December 20, 2005

UK has highest average cost of pig production

According to British Pig Executive (BPEX), the UK has the highest average cost of pig production in the EU at 111.4 pence/kg.

The average production cost in the EU was 100.8 pence/kg in 2004, but was 93.8 pence/kg in 2000, BPEX said.

However, BPEX added that the British costs included a significant amount of depreciation, and production costs would fall to 96.3 pence/kg if depreciation was excluded.

Meanwhile, feed prices rose most sharply in the UK and Spain in 2004, but have generally fallen from the high levels seen early last year, BPEX said.

BPEX stated that the UK continued to perform poorly in several key areas, namely number of litters a sow each year, pig mortality and daily live weight gain of finishers.