ENHANCING SWINE PROFITABILITY WITH A MULTI-FARM FINANCIAL/BIOLOGIC DATABASE

SWINE PRODUCERS AND SWINE INDUSTRY CONSULTANTS MUST DETERMINE WHAT AREAS OF SWINE PRODUCTION ARE LEAST EFFICIENT ECONOMICALLY IN ORDER TO REGAIN PROFITABILITY. BYDEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED, DETAILED FINANCIAL/BIOLOGIC DATABASE, SWINE PRODUCERS WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE INEFFICIENCIES IN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES THROUGH ANALYSIS OF THEIR DATA, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PLAN THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION BY ANALYZING MULTI-FARM DATA. THE ANALYTIC POTENTIAL OF SUCH A DATABASE WILL RESULT IN MORE AWARENESS OF ANIMAL AND COST BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO MANAGEMENT, GENETICS, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT. LENDING INSTITUTIONS WILL ALSO USE THIS DATABASE WHEN THEY DECIDE WHETHER TO PROVIDE CAPITAL FOR IMPROVING OR EXPANDING A SWINE ENTERPRISE. TO EXPEDITE AVAILABILITY OF THIS DATABASE, THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE EXISTING BIOLOGIC DATABASE MUST BE AUGMENTED; SWINE GRAPHICS, INC. CURRENTLY MANAGES A DATABASE OF PRODUCTION RECORDS FROM SEVERAL COMMERCIAL SWINEPRODUCERS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ASCERTAIN THE FEASIBILITY OF KEY ELEMENTS OF THIS PROPOSED SYSTEM INCLUDING DATA COLLECTION LOGISTICS, COST ALLOCATION WITHIN THE ENTERPRISE,FINANCIAL AND BIOLOGIC/PRODUCTION DATA INTEGRATION, THE CONSULTANTS' ROLE, AND CREDIBILITY TO LENDING INSTITUTIONS. ANOTHER MAJOR GOAL WILL BE TO DRAFT THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THESE ELEMENTS TO SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR THE ACTUAL PROGRAM AND PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHASE II PROJECT.