John Carr, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, an international independent consultant in pig industry

Most producers will buy semen or make semen doses all by themselves to get their sows and gilts pregnant. But there is a major concern — the price we pay for the semen bottle/flatpack. Is this rational? We should value the price of semen by the results, that we get from its’ using.

Most producers will buy semen only to get their sows and gilts pregnant — but the reality is they are going to get pregnant anyway, whatever type of semen we use or the price we pay, and we have to use something to get them pregnant. AI is much cheaper than a natural mating. So breeding should not be the primary reason for the price of semen.

We should be buying semen for the finishing pig, namely in terms of the food conversion capability, conformation of the finishing pig — P₂, lean meat % and meat quality.

Breeding success is inevitable we must start concentrating only on the result of the production!

Тhe same regards to the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). If we assume that by doubling the value of the semen we purchase we can reduce the FCR by only 0.1 from birth to slaughter, (discuss with your genetic company) the typical 20 sow a week batch farm can reduce costs by nearly £15000 a year more than a £1.20 per pig sold!

1. How to calculate the cost of fertilization to improve the FCR?

2. Why use more expensive semen to increase the number of weaners?

3. When is the success inevitable?

You can find answers for these and other questions in the full version of the article in the magazine «Profitable Pig Production», № 2 (20) 2014.