On-farm feed production gains in depth and diversity

In order to better understand the segment share and characteristics of feed produced on-farm in French pig farms, a survey was led on the full population of pig farms that had participated in the 2009 ‘GTE’ technical-economic benchmarking programme, i.e. 2,810 pig farms, of which 1,690 were farrow-to-finish operations. The survey aimed to characterize feed distributed according to animal categories, and to identify the raw materials used in any feeds manufactured on-farm. The survey found a broad diversity of feeds being manufactured on-farm across different regions, and this diversity was primarily dictated by the raw materials available (high-moisture cereals, low-moisture cereals, coproducts). The feed type most often manufactured on-farm is finishing feed, which is mostly made from high-moisture cereals, and associated with a purchased food supplement in 50% of cases or else with an on-farm-produced supplement the other 50% of cases.