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In 1998 Mark Toleman completely redeveloped the PHOAC system for the CEFN group of companies. The redevelopment is based on a computerised system that has been in use for over 15 years.

PHOAC is a pig herd recording and management system providing flexible input and output facilities (including graphical trend analysis) for use by both commercial farmers and pig breeding concerns. Input is throughly checked for accuracy and consistency before being allowed into the system. Undo facilities allow operator errors to be corrected easily without resort to complex procedures for reversal of data.

PHOAC runs on a Windows 95/98/NT/XP platform using a Microsoft Access 97/2002/2003 database for storage of all data and parameters relevant to a farm or set of farms. Most similar systems utilise specialised file formats to hold all data, but by using a generic database (another database type could easily be substituted) ad hoc queries and reports, outside the normal set of PHOAC reports, may be generated with ease using the facilities available in the database system, including SQL. The system is extensive and comprehensive, yet easy to use, just ask the owners of the program at CEFN. For the technically minded, the system is written in Microsoft Visual Basic and utilises embedded-SQL queries for database access. There are over 80 screens and over 60,000 line of code.

PHOAC is fully integrated with PIGBlup, a genetic evaluation system for pigs, developed by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU). PHOAC is able to download and upload relevant breeding information, produced by PIGBlup, quickly and easily. It also has automated upload facilities for data collected and used in the Agrosoft system.

PHOAC can provide data, suitable for analysis using PrimePulse (previously PigPulse), production analysis software written by Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Pig Husbandry Branch and available by contacting Mark.Schuster at dpi.qld.gov.au or primepulse at dpi.qld.gov.au

If you want more information on PHOAC, contact Mark.Toleman at usq.edu.au