The profitability of P.G. 600® in well managed sow herd

Abstract

Adequate results in reproduction are one of the key points for successful pig production. P.G. 600^®, a combination of pregnant mare serum gonadotropine and human chorionic gonadotropine is used as oestrus promoter on many pig farms. The profitability of P.G. 600^® treatment was tested on primiparous sows on well managed farm with 2.500 sows and 14.04 liveborn piglets per litter. The experiment lasted for a period of one year. The experimental group, 502 animals, was treated with P.G. 600^® at weaning of the first litter. Control group, 503 animals, was not treated. Data were evaluated according to four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The costs of feed, sow depreciation, building, labour and P.G. 600^® treatment in experimental group were calculated for the period from weaning to successful insemination or from weaning to culling. In P.G. 600^® group production costs were lower in spring (−0.68 EUR per born piglet) and in summer (−0.88 EUR per born piglet), but not in autumn (+0.05 EUR per born piglet) and in winter (+0.46 EUR per born piglet). The calculated total benefit on the farm with yearly production of 65 thousand 30 kg pigs was 3,249 EUR. Calculated benefit for only spring and summer use was 4.937 EUR. The last number represents only 0.15 to 0.19% of estimated turnover of the farm. The use of P.G. 600^® on well managed farm will not increase profitability of production.