Current profit margins and stability yield some important opportunities: capital to invest in the existing operation and time to reflect on the way we manage our farms and consider futures such as managing manure production, reducing antimicrobial use, rearing pigs with intact tails and using resources more efficiently.
All of these challenges loom against a backdrop of increasing difficulty in securing and retaining trained, reliable staff.
Immediate priority
Feed credit reduces international competitiveness and adds significantly to the cost/tonne of feed. Too many farms carry too much feed credit.
A 500 sow herd has an annual feed bill of €1.2m. Ninety day feed credit at an assumed cost of €5/t feed has an annual feed credit cost of €20,500.
Target feed credit reduction now to improve cost efficiencies and buffer against future deterioration in feed or pig price.
Capital investment
All farms require major capital investment every 10-15 years. The right investment decision should be based on the likely impact it will have on future margins.
Achieving improvements in some areas, like Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE) is easier than others, such as sow productivity.
Repairs and maintenance
Lack of profit in recent years resulted in many farms not keeping up with repairs and maintenance. This impacts a number of key performance areas. At a minimum, address the following:
Replace/upgrade roof and wall insulation. Replace/upgrade ventilation systems and seal draughts to minimise temperature fluctuations. Repair/replace faulty feeders and consider upgrading feed systems to improve intakes and minimise feed wastage. Upgrade water systems and fix/replace broken drinkers. Upgrade water chutes to divert clean water away from slurry tanks. Rewire old buildings to improve safety standards and reduce fire risk. There are grant aid options via TAMS for many of these items.
Housing investment
Improved genetics and nutrition have resulted in increased numbers of pigs produced, as well as the sale weights of pigs. Are stocking rates an issue on your farm?
There are two options; reduce sow numbers to create more space per pig, or construct new housing. New housing should be future-proofed against challenges coming down the line.
Though emissions from pig housing in Ireland are low, who knows what future legislation will bring?
As well as extra space to accommodate current and improved performance, we should also consider extra space for less obvious monetary (but nevertheless important) returns.
In the future, extra space will prove crucial when trying to rear pigs with intact tails and reduce the use of antimicrobials. Though emissions from pig housing in Ireland are low, who knows what future legislation will bring?
More intensive pig producing countries are looking at solid/semi-solid floors to help reduce emissions, while also serving to reduce lameness. Carefully consider and cost all options. Other housing investments could include:
Redesigning service areas to provide for safer mixing of sows after weaning, improving boar contact for gilts and sows before and during service and improving lighting in dry sow and service houses (16h of light at 320 lux/day).New gilt housing to properly rear and manage gilts.Extra feeders and/or drinkers to ensure adequate feeder/drinker space per pig.Invest in Pig Health and Welfare
Biosecurity: use the Biocheck scoring tool (free via DAFM TASAH programme) and implement the recommendations.Screen and monitor herd health to overhaul your vaccination programme. Install a water medication system to reduce use of in-feed medication.Recovery pens: have you an adequate number of specialised recovery pens? Sick or injured pigs need more comfort and heat to aid recovery. Extra pens to ‘stream’ recovered pigs so they aren’t remixed in with the main herd again before slaughter.Loose farrowing: if refurbishing old farrowing accommodation, some will consider loose farrowing options. At the very least, farrowing pens should be larger to accommodate increasing litter sizes and to future-proof the farm should loose farrowing become mandatory. Environmental enrichment: investment to provide more optimal forms of enrichment to prevent tail biting and improve health (e.g. racks, holders). Improve Efficiency of Resource Use
Energy costs: can you reduce energy costs? There are plenty of renewable options available nowadays, many of which are grant-aided. Why not invest in an Energy Use Audit to identify best options?Reducing water usage reduces manure volume and spreading costs. Can you reduce your water-to-meal ratio? Consider investing in a larger feed pump or a satellite tank. Invest in water meters to monitor usage and identify areas requiring attention.Consider a rainwater harvesting system to use for washing.Staff management
Improvements to working conditions can help attract and retain staff.
Eliminate things that might be wasting staff time and improve efficiencies.Ensure equipment is organised and in top working order.Upgrade pig handling and loading facilities.Mechanise feed handling. Ensure paperwork/data recording is as efficient as possible.Make the farm comfortable for staff
Provide clean, organised locker/shower rooms and canteen facilities.Good-quality, safe and clean clothing.Improve ventilation systems to reduce ammonia and dust levels.Invest in people
Staff development: staff are your greatest asset. Invest in them. Send them to training courses, workshops, conferences. Create personal development plans. Involving them in decision making improves job satisfaction. The question isn’t “what if I invest in them and they leave”, it’s “what if I don’t invest in them and they stay?” Invest in yourself, take a holiday. Downtime is important to recharge the batteries. Read more
African swine fever driving Irish and EU pig prices
Pig farmers call for greater scrutiny of imports
Current profit margins and stability yield some important opportunities: capital to invest in the existing operation and time to reflect on the way we manage our farms and consider futures such as managing manure production, reducing antimicrobial use, rearing pigs with intact tails and using resources more efficiently.
