Pig prices fluctuated unpredictably in 2017: how can backyard raisers avoid losing money and being forced out
In 2017 pig prices fell again after holding steady, overall showing a downward trend, but piglet prices ran high, so the risks for professional fattening pig farmers and those doing secondary fattening will increase greatly, and only by sticking to breeding and raising their own stock can they make any partial profit. So what should backyard raisers do to avoid losing money and being forced out?
1. Follow national policies closely: since restricted zones have been designated, relocate the pig farm in a timely manner and look into what policy incentives there are for relocating a pig farm. Pig farmers with ample funds can build standard large-scale farms, but environmental protection facilities must keep pace.
2. Gradually transition to breeding and raising your own stock. Although breeding and raising your own stock has certain disadvantages, relative to the domestic pig-raising environment its advantages still outweigh the disadvantages: breeding and raising your own stock saves the cost of buying piglets at high prices, and that portion is where the farm's main profit lies. However, breeding and raising your own stock has higher requirements for pig-raising technology and management, so pig farmers specializing in fattening pigs should watch for a slow, gradual shift.
3. Breeding and raising your own stock focuses on the farm's PSY; cull older sows in a timely manner, that is, select high-quality sows, do a good job of epidemic prevention and management, and raise the farm's farrowing number and survival rate as much as possible.
4. You can choose the “company + farmer” contract-raising model; this model has low risk and also provides dedicated technical personnel services, but the drawback is that you can only earn hard-earned money.
5. Keep timely track of national policies and market conditions, data on the inventory of sows capable of breeding, and so on; for example, disease outbreaks in certain areas will all affect pig price trends. In addition, you need to learn scientific management and disease prevention, do a good job of farm biosecurity, and refuse entry to external germs and microorganisms.