BPEX publishes pig yearbook on industry
BPEX has published a pig yearbook, collecting in one place useful facts and figures, and general industry knowledge in one place.
The data was all collated by the Market Intelligence section of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, of which BPEX is a division.
The Yearbook includes the key indicators which contribute to overall herd performance such as:
- Farrowing rate
- Litters per sow per year
- Pigs born alive per litter
- Mortality rates
- Feed conversion ratio
- Daily live weight gain
- Average carcase weight
Senior analyst Stephen Howarth said: “Perhaps the most important indicator of sow productivity is the number of piglets born alive per litter. In 2011, this averaged 11.4 and the figure has increased over recent years from a low point of 10.7 in 2004.
“The number of piglets born alive per litter was significantly higher for indoor herds (11.9) than outdoor herds (10.8), although this difference may be somewhat overstated given the greater difficulty monitoring farrowing in outdoor herds.
“In 2011, the top third of producers were able to produce an average of 12.17 piglets per litter while the best tenth reached 12.73.”
It also includes a range of key industry statistics, financial data, international comparisons of performance and carcase classification data. In addition, it provides details of BPEX services and contact details.
Supplies of the publication are limited but anybody who would like a copy may contact Dorian Harris: dorian.harris@ahdb.org.uk.
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