All of these challenges loom against a backdrop of increasing difficulty in securing and retaining trained, reliable staff.
Immediate priority
Feed credit reduces international competitiveness and adds significantly to the cost/tonne of feed. Too many farms carry too much feed credit.
A 500 sow herd has an annual feed bill of €1.2m. Ninety day feed credit at an assumed cost of €5/t feed has an annual feed credit cost of €20,500.
Target feed credit reduction now to improve cost efficiencies and buffer against future deterioration in feed or pig price.
Capital investment
All farms require major capital investment every 10-15 years. The right investment decision should be based on the likely impact it will have on future margins.
Achieving improvements in some areas, like Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE) is easier than others, such as sow productivity.
Repairs and maintenance
Lack of profit in recent years resulted in many farms not keeping up with repairs and maintenance. This impacts a number of key performance areas. At a minimum, address the following:
Replace/upgrade roof and wall insulation. Replace/upgrade ventilation systems and seal draughts to minimise temperature fluctuations. Repair/replace faulty feeders and consider upgrading feed systems to improve intakes and minimise feed wastage. Upgrade water systems and fix/replace broken drinkers. Upgrade water chutes to divert clean water away from slurry tanks. Rewire old buildings to improve safety standards and reduce fire risk. There are grant aid options via TAMS for many of these items.
Housing investment
Improved genetics and nutrition have resulted in increased numbers of pigs produced, as well as the sale weights of pigs. Are stocking rates an issue on your farm?
There are two options; reduce sow numbers to create more space per pig, or construct new housing. New housing should be future-proofed against challenges coming down the line.
Though emissions from pig housing in Ireland are low, who knows what future legislation will bring?
As well as extra space to accommodate current and improved performance, we should also consider extra space for less obvious monetary (but nevertheless important) returns.
In the future, extra space will prove crucial when trying to rear pigs with intact tails and reduce the use of antimicrobials. Though emissions from pig housing in Ireland are low, who knows what future legislation will bring?
More intensive pig producing countries are looking at solid/semi-solid floors to help reduce emissions, while also serving to reduce lameness. Carefully consider and cost all options. Other housing investments could include:
Redesigning service areas to provide for safer mixing of sows after weaning, improving boar contact for gilts and sows before and during service and improving lighting in dry sow and service houses (16h of light at 320 lux/day).New gilt housing to properly rear and manage gilts.Extra feeders and/or drinkers to ensure adequate feeder/drinker space per pig.Invest in Pig Health and Welfare
Biosecurity: use the Biocheck scoring tool (free via DAFM TASAH programme) and implement the recommendations.Screen and monitor herd health to overhaul your vaccination programme. Install a water medication system to reduce use of in-feed medication.Recovery pens: have you an adequate number of specialised recovery pens? Sick or injured pigs need more comfort and heat to aid recovery. Extra pens to ‘stream’ recovered pigs so they aren’t remixed in with the main herd again before slaughter.Loose farrowing: if refurbishing old farrowing accommodation, some will consider loose farrowing options. At the very least, farrowing pens should be larger to accommodate increasing litter sizes and to future-proof the farm should loose farrowing become mandatory. Environmental enrichment: investment to provide more optimal forms of enrichment to prevent tail biting and improve health (e.g. racks, holders). Improve Efficiency of Resource Use
Energy costs: can you reduce energy costs? There are plenty of renewable options available nowadays, many of which are grant-aided. Why not invest in an Energy Use Audit to identify best options?Reducing water usage reduces manure volume and spreading costs. Can you reduce your water-to-meal ratio? Consider investing in a larger feed pump or a satellite tank. Invest in water meters to monitor usage and identify areas requiring attention.Consider a rainwater harvesting system to use for washing.Staff management
Improvements to working conditions can help attract and retain staff.
Eliminate things that might be wasting staff time and improve efficiencies.Ensure equipment is organised and in top working order.Upgrade pig handling and loading facilities.Mechanise feed handling. Ensure paperwork/data recording is as efficient as possible.Make the farm comfortable for staff
Provide clean, organised locker/shower rooms and canteen facilities.Good-quality, safe and clean clothing.Improve ventilation systems to reduce ammonia and dust levels.Invest in people
Staff development: staff are your greatest asset. Invest in them. Send them to training courses, workshops, conferences. Create personal development plans. Involving them in decision making improves job satisfaction. The question isn’t “what if I invest in them and they leave”, it’s “what if I don’t invest in them and they stay?” Invest in yourself, take a holiday. Downtime is important to recharge the batteries. Read more
African swine fever driving Irish and EU pig prices
Pig farmers call for greater scrutiny of imports
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