Quantificação bioecônomica do impacto do bem-estar no desmame e final de creche de suínos

Abstract

Swine breeding is an activity of great economic importance for Brazilian agribusiness. However, it is observed that there is still potential for growth in activity both in the internal market and in the external one. In order to expand the chain, several techniques emerged which aimed to increase production, some of these techniques end up disrespecting some basic aspects of animal welfare. As a result, the main producers of pork for the external market need to achieve specific production criteria, to reach demanding markets and to avoid barriers towards the national product, the compliance of animal welfare regulations, anticipating and avoiding possible embargoes on national product. This study intends to collaborate with the development of a mathematical model oriented to simulation events, to assist decision making, making it possible to stipulate the economic impact on pig farms, through the current productive system replacement for that required by animal welfare rules. The weaning means the piglet separation from the sow, social group, environment where it is inserted and the main source of food, the milk. This early management tends to generate productivity losses, caused by the stressful load on the animal which is not psychologically and physiologically prepared. Since the pig’s digestive tract is not prepared for an exclusively solid diet, it may lead to important digestive and behavioral problems. The modeling has the purpose the data compilation of a certain system which may provide information to predict some situation, subsidizing decision making on the subject issued. The model was created to serve as a Decision Support System (DSS), directed to professionals or farmers with advanced knowledge, who act in swine breeding systems decision making. The weaning ages chosen for the analysis were 21, 28 and 35 days of age. The model was operated in a spreadsheet to facilitate understanding and it was divided into four interconnected modules (Food Systems Module, Installation Module, Animal Performance Module and Summary and Economic Analysis Module). The studied model allows interaction among the several evaluation criteria, where the weaning age influences on productive costs and revenues from the system, as well as the study of different production scenarios.