Economic assessment of pig meat processing and cutting production by simulation

Abstract

This paper presents the development and adoption of a discrete event simulation model of a pig meat-packing plant located in Navarre (Spain). The simulation model was developed to represent all the tasks and pig meat cuts production performed in the plant and implemented in ExtendSim™ 9.2. The development was incremental as the whole model was made of different sub-models focused in different products as for example ham, ribbon or sirloin. The main utility of the proposed model was the economic assessment of pig meat processing and cutting production. Pietrain breed presented more homogeneity and a better performance than Large White breed at equal price of the same products. In addition, even the ham is the most important cut, the loin and the bacon showed the best relative economic value with 52–53 % and 44–45 %, respectively, depending on the breed.