Pig rearing costs.

[Guiggs]

Hi,
Can anybody give me rough costs for rearing traditional breed pigs such as G.O.S, saddleback etc from weaners to finish, kept outside.
I'd imagine they would be finished at approximately 5 months as they can go a bit too fat if kept much longer. I used to rear them about 10 years ago but it wasn't financially viable keeping the sows.
Cheers

 

[Pan mixer]

Hi,
Can anybody give me rough costs for rearing traditional breed pigs such as G.O.S, saddleback etc from weaners to finish, kept outside.
I'd imagine they would be finished at approximately 5 months as they can go a bit too fat if kept much longer. I used to rear them about 10 years ago but it wasn't financially viable keeping the sows.
Cheers

Right now I guess that unless you have a good market for the finished pigs it won't add up either.

However I think that you will be looking at them eating aorund 250kg of feed, some of this will be high spec, high protein ration, say about a quarter. The rest a lower spec, more soya based (rather than some animal protein like fish or milk protein)

The cost of these currently (in bulk) would be of the order of £300 and £270 per tonne respectively, add a bit more for small quantities in bags.

I am quite happy to be proved wrong by other experts.

 

[Guiggs]

Right now I guess that unless you have a good market for the finished pigs it won't add up either.

However I think that you will be looking at them eating aorund 250kg of feed, some of this will be high spec, high protein ration, say about a quarter. The rest a lower spec, more soya based (rather than some animal protein like fish or milk protein)

The cost of these currently (in bulk) would be of the order of £300 and £270 per tonne respectively, add a bit more for small quantities in bags.

I am quite happy to be proved wrong by other experts.

Thanks for the reply but no thanks for the answer!!!
That's even worse than I expected, no wonder the job is on its arse!
That said the pork will be sold at a premium.
Is it possible/ worth turning the whole pig into sausages as there's always demand for them?

 

[borderterribles]

Thanks for the reply but no thanks for the answer!!!
That's even worse than I expected, no wonder the job is on its arse!
That said the pork will be sold at a premium.
Is it possible/ worth turning the whole pig into sausages as there's always demand for them?

That is pretty much what we do. The difficulty is either finding someone who will make them for you , at a price and quality that leaves a margin, (but still brings the customers back)or equipping yourself to do it , which can be very expensive also.

 

[Pan mixer]

Thanks for the reply but no thanks for the answer!!!
That's even worse than I expected, no wonder the job is on its arse!
That said the pork will be sold at a premium.
Is it possible/ worth turning the whole pig into sausages as there's always demand for them?

Yes, sausages are a great way to get rid of pigmeat especially that of the more traditional breeds which may carry a bit more cover than most people would like.

As above, sausage making comes at a price too, we have someone make ours and they have successfully extrscted most of the additional margin from that job.

 

[Guiggs]

@borderterribles @Pan mixer
Thanks for the reply, i think I might buy a cheap sausage making machine and have a practice with the aim of doing it all myself, maybe play with a couple of different sausage recipes and a chorizo....
Or is that a stupid idea?

 

[borderterribles]

Not stupid, but the sausage making equipment is only one part of it. Premises that pass muster (and do so) are the expensive bit.

 

[Guiggs]

Not stupid, but the sausage making equipment is only one part of it. Premises that pass muster (and do so) are the expensive bit.

Premises aren't a problem as we have a friendly caterer on hand.
Any idea how many pounds of sausage a pig should roughly turn into?

 

[br jones]

Premises aren't a problem as we have a friendly caterer on hand.
Any idea how many pounds of sausage a pig should roughly turn into?

depends on how big the pig gets ,i do 3 a year ,last year fed them 100kg of nuts and acorns ,had tonnes of acorns,
this year no acorns so 350 kg of nuts
pigs weight when slaughtered was around 75 to 80 kgs
slaughter cost 105 for 3 pigs
butcher cost 100 ,with 20 kgs of sausages all meat vac packed

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Hi,
Can anybody give me rough costs for rearing traditional breed pigs such as G.O.S, saddleback etc from weaners to finish, kept outside.
I'd imagine they would be finished at approximately 5 months as they can go a bit too fat if kept much longer. I used to rear them about 10 years ago but it wasn't financially viable keeping the sows.
Cheers

They don't have to run too fat if kept older. Just don't stuff them with too much concentrates. GOS will grow on not much more than good grazing in summer. Obviously at a slower rate than being pushed though.

 

[BELOWAVERAGE]

Premises aren't a problem as we have a friendly caterer on hand.
Any idea how many pounds of sausage a pig should roughly turn into?

If you're gonna turn it into sausages, just buy a cull sow, 200kg sow won't cost you more than about £20, probably alot less, did one the other week, 200kg had back, 100kg sausage and 20kg of bacon, but for some reason they skinned her otherwise I think there may have been a bit more.

 

[Guiggs]

If you're gonna turn it into sausages, just buy a cull sow, 200kg sow won't cost you more than about £20, probably alot less, did one the other week, 200kg had back, 100kg sausage and 20kg of bacon, but for some reason they skinned her otherwise I think there may have been a bit more.

Would make more sense however my local family run abattoir can't take pigs that size, scalding table isn't big enough if I remember correctly!

 

[BELOWAVERAGE]

Would make more sense however my local family run abattoir can't take pigs that size, scalding table isn't big enough if I remember correctly!

Ask them if they'll skin it then, you never know unless you ask.

 

[borderterribles]

Right now I guess that unless you have a good market for the finished pigs it won't add up either.

However I think that you will be looking at them eating aorund 250kg of feed, some of this will be high spec, high protein ration, say about a quarter. The rest a lower spec, more soya based (rather than some animal protein like fish or milk protein)

The cost of these currently (in bulk) would be of the order of £300 and £270 per tonne respectively, add a bit more for small quantities in bags.

I am quite happy to be proved wrong by other experts.

Wynnstay are currently £400/tonne for their pig feeds in small bags.

 

[Pigken]

Wynnstay are currently £400/tonne for their pig feeds in small bags.

I feed barley and beans, soak with water overnight,

 

[borderterribles]

I feed barley and beans, soak with water overnight,

Milled? What proportions of beans to barley, please?

 

[Pigken]

Milled? What proportions of beans to barley, please?

About third beans to 2 thirds milled barley, seems to do trick. I soak it over night almost floating and most soaks up. Can be tricky to not get to sloppy on dark mornings.