minimum is the kind of information elicited by programs like PigChamp. Also, he'll begin using ultrasound to check lean disposition during grow finish. Data will be fed into the equation so he can further refine the ingredients, timing and number of his rations. Eventually, pork producers will be able to download it from the Worldwide Web. Producers can maximize profits by optimizing the interactions of genetics, nutrition, environment, marketing and management.
Models can also help design the best production system for top performance.
The initial work on lean-growth models was pioneered in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Now several U.S. universities and feed companies offer models. These complex models take a variety of inputs into account that simultaneously affect pigs in typical conditions. They are developed using a limited amount of data to predict growth performance within a limited range of conditions. For instance, an empirical model may address various corn-soy diet combinations, but would not be programmed to consider substitution of feed wheat or grain sorghum.