The latest GB producer performance figures from AgroVision demonstrate that performance changes have only had a small impact on the cost of production.
For example, indoor pig herds have seen a small fall in the number of pigs weaned per sow per year (27.76 in 2022 Q2 – down from 27.81 in 2022 Q1); as has the number of litters per sow per year (down from 2.20 to 2.21). While there was an increase in pre-weaning mortality (which is up to 12.8%, from 12.6%) and an increase in the number of live births per litter (14.40 to 14.44). However, the overall impact of these changes is only a 0.1p/kg deadweight increase to the estimated cost of production.
For outdoor herds, the number of pigs weaned per sow per year increased from 24.29 in 2022 Q1 to 25.10 in 2022 Q2. Plus, the number of litters per sow per year increased to 2.23 from 2.19, as did the number of live births per litter (from 12.64 to 12.79), and pre-weaning mortality figures dropped from 12.23% to 12.05%. The overall impact of these such performance changes saw a decreased in the cost of production by 2p/kg deadweight.
The overall impact of the rearing and finishing herd improvements was a decrease in the overall cost of production by 2p/kg deadweight. Figures for the rearing herd registered the average FCR at 1.85 for 2022 Q1, changing to 1.84 by the end of 2022 Q2. DLWG averaged 480g in 2022 Q1 and increased to 521g by Q2.
For finishing herds, the average FCR was 2.79 in 2022 Q1, going to 2.76 by Q2; DLWG averaged 859g in 2022 Q1 and increased to 889g by 2022 Q2.