Would I be better off starting a pig or poultry unit?

[Osian]

Good morning, I'm doing a business plan project with Farming Connect looking at ways of adding value and income to my current beef and sheep farm, and I was wondering which one would be the better option. What kind of financial difference would there be between a 32,000 hen shed and an 800 pig unit? How much land etc would be needed? Thankyou

 

[wilber]

Easier to snare a laying contract than a pig contract from experience but totally dependent on location. 32k birds requires 40 acres i believe to satisfy a contract requirements however getting rid of the chicken muck with the new regs would be something to look at. I see some chicken shed farms are giving it away now when they where charging quite a bit for it this time last year.

labour would be another point to look at, you need labour with 32k birds where you can run a 1000 place pig shed solo and fairly easily.

1000 place pig shed is also going to be a significant difference in price to a 32k bird shed too.

Personally i would of liked to of had 2 1k pig sheds but it has a lot to do with what youve got to work with and location.

im still here with sweet FA being a busy fool.

 

[R J]

Good morning, I'm doing a business plan project with Farming Connect looking at ways of adding value and income to my current beef and sheep farm, and I was wondering which one would be the better option. What kind of financial difference would there be between a 32,000 hen shed and an 800 pig unit? How much land etc would be needed? Thankyou

What part of the country are you ? Almost impossible to get planning for hens now , and the build costs would be a no go even if you could obtain planning

 

[snarling bee]

We put up 2x 1000 place B&B pig units in 2018.
Problem is now that the income has gone up 7% but the cost of building the sheds has probably gone up 75%??
Our 2 sheds take about 4 hrs/day for routine work. A bit extra occasionally for vaccination/slap marking/loading out.
Need 150 acres worth of straw, and 100acres of land to spread the FYM every year.

Can't comment on poultry.

 

[wilber]

Another point i forgot to mention is i would see more use in a 200x50 1000 pig shed than a chicken shed should you change direction one day.

 

[ploughman1963]

Personally i would of liked to of had 2 1k pig sheds but it has a lot to do with what youve got to work with and location.

and your chances of getting planning - again, location

 

[Welderloon]

Suggestion - increase the sheep numbers or move into meat goats - build a Large GP shed & kit it out to have them on plastic slats.
The U.K population will be of 20% muslim origin shortly, this % number will exponentially expand thereafter. they have large families, they do not eat pork & are not overly keen on beef or chicken,
Their religious festivals drive price annually hence the current sheep boom.

 

[Hilly]

Suggestion - increase the sheep numbers or move into meat goats - build a Large GP shed & kit it out to have them on plastic slats.
The U.K population will be of 20% muslim origin shortly, this % number will exponentially expand thereafter. they have large families, they do not eat pork & are not overly keen on beef or chicken,
Their religious festivals drive price annually hence the current sheep boom.

Plenty demand for beef and pork i can assure you !

 

[Welderloon]

Plenty demand for beef and pork i can assure you !

I was trying to keep the price up for you Hilly
There is a goat breeder nearby who is making a pretty healthy return on goats to the restaurant trade based on demand from the increasing ethnic population, was easier financially for them to transition to Goats alongside their sheep rather than the outlay to whack up large dedicated buildings for the other enterprises they looked at including chicken & pigs.
Still reasonably niche at the moment but a market that is only going to grow.

 

[teslacoils]

Capital cost for 32k hens will be wildly in excess of that for 800 pigs.

 

[Northern territory]

Sow unit

 

[Hilly]

Capital cost for 32k hens will be wildly in excess of that for 800 pigs.

No Comparison anywhere to be fair ..

 

[puntabrava]

Can you not rent an industrial unit and drape some red velour at the entrance and open a casino?