Efficiency of Niche Pork Production in 2008

Information is provided on pig production efficiency for niche pork production. Information from 18 niche pork producers is included in the analysis. The average female breeding herd size was 61 females. The average feed efficiency was 4.63 pounds of feed per pound of production, although the average for the top 6 herds was 4.20 and the average for the bottom 6 herds was 5.25. Average labor use was 1.02 hours per hundred pounds of pork produced. About one of every five pigs born alive died before weaning. Another 10 percent died from weaning to market. Breeding herd death loss was in the 2.5 to 7 percent range. The information summarized here shows striking differences in many areas between the top 6 and bottom 6 producers. The areas with the largest differences are places with the most potential to help producers improve. Educational programming that targets these areas is being developed to help these producers make changes to improve their operations, which in turn will improve the position of this sector of the industry