2018 was one of the most difficult years in pig production. Feed costs for 2018 averaged 107c/kg deadweight.

The average price was 141c/kg, leaving just over 33c/kg deadweight to pay for non-feed costs.

In any business, there is always a need to set clear targets in terms of outputs. This is what you need to focus on – the areas that you can control.

Every farmer should ensure that the targets set are achievable. Having realistic targets allows you focus on any potential areas to make savings or improvements.

What target performance are you setting as a realistic return for your herd? The three main output targets are:

  • Number of pigs produced per sow per year.
  • The feed conversion efficiency (FCE) from weaning to sale.
  • The average daily gain (ADG) from weaning to sale.

    • Do you know what your production targets are for 2019? Is it 28 pigs/sow/year and 750g ADG at a 2.45 FCE from weaning to sale (ie H target above)? You may use the targets in your report to see how far off your actual performance is or to review your production performance.

    Talk with your staff and your Teagasc adviser as you compile your input sheet for the ePM.