From research to farm: ex ante evaluation of strategic deworming in pig finishing

• Published in: Veterinární medicína 2010-01, Vol.55 (10), p.483-493
• Main Authors: Van Meensel, J.,Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Merelbeke (Belgium), Kanora, A.,Moldergem 65, Zwalm (Belgium), Lauwers, L.,Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Merelbeke (Belgium), Jourquin, J.,Janssen Animal Health, Beerse (Belgium), Goossens, L.,Janssen Animal Health, Beerse (Belgium), Van Huylenbroeck, G.,Ghent Univ. (Belgium)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ANALISIS MICROECONOMICO; ANALYSE MICROECONOMIQUE; ASCARIS SUUM; BENEFICIO BRUTO; BUDGET; Budgeting; BUDGETS; CANAL ANIMAL; CARCASSE; CARCASSES; CARGAS VARIABLES; CERDO; CHARGE VARIABLE; Economics; EFFICACITE; EFFICACITE CONVERSION ALIMENTAIRE; EFFICIENCY; EFICACIA; EFICIENCIA DE CONVERSION DEL PIENSO; ENFERMEDADES PARASITARIAS; ENGORDE; ENGRAISSEMENT; Environmental effects; Environmental impact; Environmental performance; Farms; FATTENING; FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY; frontier analysis; GAIN DE POIDS; GANANCIA DE PESO; GROSS MARGINS; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1134; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1310; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16125; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24851; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2491; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_25690; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2817; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_28733; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_31001; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4945; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5574; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5579; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6198; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7555; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7715; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8350; MARGE BRUTE; MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS; MORTALIDAD; MORTALITE; MORTALITY; Nutrient balance; Optimization; PARASITE; PARASITES; PARASITOS; PARASITOSE; PARASITOSES; partial budgeting; pig finishing; PORCIN; PRECIO AL PRODUCTOR; PRESUPUESTO; PRIX A LA PRODUCTION; PRODUCER PRICES; Spreadsheets; Statistical analysis; strategic deworming; SWINE; Systems analysis; TERAPIA; THERAPEUTIQUE; THERAPY; VARIABLE COSTS; WEIGHT GAIN
• ISSN: 0375-8427; 1805-9392
• DOI: 10.17221/2940-VETMED

This paper upgrades generic and partial information from parasitological research for farm-specific decision support, using two methods from managerial sciences: partial budgeting and frontier analysis. The analysis focuses on strategic deworming in pig finishing and assesses both effects on economic performance and nutrient efficiency. The application of partial budgeting and frontier analysis is based on a production-theoretical system analysis which is necessary to integrate parasitological research results to assess aggregate economic and environmental impacts. Results show that both statistically significant and insignificant parasitological research results have to be taken into account. Partial budgeting and frontier analysis appear to be complementary methods: partial budgeting yields more discriminatory and communicative results, while frontier methods provide additional diagnostics through exploring optimization possibilities and economic-environmental trade-offs. Strategic deworming results in a win-win effect on economic and environmental performances. Gross margin increases with 3 to 12 Euros per average finisher per year, depending on the cyclic pig price conditions. The impact on the nutrient balance ranges from +0.2 to -0.5 kg nitrogen per average finisher per year. The observed efficiency improvements are mainly technical. Further economic and environmental optimizations can be achieved through input re-allocation. A user-friendly spreadsheet is provided to translate the generic experimental information to farm-specific conditions.