Estimation of the Cost of Production of Pig Farming under the KVK Operating Villages of Assam

Abstract

Data pertaining to the estimation of the cost of production in fatteners and breeding units of pigs under field conditions were collected from 45 pig farms maintained under Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) operating villages of Baksa district of Assam. Genetic groups (HD-K75, HD-K75 X Ghoongroo and Ghoongroo) and systems of rearing (intensive, semi-intensive and tethering) had a significant effect on variable cost, fixed cost, gross cost, total return and net return in fatteners and breeding units of pigs. The overall gross costs in fatteners’ unit were Rs 9942.83 ± 347.79, 9566.07 ± 230.29 and 9296.72 ± 175.90 in HD-K75, HD-K75 X Ghoongroo and Ghoongroo pigs, respectively, with an overall population mean of Rs 9558.80 ± 141.38. In the breeding units, corresponding values were Rs 27888.67 ± 490.38, 26990.00 ± 511.75 and 24977.78 ± 341.36 with an overall population mean of Rs 26424.76 ± 310.26. In intensive, semi-intensive, and tethering systems of rearing in fatteners unit, the overall mean gross costs were Rs 10385.47 ± 130.81, 9861.93 ± 122.99 and 8429.00 ± 98.40, respectively. In breeding units, the respective values were Rs 27777.20 ± 514.50, 26533.73 ± 398.79 and 24963.33 ± 447.00. The overall net return per kg of live weight in HD-K75, HD-K75 X Ghoongroo and Ghoongroo pigs belonging to fatteners were Rs. 42.75 ± 4.33, 39.59 ± 3.91 and 32.38 ± 3.24, respectively and the overall population mean was Rs. 37.55 ± 2.22. The overall total return in intensive, semi-intensive and tethering systems of rearing was found to be Rs 47.04 ± 3.04, 38.40 ± 3.29 and 27.28 ± 3.33, respectively. The overall net return per piglet in breeding units of HD-K75, HD-K75 X Ghoongroo and Ghoongroo pigs was Rs. 881.13 ± 103.15, 717.45 ± 134.27 and 661.19 ± 74.62, respectively, with overall population means of Rs. 711.66 ± 59.45. In intensive, semi-intensive and tethering system net return per piglet was estimated as Rs 784.30 ± 115.01, 704.84 ± 77.25 and 645.84 ± 87.48, respectively. The overall cost benefit ratio (C:B ratio) for fatteners in HD-K75, HD-K75 X Ghoongroo and Ghoongroo pigs was 1.28 ± 0.03, 1.26 ± 0.02 and 1.18 ± 0.02, respectively and the overall population mean was 1.24 ± 0.01. In breeding units, the corresponding values were 1.34 ± 0.02, 1.24 ± 0.01 and 1.24 ± 0.02, the overall population means being 1.27 ± 0.01. In intensive, semi-intensive and tethering systems of rearing in fatteners the cost-benefit ratio was 1.31 ± 0.02, 1.25 ± 0.02 and 1.15 ± 0.02, respectively. In breeding units, corresponding averages for B:C ratio were 1.28 ± 0.02, 1.28 ± 0.02 and 1.25 ± 0.02. The cost-benefit ratio as observed in the present study clearly indicates that pig rearing is a profitable and viable enterprise even under field conditions. The findings also show that in terms of absolute return, breeding units surpass fatteners.