Rising production costs push producers back into the red

Following 32 months of profitability, rising production costs resulted in negative average pig margins in the third quarter of 2018. 

Pig production costs in the quarter, at 156p/kg, were the highest since early 2013, according to the latest estimates from AHDB. Pig prices changed little in the third quarter, with the EU-spec APP averaging 152p/kg, meaning producers were estimated to be losing, on average, around £4/pig sold during the quarter. 

The average GB production cost between July and September was around 7p/kg higher than the quarter before and 16p/kg up on the same time last year. Nonetheless, costs were still around 13p/kg (or £6/head) lower than the peak in 2013. With this in mind, losses are still much smaller than for most of the period between late 2010 and early 2013, as well as early 2016.

The rise in production costs compared to the previous quarter was entirely driven by rising feed costs, which accounted for 62% of the total cost of production. Estimated feed costs rose 7p/kg between compared to Q2, and 13p/kg compared to the same point last year, largely on the back of higher feed prices, although consumption at the finishing stage has also increased.

This reflects a worsening in the average feed efficiency at this stage, according to the latest figures from Agrosoft. The finishing Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was 2.79 in the 12 months to September, compared to 2.67 in the year to June. This more than offset an improvement in FCR at the rearing stage (1.79 in the year ended June vs 1.65 in the year ended September).

Performance at the breeding stage has also been stagnant, with pigs weaned per sow averaging 25.80 in the 12 months to September 2018, virtually on par with the 2017 average (25.75) and lower than the year ended June (25.92).

Some improvement for indoor herds was offset by a decline for outdoor sows, perhaps influenced by more challenging environmental conditions this year. However, the stagnation in pigs weaned per sow was offset by a reduction in finishing mortality; at 24.20, pigs sold per sow has picked up compared to both 2017 and the year ended June (both 24.09). This improvement was driven by indoor units.

Pig prices have fallen in recent weeks to around 148p/kg in the first half of November, while feed prices have probably remained fairly stable overall. Therefore, producer margins have likely worsened further, the AHDB analysis adds.

"During these more challenging times it is important that producers control their costs. Physical performance can be an important component of this, and the latest figures perhaps indicate there is room for development in this area if long-term improving trends are to continue," AHDB analyst Bethan Wilkins added.