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An economic appraisal of pig improvement in Great Britain 2. Factors affecting estimated benefits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. Smith ,
A. Gibson  and
G. Mitchell
C. Smith
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
A. Gibson
Affiliation:
East of Scotland College of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
G. Mitchell
Affiliation:
Technological Economics Research Unit, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA
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Abstract

In a previous paper, pig improvement in Great Britain was assessed for the value of genetic improvements in growth-carcass traits. The benefits are substantial, estimated at €100 × 10 per year. Here, several factors that possibly affect these estimated benefits are examined. These include: 1. comparisons in production systems optimal to improved and to unimproved stocks; 2. interaction of station and farm performance; 3. changes in correlated traits, especially sow weight; and 4. uncertainty about future husbandry and marketing needs.

The conclusion is that, despite appreciable documentation and evaluation, and although the overall benefits are certainly large, there is room for uncertainty about the actual value of past pig improvement work in Great Britain.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , October 1982 , pp. 225 - 230
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1982

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References

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