full precision farming presentation sept 2011

Precision FarmingPrecision Farming

““A Producers Perspective 02-08”A Producers Perspective 02-08”Greg Ludvigsen.Greg Ludvigsen.


Precision farming applied to Intensive Precision farming applied to Intensive Livestock production is simply farming more Livestock production is simply farming more precisely through monitoring and controlling precisely through monitoring and controlling production in Real-Timeproduction in Real-TimeMaximize production while minimizing inputs Maximize production while minimizing inputs and waste to produce exactly what the and waste to produce exactly what the consumer wants.consumer wants.It is the future of agriculture. If you don’t It is the future of agriculture. If you don’t adopt it, and soon, you will struggle to adopt it, and soon, you will struggle to compete in the next decade.compete in the next decade.


I designed Target Hill in 2002 with I designed Target Hill in 2002 with Precision Farming technologies in mind.Precision Farming technologies in mind.We planned to eventually automatically We planned to eventually automatically monitor each key parameter in real time monitor each key parameter in real time and take corrective action in real time and take corrective action in real time without human intervention.without human intervention.We planned to do it simply and efficiently We planned to do it simply and efficiently by linking existing technologiesby linking existing technologies


Precision Farming is talked about around Precision Farming is talked about around the world by the pig industry.the world by the pig industry.It is a popular topic of discussion by our It is a popular topic of discussion by our friends and associates in the USA, UK and friends and associates in the USA, UK and Europe.Europe.We hope the Intellectual Property We hope the Intellectual Property generated at this site can still have great generated at this site can still have great benefits to the world pig industrybenefits to the world pig industry

Precision Farming at Target HillPrecision Farming at Target Hill


Each building is designed for 1200 pigs Each building is designed for 1200 pigs born on the same day.born on the same day.Computerized, demand (ad-lib) and Computerized, demand (ad-lib) and phased liquid feedingphased liquid feedingFully slatted floorFully slatted floorTunnel ventilated (temperature controlled)Tunnel ventilated (temperature controlled)Computerized auto weigh- auto sortComputerized auto weigh- auto sortAuto dialer for alerting staff of alarmsAuto dialer for alerting staff of alarms


Pigs arrived at 10 weeks of age and varied Pigs arrived at 10 weeks of age and varied from 25-35kg because of two different from 25-35kg because of two different weaning accommodationsweaning accommodationsAfter 5 days training pigs sorted After 5 days training pigs sorted themselves into five weight based groupsthemselves into five weight based groupsWeighed themselves 3 times per day as Weighed themselves 3 times per day as they went to feedthey went to feedFed according to weight not ageFed according to weight not age

Pen design at Target HillPen design at Target Hill

We developed pen design on observing We developed pen design on observing pig behaviour.pig behaviour.

• Large group size (100) eliminates Large group size (100) eliminates hierarchy aggression on mixing hierarchy aggression on mixing

• Pigs are intelligent and will quickly work Pigs are intelligent and will quickly work out path to feed out path to feed

• Pigs can be attracted to feed area and Pigs can be attracted to feed area and lying areas by clever designlying areas by clever design

Pen design at Target Hill Pen design at Target Hill

• Weigh/sort scales are a fear pointWeigh/sort scales are a fear point• Forcing pigs through weigh sort scales is Forcing pigs through weigh sort scales is

counter productivecounter productive• Let them teach themselves before system Let them teach themselves before system

turned onturned on• Feed is reward for navigating scale.Feed is reward for navigating scale.• Navigating path to feed is enriching Navigating path to feed is enriching

behaviourbehaviour

Pen design at Target HillPen design at Target Hill

• Large pen size allows pigs to exhibit Large pen size allows pigs to exhibit normal behavioursnormal behaviours

• Choose their preferred laying area (cooler, Choose their preferred laying area (cooler, warmer, less traffic)warmer, less traffic)

• Avoid aggressive pen matesAvoid aggressive pen mates

Pen layoutPen layout

Runt(free

access)

SmallMedium Light

Heavy Medium

Heavy/Market

Preferred layout of a 1200-head barn. Preferred layout of a 1200-head barn. Three 2-way Auto Weigh Sorters, free Three 2-way Auto Weigh Sorters, free access runt pen, minimal space feed courtaccess runt pen, minimal space feed court

Variation Variation

The following histogram drawn by the The following histogram drawn by the Osborne scale daily shows the variation Osborne scale daily shows the variation between two pens sharing the same weigh between two pens sharing the same weigh scale.scale.It demonstrates how little variation we had It demonstrates how little variation we had between pensbetween pensThe couple of outliers needed to be shiftedThe couple of outliers needed to be shifted

