Podcast: The right KPIs for swine systems

The Real P3 podcast series is an initiative where pork professionals from around the globe share their thoughts, insights and solutions to their day-to-day challenges in the pig farming and production industry.

Tascón has over 30 years of experience in the pig industry from being a pig producer to becoming a veterinarian to being appointed as the CEO of the Colombian Swine Association. Over the last 20 years, he has been involved in software aimed at helping farmers to make better decisions using data. This is his current role with AgriVision.

Viewing the complete pig system

Dr Casey questions if producers are looking at profitability as they should be and asks for Tascón’s thoughts on KPIs and what pig producers might be missing.

“We are using the same measurements as we did 30 years ago, but the pig industry has changed a lot,” says Tascón, adding, “the first thing we must change from a focus on independent events to a focus on the complete system.”

Moving away from meauring silos

Today, he says, the information systems are databases that give results of what has already happened but are unable to anticipate or make better decisions for the future. But, he says, things change every day and these changes all play a role and must be considered.

He talks about the importance of moving away from measuring silos of information to having an overview of the complete system, and to better understand and predict how each decision impacts the complete system and overall goals. It is for this reason that he urges that each farm be considered individually.

Tascón touches on investments made by pig producers and discusses the importance of making the right decision.

Earlier episodes of the Real P3 podcast series

Pig Progress has published numerous episodes of the Real P3 podcast series, with the most recent being the following:

• Episode 30: Katherine Marcano-Bell; Iowa, USA;
• Episode 31: Johann Kotzé, South Africa;
• Episode 32: Jon Hoek, USA;
• Episode 33: Dr Casey Bradley (USA) and Philip van der Brink (the Netherlands);
• Episode 34: Dr Arlene Garcia (USA);
• Episode 35: Dr Casey Bradley (USA), Colin Twomey (Ireland), JP Martineau (Canada), Megan Edwards (Vietnam), and Philip van der Brink (the Netherlands);
• Episode 36: David Henman, Australia;
• Episode 37: Dr Casey Bradley (USA).