Novel growth algorithm for pigs developed

The novel growth algorithm has been designed to predict individual animal growth as well as the collective growth. Photo: Koos Groenewold

A newly developed algorithm can accurately predict the individual growth and slaughter weight of pigs.

The algorithm was developed by animal health service Royal GD in the Netherlands and data company LeeO, which recently announced their new collaboration. With the development of the growth algorithm for pigs, both parties are focusing on a data-driven and future-oriented sector.

The growth algorithm is designed to predict both the individual growth of animals and the collective growth within a herd. It uses historical data from the company and the individual birth weight of piglets. Pig farmers and chain managers therefore have access to advanced growth data.

Peter ter Linde, LeeO (left) and Ynte Schukken, director of Royal GD (right). Photo: Royal GD

Pig nutrition, care and management

That allows those involved to make better-informed decisions about nutrition, care and management. In the LeeO application, which provides insight into the life cycle of the individual pig at a glance, the optimal transport moment can be planned with the predicted slaughter weight.

Jeroen Koks, business manager at Royal GD said, “The development of a growth algorithm is a new step towards a more predictable value chain. How much do pig farmers know about your herd? When putting 25 kg grower pigs onto a farm, it’s possible to observe big differences in growth patterns. With the algorithm, producers gain insight into faster and slower growing animals.”

With the development of the growth algorithm, Royal GD sees opportunities for the future. Koks continued to say, “It is our motivation to gather even more information, so that we can manage more specifically. Health is the basis for good growth and a sharp feed conversion. Healthy animals have the highest yield and welfare. Health problems in individual animals can lead to differences within a herd. We want to gain more insight into that. That is very interesting to us.”

Mapping the life cycle

Dutch-based LeeO focuses on the registration of individual pigs, from birth to consumption. The application is aimed at pig farmers, researchers and processors, and it maps the entire life cycle of the pig: from birth to the slaughterhouse and processing of the piece of meat. The application records data such as birth, genetics, gender, weaning, type of feed, but also any diseases, medications, causes of death and slaughter data.