Case Study: Impact of Out-of-Feed Events on Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

By
Jim Eadie
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Overview

In a study conducted from July 2022 to August 2023, 200 BinSentry sensors were installed across 28 Hanor sites, monitoring 100 hog barns. This initiative observed 195 groups totaling 234,000 finished pigs, aiming to understand how out-of-feed events impact feed conversion ratios (FCR) and uncover root causes of these events.

Key Findings

  • Primary Cause of Out-of-Feed Events: Nearly 80% of out-of-feed hours stemmed from slide management issues rather than empty feed bins. While feed was available on-site, poor management of manual bin slides prevented it from reaching the animals.
  • Correlation with FCR: Sites experiencing greater out-of-feed hours—whether due to slide management or empty bins—had higher FCR scores, indicating reduced feed efficiency.
  • Financial Impact: Outages impacted FCR by 7 basis points, adding a cost of $3.15 per pig, or approximately $4,441.50 per barn annually. A Hanor-wide FCR improvement of 0.033, achieved by reducing FCR by 0.07 basis points in 47% of their groups, could save over $1,700 per group.

Detailed Insights

  1. Understanding Out-of-Feed Events:
    • A consistent feed supply is essential for optimal productivity. Yet, without real-time monitoring, nearly 80% of out-of-feed events went undetected due to inadequate slide management.
  2. Study Background:
    • This study involved BinSentry’s partnership with Hanor, one of North America’s largest pork producers, with over 650 employees across seven states.
  3. FCR Outcomes by Out-of-Feed Hours:
    • Analysis from September 2022 to December 2023 showed that sites with higher out-of-feed hours recorded elevated FCR scores. Sites with fewer than 50 out-of-feed hours averaged an FCR of 2.87, while those with over 150 hours saw an FCR of 3.01.
  4. Actionable Solutions:
    • BinSentry’s sensors offer real-time monitoring and alerts, enabling swift corrections to issues like slide mismanagement, thus helping producers reduce FCR impact.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that addressing the root causes of out-of-feed events, particularly through slide management, can significantly improve FCR. By using BinSentry’s monitoring and alert systems, producers can proactively prevent feed disruptions, optimize feed conversion, and enhance profitability across operations.

Download the complete study here

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