Bed & Breakfast Pigs

[Daniel]

If you’re keen on it, try and get some work experience loading lorries and mucking out someone else’s fattening sheds when the pigs are at a slaughter weight for a couple of weeks, try and pick a time in June-August when the temperature is about 30C.

Just to double check it’s for you before you invest the cash.

 

[Barleymow]

If you’re keen on it, try and get some work experience loading lorries and mucking out someone else’s fattening sheds when the pigs are at a slaughter weight for a couple of weeks, try and pick a time in June-August when the temperature is about 30C.

Just to double check it’s for you before you invest the cash.

Even better when there 2 weeks late and only want 3 pigs in a pen of 20

 

[Monty 72]

Hello, there doesn't seem to have been much activity on here for some time. Was really just wanting to ask what sort of contracts and payments would you get for having a nursery unit for having pigs from 7kg-35kg, in a straw based yard. Scottish Borders. I'm aware of a few large pig companies, just wanted a rough idea at what to expect. Many thanks

 

[Spud]

Hello, there doesn't seem to have been much activity on here for some time. Was really just wanting to ask what sort of contracts and payments would you get for having a nursery unit for having pigs from 7kg-35kg, in a straw based yard. Scottish Borders. I'm aware of a few large pig companies, just wanted a rough idea at what to expect. Many thanks

It varies a lot between companies, depending on how much they want you to do. I'd expect £5-6/head in that situation, on about 6sqft per pig

 

[Monty 72]

It varies a lot between companies, depending on how much they want you to do. I'd expect £5-6/head in that situation, on about 6sqft per pig

Ok thanks, this is the standard for RSPCA Assured. Excuse my ignorance but is that the price for the time they are in my care, 7-8 weeks average?

 

[Spud]

Ok thanks, this is the standard for RSPCA Assured. Excuse my ignorance but is that the price for the time they are in my care, 7-8 weeks average?

Per pig per batch, I'd guess 10-11 weeks per batch.

I say guessing because I've been a contract finisher for 30odd years, and can't quite do 5 batches a year, nearer 4.5

 

[Monty 72]

Ok thank you for this information. Was more interested in only taking them to 30-40 kg. There are many companies and think I'll contact a few to get an idea of what they offer. My main problem will be straw as I would have to buy in or get a muck for straw deal. Thank you

 

[FarmerBruce]

Ok thank you for this information. Was more interested in only taking them to 30-40 kg. There are many companies and think I'll contact a few to get an idea of what they offer. My main problem will be straw as I would have to buy in or get a muck for straw deal. Thank you

Have you made contact with any companies yet?

 

[Monty 72]

I have been in touch with 1 and will try another as wasn't keen to go with them, still have a couple of other to try.

 

[JP1]

I have been in touch with 1 and will try another as wasn't keen to go with them, still have a couple of other to try.

Karro is one option with a strong presence in the area . You might get a gilt grow out contract with a National breeding Co if you’ve not many pigs in the area

BQP also operate up there

 

[Monty 72]

Karro is one option with a strong presence in the area . You might get a gilt grow out contract with a National breeding Co if you’ve not many pigs in the area

BQP also operate up there

Karro is my next option, as the area would be ideal for a nursery. Never thought about gilt rearing, thank you.

 

[FarmerBruce]

I have been in touch with 1 and will try another as wasn't keen to go with them, still have a couple of other to try.

Are the figures similar to what’s been spoke about on this thread?

 

[Matt]

We do B&b.
Feel it has changed from when we started 7 years ago.

Do feel that a payment rise would be welcome.

Yes payment rate gone up slightly since stared. But money worth less, labour is more, straw is worth more.

 

[Monty 72]

These are the things that worry me. The groups have no set payments, some per/pig and other for the space you have available

 

[Monty 72]

Are the figures similar to what’s been spoke about on this thread?

Sorry, didn't even get to that stage as there was lots of different contracts available, from per/pig, batch, space available etc, was all very vague

 

[Daniel]

We do B&b.
Feel it has changed from when we started 7 years ago.

Do feel that a payment rise would be welcome.

Yes payment rate gone up slightly since stared. But money worth less, labour is more, straw is worth more.

We found this, in about 8 years of keeping pigs for BQP the payment rates never went up, effectively an annual pay cut. I understand they did go up after we stopped keeping pigs.

You’ve got to bring it up at every meeting, each time you see a manager etc, farmers are terrible at demanding a fair price for their work.

 

[Spud]

Ok thank you for this information. Was more interested in only taking them to 30-40 kg. There are many companies and think I'll contact a few to get an idea of what they offer. My main problem will be straw as I would have to buy in or get a muck for straw deal. Thank you

You'll use a lot less straw with weaners to 35kg than finishers, so good move

 

[Masseymad]

Are there many new farms still coming on? Will the bubble burst?

 

[snarling bee]

farmers are terrible at demanding a fair price for their work.

Off topic I know

I grow milling wheat for Warburtons on a min £20 max£40 contract. The milling premium has been well over £40 for a couple of years. In on line meetings, I was the only farmer out of 50 on the call to ask for more money, twice. No body even supported me. Cant understand it. We have now got a £10 increase, so my comments were taken on board, but why were the other 49 farmers backing me up, we may have got £20!!

 

[Matt]

We found this, in about 8 years of keeping pigs for BQP the payment rates never went up, effectively an annual pay cut. I understand they did go up after we stopped keeping pigs.

You’ve got to bring it up at every meeting, each time you see a manager etc, farmers are terrible at demanding a fair price for their work.

Do feel we are getting a double pay cut.
Inflation, but also labour and other costs going up to.