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The determination of beginning‐ and end‐of‐period live weights of growing pigs
Author(s) -
Schofield C Patrick,
Whittemore Colin T,
Green Darren M,
Pascual Mariam D
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.1247
Subject(s) - extrapolation , body weight , statistics , scale (ratio) , zoology , weight change , mathematics , environmental science , computer science , weight loss , biology , geography , obesity , cartography , endocrinology
Optimisation of meat production systems depends upon accurate performance assessment. Weigh platforms in electronic feeding stations allow continuous monitoring of individual pig weight change. Such a system was compared with a conventional mechanical scale with the general result: feeding station weight (kg) = 1.02 (0.010) scale weight − 1.65 (0.766). As compared with the conventional scale measurement at start and at finish of test, back extrapolation of daily weights collected over time in electronic feeding stations may give an improved estimate of start weight, and forward extrapolation an improved estimate of final weight. Regression predictions suggest this to be the case for final weight, but for start weight both systems are open to error due to variation in weight in the early days of test. However, such variation (and its diagnostic utility) is only observable with a system that continuously monitors weight. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry