热度 4||
Feeding
Management - $how Me the Money
In order to be competitive in the pork
industry, producers need to have a firm grasp of their cost of production.
Since feed costs represent a large proportion of the total cost of production,
they offer producers the greatest opportunity for reducing costs. You have
heard it at least a hundred times before, but it is still true� feed costs
represent 65-70% of the variable cost of producing a pig. Table 1 shows an
example of feed usage and costs from a 300-sow farrow-to-finish operation
selling 6000 market pigs.
Table 1. On-Farm Feed Usage and Costs
Stage of Production |
Total Feed (tonne/yr) |
% of Total Feed |
Cost of Total Feed ($) |
% of Total Cost |
Sows/Boars |
342 |
17 |
$75,582 |
15 |
Weaners |
195 |
9 |
$80,925 |
16 |
Growers/Finishers |
1533 |
74 |
$343,392 |
69 |
Totals |
2070 |
100 |
$499,899 |
100 |
Source: Pork New
& Views Budget, October 2003
Feed Consumption and Cost:
Sows/Boars - 1140
kg/sow @ $221/tonne
Weaners - 32.5 kg/pig @ $415/tonne
Growers/Finishers - 255.6 kg/pig @ $224/tonne
Even
though you may not have control over the cost of feed ingredients or complete
feeds, you do have control over how you use that feed. Consider your options
for reducing feed costs by asking yourself the following questions.
Are you feeding your pigs according to their potential? Do
you routinely monitor feed intake and growth performance? Feeding pigs to
achieve optimum performance requires knowledge of their genetic potential for
growth. High lean pigs, for example, require finely tuned rations with special
attention to amino acid balance to perform at their best.
Are you focussing on strategies that can reap the greatest
benefits? Feed
efficiency is the single most important factor that determines feed cost/pig.
At a cost of $210/tonne, each 0.1 unit improvement in feed efficiency will save
over $1.60/pig (see Table 2). Since grower/finisher pigs represent about 74% of
the total feed fed on-farm and 69% of total feed cost, any effort aimed at
increasing efficiency and decreasing costs should start in the grower/finisher
barn. Table 2 shows the effect of feed efficiency on feed cost/pig at various
feed prices.
Table 2. Effect of Feed Efficiency on Feed Cost ($/Pig)
Feed
Efficiency |
Price of
Feed ($/tonne) |
|||
$160 |
$190 |
$210 |
$240 |
|
3.5 |
$44.80 |
$53.20 |
$58.80 |
$67.20 |
3.3 |
$42.24 |
$50.16 |
$55.44 |
$63.36 |
3.1 |
$39.68 |
$47.12 |
$52.08 |
$59.52 |
3.0 |
$38.40 |
$45.60 |
$50.40 |
$57.60 |
2.9 |
$37.12 |
$44.08 |
$48.72 |
$55.68 |
2.7 |
$34.56 |
$41.04 |
$45.36 |
$51.84 |
2.5 |
$32.00 |
$38.00 |
$42.00 |
$48.00 |
Are you split-sex feeding?
Barrows have a lower requirement for energy and protein than
gilts, especially at heavier weights. Split-sex feeding takes advantage of the
opportunity to feed barrows and gilts separately to more closely match the
nutrient requirements of the different sexes, which can result in savings of
$1/pig (see Table 3).
Are you phase feeding?
Phase feeding allows you to tailor rations to the nutrient
requirements of the pig in a step-wise fashion as it grows. As a result, this
strategy limits the excesses associated with feeding one ration. Producers who
go from a single ration to 2 phases in the growing/finishing barn can expect to
save $2/pig (see Table 3). Each step up in the number of phases in the feeding
program results in half of the benefit of the previous step.
Do you check and adjust your feeders regularly?
Improperly adjusted feeders can contribute to a major feed wastage
problem. If you can see feed on the floor, at least 10% is being wasted and at
$210/tonne, you are losing over $5/pig. Feeders should be checked daily, if
possible, and if adjusted properly, you should be able to see roughly 50% of
the bottom of the feeder. On the other hand, be sure not to restrict flow too
much because, in the long run, reduced intakes will likely be more expensive
than a moderate amount of waste. The design of the feeder also plays a critical
role in feed wastage. If feed wastage is a problem in your operation, you may
want to consider the pros and cons of new feeders - they may quickly pay for
themselves if you can realize a 5% improvement in feed efficiency by decreasing
waste.
What is your particle size?
By optimizing the particle size of your rations, you can quickly
see improvements in feed efficiency. The industry standard for particle size is
600-800 microns. A Kansas State University study shows a 1.2% improvement in
feed efficiency, which translates into $0.50/pig, with every 100 micron
reduction in grain particle size to the optimum range.
If you are mixing your own feed, how would you describe your
on-farm quality control program?
If your answer is "non-existent", you may have a problem
that could be costing you time and money without even knowing it. Your quality
control program should include regular mill maintenance, calibration and
scheduled analysis of feed ingredients and complete feeds. Errors in mixing
that throw nutrient levels off by as little as 10% can lead to losses as high
as $2/pig (see Table 3). In addition, if you feed antibiotics on-farm, extra
attention must be paid to observing withdrawal times to avoid penalties due to
drug residues.
What is the health status of your herd?
Improving herd health will ensure that your pigs are using
valuable nutrients to grow rather than fight off disease. The value of high
health versus low or average health pigs can be in the range of $4-7/pig (see
Table 3).
Are you considering using by-products to cut costs?
It is important to evaluate any ration changes carefully. Cheaper
feed ingredients may decrease feed cost/tonne but if they compromise pig
performance to the point that overall cost of production suffers, what have you
gained in the long run? Weigh the pros and cons of switching to by-products by
considering not only price, but storage and handling issues, the limitations of
your feeding system, whether or not you require a licence to feed them, as well
as implications on pig performance, pork quality and safety.
Are you using feed additives to enhance performance?
Table 3. Opportunities to Improve Margins in the
Grower/Finisher Barn
Strategy |
Comparison |
Net Difference ($/pig place/yr) |
Net Difference ($/pig)
|
Health Status |
High vs. Low |
$22 |
$7.33 |
High vs. Compromised |
$12 |
$4 |
|
Correct Market Weight |
109 vs. 105 kg |
$7 |
$2.33 |
109 vs. 115 kg |
$6 |
$2 |
|
Minimal Variation in Carcass |
STD of 4 vs. 6 kg |
$9 |
$3 |
Lean Growth Rate |
395 vs. 310 g/day |
$17 |
$5.67 |
440 vs. 395 g/day |
$7 |
$2.33 |
|
Correct Particle Size |
650 vs. 1250 microns |
$13 |
$4.33 |
Low Feed Wastage |
5 vs. 11% |
$9 |
$3 |
5 vs. 8% |
$5 |
$1.67 |
|
Optimum Mixing Accuracy |
0 vs. +/- 10% |
$6 |
$2 |
Phase Feeding |
2 vs. 1 phase |
$6 |
$2 |
3 vs. 2 phase |
$3 |
$1 |
|
4 vs. 3 phase |
$1.50 |
$0.50 |
|
Split-sex vs. Mixed |
$3 |
$1 |
Feed additives have to pay
their way by providing a higher return through improved feed efficiency or
faster growth. Weigh the pros and cons of any additive prior to making changes
by performing a cost:benefit analysis. If an additive will improve feed
efficiency by 0.1 unit in the growing/finishing phase, at a cost of $210/tonne
for feed, it is worth $1.68/pig. This means that the breakeven cost of
including that feed additive is about $6.50/tonne of feed.