French pig farming: performance results for 2010

Technical performances at French pig farms improved on every front over 2010, including more piglets weaned per productive sow and per year under technical management for breeding herds, better feed efficiency and weaning-to-sale weight gain, losses brought under control. Farrow-to-finish sows ultimately produced an average 22.2 pigs in 2010 (up + 0.3 pigs on last year’s figure).Carcass weights were heavier and sold more, yet at virtually the same per-kilo price as in 2009. However, generated revenue, which in 2010 had to contend with thus persistently heavy feed costs, was unable to increase profit margins for farmers, who have consequently seen no real change since last year.The core trend, as was the case in 2009, is that pig farms break even, although one in two pig farms does not reach break-even and thus continues to lose money. With cost prices, driven by rising feed costs, set to continue the up-spiral in at least in the first two quarters of 2011, the future looks in jeopardy for many farmers already struggling to stay in business.