THE “colossal” cost of getting any aspect of feed management wrong was outlined to a recent pig conference.

Dr Phil Baynes, commercial technical manager of ScaNutec, of Thirsk, was addressing more than 120 producers at ACMC’s pig breeding company headquarters near Driffield.

He said the cost of rearing a pig using seven diets – carefully formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of each stage of the rearing and finishing period – was £48.37.

But over or under supply of nutrients could have a major impact through poorer than expected growth rates.

He said the use of an inappropriate density in the first stage diet to cut costs could add two days to slaughter.

Pigs staying two extra days in the finishing house would eat 2.7kg of feed per day. At £160 per tonne, this would cost 86p per pig or £9,460 per year on a 500- sow unit selling 22 pigs per sow annually.

Over-supply of protein, such as 1.1pc extra lysine –equivalent to 30kg more Hipro soya – could also amount to £12,650 for the same sized herd.

Vermin should also be considered.

Seeing a single rat could mean 50 unseen rats. A pair of rats have five to six litters a year producing 70 adults – 100 rats eat half a tonne of feed annually.

Starlings could also have a significant impact – 1,000 could eat ten tonnes of feed a year worth £1,710 in a rearing herd with an average diet cost of £171 per tonne.