“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”- a new online benchmarking programme designed to help pig producers in Wales manage their business

Are you interested in benchmarking your pig business to improve performance.?

Menter Moch Cymru and Farming Connect have come together to expand the current Measure to Manage online benchmarking programme, so for the first-time pig keepers in Wales can access their own bilingual free benchmarking tool to help achieve continuous improvement.

Measure to Manage is a computer programme that has been specifically designed so that it can be used by pig producers in Wales to benchmark their business and involves recording their inputs, outputs and herd performance for a specified year.

The analysis of the business depends on collecting both physical and financial data from the farm records and inputting it into the computer programme which then does an analysis based on key performances indicators (KPI’s). Doing this makes it possible to compare how you perform against others or how you have performed year on year.

The programme is designed for all types of pig keepers including those that breed and finish their own pigs, those that buy piglets in to finish, those that breed and sell the piglets at weaning or a combination of all these systems.

For the breeding herd the KPI’s include, for example, farrowing rates, non-productive days and the number of piglets born, weaned and sold. The finisher section analysis includes, daily liveweight gain, average days to finish, feed conversion ratio. Both provide details of feed usage, herd gross margin, variable and overhead cost analysis.

Menter Moch Cymru have also designed a data collection book to facilitate the process of inputting the data into the programme. The layout of the booklet mirrors the pages of the Measure to Manage programme making the transfer from book to computer an easy step.

Eirwen Williams, Head of Rural Programmes for Menter a Busnes said:

“Recording performance information, and comparing with other similar businesses, helps you see clearly how well your business is doing.
“The user-friendly Measure to Manage system includes step-by-step data collection fields

which make it easier to record information in bite-sized chunks.

“Comparing your performance against these figures will help you identify specific strengths and weaknesses in your business and highlight areas for improvement to help you increase the productivity and profitability of your business,” she added.

Melanie Cargill Menter Moch Cymru Project Manager said: “The benchmarking programme is a fantastic tool for all pig producers in Wales and it is a unique way of monitoring your businesses and at the same time comparing your business with other similar businesses.

“If you are interested and would like to discuss the benchmarking programme please visit us at the Menter Moch Cymru or Farming Connect stands in the Livestock Balcony at the Winter Fair.”

Menter Moch Cymru is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.