Entrance to scaleEntrance to scale

Conventional pig nutritionConventional pig nutritionIn normal pig production the nutrition of every In normal pig production the nutrition of every growing pig is compromised along its growth growing pig is compromised along its growth curve.curve.Typical feed regimes involve stepped diets fed to Typical feed regimes involve stepped diets fed to an entire group of pigs for a 2-4 week period an entire group of pigs for a 2-4 week period based on their age which is used as an estimate based on their age which is used as an estimate of weight.of weight.There is a huge variation of weight (& therefore There is a huge variation of weight (& therefore nutritional requirement) in pigs of the same age.nutritional requirement) in pigs of the same age.The result is excess fat, wasted energy, slow The result is excess fat, wasted energy, slow growth, environmental issues and loss of profitgrowth, environmental issues and loss of profit

Feeding philosophyFeeding philosophy

Pigs traditionally fed according to age Pigs traditionally fed according to age compromise every pig throughout the compromise every pig throughout the growth phase and sends excess nutrient growth phase and sends excess nutrient into effluent streams.into effluent streams.Also accentuates VARIATION and causes Also accentuates VARIATION and causes SORT LOSS at sale.SORT LOSS at sale.Consider pigs have normal distribution of Consider pigs have normal distribution of weightweight


We wanted to feed every pig according to We wanted to feed every pig according to their weighttheir weightTherefore we needed to be able to feed Therefore we needed to be able to feed each pen a different diet that could be each pen a different diet that could be automatically changed each day as their automatically changed each day as their weight increased. And we wanted to do weight increased. And we wanted to do this with liquid feeding for all its extra this with liquid feeding for all its extra benefits.benefits.


We designed a two feed philosophy where We designed a two feed philosophy where different combinations of the two feeds different combinations of the two feeds could be supplied as the pigs gained could be supplied as the pigs gained weightweightFeed A designed for the lightest pigsFeed A designed for the lightest pigsFeed B designed for the heaviest pigsFeed B designed for the heaviest pigsAll pigs fed the combination of A & B All pigs fed the combination of A & B correct for their weightcorrect for their weight

Feed KitchenFeed Kitchen

Survey ScaleSurvey Scale

Entrance to survey scaleEntrance to survey scale

Precision FarmingPrecision FarmingUnder our Precision Farming model we were Under our Precision Farming model we were able to monitor growth and have the pigs sort able to monitor growth and have the pigs sort themselves into fast growers (20%), standard themselves into fast growers (20%), standard growers (70%) and slow growers (10%) using growers (70%) and slow growers (10%) using the Osborne Auto-Weigh/Sort scale.the Osborne Auto-Weigh/Sort scale.Our Hampshire Liquid Phase Feeding system Our Hampshire Liquid Phase Feeding system then allowed us to feed each group the correct then allowed us to feed each group the correct feed and energy ration for their weight.feed and energy ration for their weight.The average weight of each group was collected The average weight of each group was collected daily and was used to correct the feed mix to daily and was used to correct the feed mix to suit the average weight of each groupsuit the average weight of each group


The other key parameters of growth and The other key parameters of growth and profit are temperature, humidity, CO2, profit are temperature, humidity, CO2, NH3, wind speed, dust. NH3, wind speed, dust. We planned to monitor these in real time We planned to monitor these in real time to drive the ventilation controller to help to drive the ventilation controller to help bring these parameters to the optimum for bring these parameters to the optimum for pig comfort and growthpig comfort and growth

Growth patternsGrowth patterns

The graph in the previous slide was a The graph in the previous slide was a constant in our piggery.constant in our piggery.The lighter pigs grew at the same rate as the The lighter pigs grew at the same rate as the medium and fast growing pigs EVERY medium and fast growing pigs EVERY TIME.TIME.Runts at arrival lost pot belly and hairiness Runts at arrival lost pot belly and hairiness in 7 days on higher ration proving runts are in 7 days on higher ration proving runts are simply suffering malnutrition on age based simply suffering malnutrition on age based dietsdiets

Precision MarketingPrecision Marketing

Marketing animals at the correct weight and Marketing animals at the correct weight and P2 is necessary to achieve the optimum grid P2 is necessary to achieve the optimum grid pricepriceContinuous passive weigh-sorting allowed Continuous passive weigh-sorting allowed pigs to be sold at precise weights to pigs to be sold at precise weights to minimize sort-loss (over and under weights) minimize sort-loss (over and under weights) and minimize days on feedand minimize days on feedAvoiding pigs in penalty has a huge impact Avoiding pigs in penalty has a huge impact on your bottom lineon your bottom line

