Swine Modeling: An Integrated Approach to Providing Complete Nutritional Solutions

Swine growth models, which predict the responses of pigs to nutrient inputs, have evolved considerably since Whittemore and Fawcett (1976) and Emmans (1981) published the first conceptual frameworks. A proposed integrated model that encompasses three components including a stochastic animal growth model, least cost formulation and an optimization algorithm has been developed and applied in commercial practice. The animal model introduces genetic variation to facilitate the prediction of individual animals and is essential for accurate nutritional optimization as well as for shipping management. The animal growth model is based on the theory that individual animals desire to eat and grow to their genetic potential but are constrained by physical capacity, dietary inadequacies, and environmental limitations, which inhibit the realization of this potential. Simulating individual animals within a population provides the opportunity to integrate the ability of an individual animal to cope with social stressors as well as the interaction between genetics, environment and health status to accurately predict their potential and actual feed intakes and growth rates. The optimization process is based on a genetic algorithm that combines the following: 1) ingredients and diet costs; 2) animal responses particularly feed intake; 3) variation in responses between individual animals; 4) variable and fixed production costs; and 5) a defined revenue generating process (e.g. grading grid).

The proposed integrated model incorporates a wide spectrum of nutritional and management processes that empower pork producers to make meaningful production decisions. This presentation will focus on the integration of two key components: health and social stressors, within the biological framework and provide examples of commercial applications.