A COMPUTERIZED HOG FEEDING PROCESS FOR IMPROVED FEED CONVERSION AND GROWTH RATE

THE U.S. PORK INDUSTRY IS CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH RELATIVELY INEFFECIENT FEED CONVERSION RATIOS OF 3.4 TO 3.5 DURING THE GROWER-FINISHER STAGES, AND IS TRYING TO MEET CONSUMER DEMANDS FOR LEANER PRODUCT WHILE FACING STIFF PRICE COMPETITION FROM THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. THE PORK INDUSTRY WILL NEED TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCIES TO REMAIN PROFITABLE WHILE MAINTAINING OR INCREASING MARKET SHARE AT THE MEAT COUNTER. THE COMPUTER CONTROLLED FEEDING EQUIPMENT TO BE TESTED WILL HAVE INDIVIDUAL FEEDING STATIONS FOR EACH ANIMAL IN THE PEN TO MINIMIZE HIERARCHICAL CONTENTION, PORTION CONTROL (INCREASED DAILY) TO PROMOTE INTENSIVE FEEDING, UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF WATER AND FEED TO EACH FEEDING STATION, AND PRE-FEEDING LIGHTS TO STIMULATE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM PAVLOVIAN RESPONSE. PRINCIPAL BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUAL PORK PRODUCERS WILL INCLUDE IMPROVED FEED CONVERSION THROUGH REDUCTION OF FEED WASTE AND MORE EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF FEED BY THE ANIMALS FASTER DAILY GAIN (REDUCING PER PIG FIXED COSTS BY ALLOWING MORE PIGS THROUGH THE FACILITY EACH YEAR), LOWER MORTALITY DUE TO LESS STRESS AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, REDUCED LABOR COSTS DUE TO AUTOMATED FEATURES, MORE UNIFORM GROWTH DUE TO EQUAL AVAILABILITY OF FEED AND WATER FOR EACH ANIMAL, AND LEAN MEAT PRODUCED WITHOUT GROWTH HORMONES. THE COST OF A TYPICAL INSTALLATION WOULD BE RECOVERED IN UNDER TWO YEARS.