Measuring Variability of Performance Among Individual Swine Producers

Quarterly performance data of swine producers were analyzed to determine variability of productivity and economic factors. Means of performance measures for the top, middle, and bottom producer groups were different, but the variances were not. Variability of productivity measures was greater across producers than for most individual producers over time. Producers' relative rankings on performance measures exhibited considerable stability. Of the factors considered, feed efficiency and pigs sold per sow per year had the largest effects on returns to management and labor. Variability in pork production is quite different from crop production, and this has implications for producers, those working with producers, and researchers.