Data mining is retrieving information from large databases. It can be used to predict trends and find behaviours that can be valuable to improving business. An example of how this can be used in the pig industry is the relationship between age of the pigs and H. parasuis diagnosis, or if culling reasons consistent among herds within a large system? Histograms can be used to show whether a measure is “normally” distributed. If a measurement is to be broken down into categories, pivot charts and tables in Microsoft Excel are useful (PigCHAMP is also capable of information breakdown). A line chart is good for observing something over time and for predicting something into the future. Other useful methods include decision analysis, analysis of variability (“risk analysis”), and optimization routines.