Precision MarketingPrecision Marketing

The accuracy of having 95% of all pigs in a The accuracy of having 95% of all pigs in a 5kg range marketed every time has huge 5kg range marketed every time has huge implications for the bottom line of a piggery implications for the bottom line of a piggery and its processorand its processorOur system involved no human labour. Our system involved no human labour. We simply emptied the market pen on the We simply emptied the market pen on the truck, reset the sort weight on the scale and truck, reset the sort weight on the scale and 4 hours later pigs for next market were 4 hours later pigs for next market were waiting to gowaiting to go

Data collectionData collection

We set up spreadsheet to produce ADG, We set up spreadsheet to produce ADG, Feed conversion for each batch.Feed conversion for each batch.Our vision was to have this process built in Our vision was to have this process built in to the intelligent control of AUSPIGto the intelligent control of AUSPIG

FEED CONSUMPTION BOTH TANKSTROUGH KG LIQUID FEED KG DRY MATTER

36 36381 768035 17310 365434 51748 1092533 19635 414532 12803 270331 24902 525730 54418 1148829 37123 783728 12669 2675

TOTAL: 266989 56364Get KG Liquid Feed from Pen data (Total Both Tanks) after shed close-out

Feed conversion ratio 2.07

CALCULATING AVERAGE DAILY GAIN

Average Date In 10-Dec

Average Date Sold 26-Jan

Average Days to Sale 47

Gm/Day

Average Daily Gain 747

PORK ROYAL BATCH: 39

No. pigs inLW Weight Start kg Avg LW In

771 22797 29.56No. Deaths Weight deaths kg Avg Wt Dead

43 800No. Remaining Est LW to Sell kg*

Avg LW Pigs Remaining

0 0 0

number sold LW weight Sold kg Avg LW Pigs Sold728 49239 67.6

*Get Avg LW Pigs Remaining from Market Scale in Daily One Weigh Software

Live Weight Gain 27242 Feed Recipe KG

Meal** 190

Water** 710

Recipe %DM 4.7368

** Get from Hampshire Feed Manager


Each equipment controller was connected Each equipment controller was connected to a central PC with Remote Access.to a central PC with Remote Access.We could access our farm from anywhere We could access our farm from anywhere in the world with Internet accessin the world with Internet accessIf we had a breakdown an alarm output If we had a breakdown an alarm output triggered an auto-dialer to ring a string of triggered an auto-dialer to ring a string of peoplepeople

Precision Farming - The Next StepPrecision Farming - The Next Step

Develop a Central Data Warehouse Develop a Central Data Warehouse collecting & processing live data from each collecting & processing live data from each equipment controller so that all production equipment controller so that all production parameters can be measured & adjustedparameters can be measured & adjusted““Auspig” to be developed into a Real Time Auspig” to be developed into a Real Time Decision Maker to monitor and control Decision Maker to monitor and control these production parameters based on these production parameters based on economics and best scienceeconomics and best science

Precision Farming - The Next StepPrecision Farming - The Next Step

Incorporate post production data (ie Incorporate post production data (ie Carcass Data & Traits, FCR) and have Carcass Data & Traits, FCR) and have that change the diet to influence that change the diet to influence production parameters.production parameters.Extend into farrowingExtend into farrowingExtend into weaningExtend into weaning

Weaner accommodationWeaner accommodation

Weaner AccommodationWeaner Accommodation

Plastic floor, no dung Plastic floor, no dung Temperature controlled (28c)Temperature controlled (28c)Feeders, water everywhereFeeders, water everywhereLarge groups (>100) reduce fighting on Large groups (>100) reduce fighting on mixing and the group remains stable.mixing and the group remains stable.Freedom of movement, able to choose Freedom of movement, able to choose their own environmenttheir own environment

Weaner Precision FarmingWeaner Precision Farming

Towards the end we saw the need to Towards the end we saw the need to extend Precision feeding to our weaners.extend Precision feeding to our weaners.We divided them into three weight groupsWe divided them into three weight groupsLarge, medium and smallLarge, medium and smallWe fed them according to their weight and We fed them according to their weight and experienced similar improvement.experienced similar improvement.We did not use weigh sort but simply We did not use weigh sort but simply formed groups of 300-750-300formed groups of 300-750-300

Weaner House SocomWeaner House Socom

full precision farming presentation sept 2011

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