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Geneticist launches new pig management consultancy
Pigs
The new consultancy will offer a range of efficiency-enhancing services to pig producers both in the UK and overseas.
Data recording service ensures herds are well managed

A new genetic and pig management consultancy has launched in East Yorkshire to provide a range of efficiency-enhancing services to pig producers both in the UK and overseas.

The aim of the company, Data to Decisions Ltd, is to assist with recording, retrieving, interpreting, and managing data for both commercial and pedigree breeders to ensure herds are well managed for optimum performance.

A key component of the service is PigCom - an electronic recording service which analyses production data and presents it in an understandable format.

The service enables trends in key performance indicators, such as changes in farrowing rate, to be identifies to allow informed management decision-making. It also helps producers evaluate breeding stock from different sources or changes to service routines during on-farm trials.

The consultancy is owned by geneticist Ed Sutcliffe said, who gained an MSc in animal breeding with distinction at Edinburgh University.   

Commenting on his unique mix of skills, Ed said:  “There are people working in software development who have a background in animal breeding/genetics and developers who have practical pig knowledge but few have all three.

“Herd owners – and their advisers – need to know what is actually happening, rather than what they think is happening, and identify trends to make effective decisions. This means having robust data in a format which lends itself to analysis and the ability to interrogate data to improve herd performance and profitability.

"In conjunction to genetic improvement companies, many large commercial herds breed their own replacements and need to manage their data and genetic resources proficiently."

The company already provides services to herds in Asia and the European mainland.

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FIVP announces third series of Practice Matters

News Story 1
 The Federation of Independent Veterinary practices (FIVP) has announced a third season of its podcast, Practice Matters.

Hosted by Ian Wolstenholme, series three will focus on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, including a discussion about some of the expected impacts on independent veterinary colleagues.

Episode one launches on 13th January with guests Drs David Reader and Scott Summers, who will draw on their research into the CMA investigation and provide insights into themes such as transparency, pricing and consumer trust.

Ian Wolstenholme said: "In its third series, we will try and hone in on what the changes will mean in reality for independent practices with advice and guidance on implementation and delivery, drawing on the experience of our own team and other experts in the profession. Hope you can join us soon!" 

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News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk