Pig performance – aim high to cut costs of production

Rearing and Finishing herds

Rearing performance for the 12 months to the end of March 2022 (2022 Q1) in the key areas of feed conversion ratio and daily liveweight gain were similar to the end of December 2021, although mortality decreased from 4.05% to 3.93%.

Finishing performance for the 12 months to the end of March 2022 (2022 Q1) in the key areas of feed conversion ratio and daily liveweight gain improved slightly compared to the end of December 2021, although mortality increased from 3.87% to 4.04%.  

There was a much greater difference between the average performance and the pigs in the Top 10% group ranked by Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR).

For rearing stages, the average FCR was 1.85 compared to the Top 10% at 1.43. Daily liveweight gain average was 480g per day compared to the Top 10% FCR piglets achieving 456g per day, and average mortality was 3.93% compared to the Top 10% FCR piglets achieving 4.71%.

For finishing stages, the average FCR was 2.79 compared to the Top 10% at 2.06. Daily liveweight gain average was 859g per day compared to the Top 10% FCR pigs achieving 838g per day, and average mortality was 4.04% compared to the Top 10% FCR pigs achieving 3.05%.

If all pigs in GB had performed equivalent to the pigs in the Top 10% FCR group, this would have had a significant impact on the cost of producing a kg of pork. At April feed prices, the cost of production could have reduced by 38p per deadweight kg.

Of course, in reality it is not as simple as this; with variations in farm resources and skills, and a variation in the feeds sourced and their quality, all impacting actual FCR performance and actual individual farm costs.

Breeding Herd

Breeding herd performance for both indoor and outdoor sows for the 12 months to the end of March 2022 (2022 Q1) in the key areas of litters per sow per year, live piglets per litter and pre-weaning mortality only improved slightly compared to the end of December 2021 (2021 Q4), as can be seen in the breeding performance KPI information on the AHDB website.

As a result, piglets weaned from indoor sows were 27.81 for the year ending March 2022 compared to 27.72 for the year ending December 2021. For outdoor sows, piglets weaned per sow per year to end of March 2022 was 24.29 compared to 24.26 for the year ending March 2022.

Much more interesting is that the Top 10% of GB indoor herds (in the sample for the year ending March 2022) weaned 33.06 piglets per sow per year and the Top 10% of GB outdoor herds weaned 28.18 piglets per sow per year. If the GB industry (assuming 60% of sows are indoor and 40% outdoor) performed at the Top 10% equivalent, it would shave 8p per kg off the overall cost of producing pork at April feed prices.

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