Automatic weighing of fattening pigs: improved farm performance

Every decision a finisher pig farmer makes affects profitability. Feed, health, climate, genetics and daily management all influence the final result. But making the right decisions starts with having the right information. One of the most valuable indicators of how pigs are performing is their body weight. It reflects how well pigs respond to their feed, housing conditions and overall management.

Accurate weight information helps farmers determine when to switch feed phases, when pigs are ready for delivery and whether the production process is performing as expected. When weight data is only available occasionally, important changes in growth can go unnoticed for days or even weeks. Continuous automatic weighing changes this by providing accurate, up to date information every day. Instead of relying on estimates, farmers gain continuous insight into the performance of the entire group, allowing them to make better decisions throughout the production cycle.

Why manual weighing is no longer enough

For many years, manual weighing was the only way to monitor the growth of finisher pigs. Although it can provide useful information, it also has significant limitations. Manual weighing is labor intensive, time consuming and is a stressful event for the animals. The information gathered from weighing the animal manually is lost in growth for that day because of the stress created. Even more importantly, manual weighing only provides a snapshot of growth. Between weighing moments, changes caused by health problems, feed quality, climate or management can easily remain unnoticed. Handling pigs also creates unnecessary stress for both animals and farm staff. As labor becomes increasingly scarce and farms continue to grow in size, producers need a more efficient and reliable way to monitor performance without creating stress for the animals.

eYeGrow: continuous automatic weighing for finisher pigs

Fancom’s eYegrow is a good example of a 3D camera-based weighing system that automatically monitors the weight and growth of finisher pigs without handling the animals. Installed above the pen, the camera continuously records pigs and calculates their weight with 98% accuracy for pigs between 25 and 130 kg. The 3D and Infrared technology are accurate under all circumstances, even measuring in the dark and measuring black or spotted pigs. The measurement data is stored in de cloud and is available 24/7 and gives continuous insight into average growth per pen.

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From weighing pigs to managing performance

Continuous automatic weighing changes the way farmers manage their pigs. Instead of relying on estimations or occasional manual measurements, the system continuously records the weight of pigs as they move naturally through the barn. This creates a constant stream of reliable growth data without interrupting daily routines or handling the animals. The greatest benefit is not simply knowing the weight of the pigs. It is understanding how they are growing. Growth slowdowns are often one of the first signs that something has changed, whether it is a health issue, reduced feed or water intake, or less than optimal climate conditions. By detecting these changes early, farmers can investigate the cause and take corrective action before production results are affected.

Because the system collects thousands of weight measurements over time, it provides a much more reliable picture of the entire group than manual sampling. Farmers can follow growth trends day by day, accurately predict when pigs will reach market weight and evaluate the impact of management decisions.

Feeding based on facts, not estimates

Feed is by far the largest cost in finisher pig production, making efficient feeding essential for profitability. To achieve the best results, pigs should receive the right diet at the right stage of growth. Yet many farms still switch feed phases based on the age of the pigs, even though growth rates can vary considerably due to genetics, health, housing conditions and management.

Continuous weight monitoring allows farmers to adjust feed curves and switch feed phases based on the actual weight of the pigs rather than estimates. This ensures that pigs receive the nutrients they need at the right moment, preventing both underfeeding and overfeeding. The result is improved feed conversion, lower feed costs and better overall performance.

Selling pigs at the right time

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Knowing exactly when pigs have reached their target market weight has a direct impact on profitability. Pigs that are marketed too early may not have reached their full growth potential, while overweight pigs can lead to financial penalties or reduced returns.

Continuous weighing gives farmers a clear picture of how quickly their pigs are growing and accurately predict when they will reach the desired market weight. This makes it easier to schedule transport, plan barn occupancy and coordinate deliveries with the slaughterhouse.

Turning data into better decisions

True value of continuous weighing goes far beyond measuring body weight. Over multiple production rounds, the system builds a valuable database that helps farmers continuously improve their results.

Growth performance can be compared across different genetics, feed programs, seasons, barns, ventilation strategies and health interventions. This allows farmers to identify which management practices deliver the best results and use these insights to optimize future production cycles.

Weight data becomes even more valuable when it is combined with other farm information such as feed intake, water consumption, climate conditions, ventilation settings, mortality and health records. Instead of looking at individual data points, farmers gain a complete picture of what is happening inside the barn and why pigs are growing the way they are.

This transforms data into actionable insights that support better decisions every day.

Supporting data driven farming

Modern livestock farming increasingly relies on objective data rather than assumptions. Continuous weight monitoring provides farmers with accurate, up to date information about the growth of their pigs, allowing them to make decisions based on facts instead of estimates.

By tracking real growth data, monitoring daily trends and using reliable predictions of future weights, farmers can respond more quickly to changing conditions and optimize their management strategies. Rather than reacting when problems become visible, they can identify deviations early and intervene before performance is affected.

The result is measurable improvements in growth, feed efficiency, uniformity and overall farm profitability. Continuous weighing has become an essential management tool for data driven pig farming.

Looking ahead

Automatic weighing has evolved far beyond simply measuring the weight of pigs. It has become an essential source of information that supports better management decisions throughout the entire production cycle.

As livestock farming continues to embrace digitalization, continuous weight monitoring will play an increasingly important role in the smart farm of the future. Combined with artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, weight data will not only show how pigs are growing today but will also help predict future performance and identify potential problems before they affect production.

Intelligent software will increasingly support farmers with automated recommendations for feed adjustments, marketing decisions and health interventions. By integrating weight information with climate, feeding and health data, farms will benefit from more advanced decision support, allowing producers to improve efficiency while using fewer resources.

Automatic weighing is no longer just a way to measure pigs. It is a way to manage them. As technology continues to evolve, continuous weight monitoring will become an indispensable part of sustainable, profitable and data driven pig production.

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Fancom introduced one of the first commercial camera-based pig weighing systems, eYeScan, in 2010. Since then, continuous camera-based weighing has evolved into a proven livestock farming technology using 3D depth cameras combined with artificial intelligence. Modern systems such as Fancom’s eYeGrow provide farmers with continuous insights into growth, uniformity and production performance.

The concept of continuous camera-based weighing is well supported by scientific research. Recent independent studies have confirmed that modern 3D camera systems provide reliable weight estimates and valuable continuous growth information for commercial pig production. The real value of camera-based weighing is not that one measurement is slightly more accurate than another. The real value lies in collecting thousands of measurements over time, allowing farmers to monitor growth continuously and make better management decisions.

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