Castration: Its economic implications on swineherd profitability

Abstract

A 16-week trial was conducted to investigate the effect of castration on the profitability of the weaning to finishing operation of the swine enterprise. Eighteen pigs were allotted into three treatments comprising the male castrates (MC), the intact males (IM) and the intact females (IF), respectively. The pigs were exposed to the same management and environmental conditions throughout the duration of the trial. Total costs per treatment were N67,583.14, N68, 256.34 and 167,583.14 for the I.M, M.C and I.F and did not show any significant difference (P>0.001). The gross margin per treatment however gave values (revenue) of N85,268±40.62 for the intact male group, N68,962±26.56 for the male castrate group and N69,588±35.38 for the I.F group with statistical significant differences (P<0.001) between the I. M group and the other two groups. 97.08 cycles or 32.35 years were needed as the pay back period for the M.C. group. 33.67 cycles or 11.22 years for the I.F group and 3.82 cycles or 1.27 years for the I.M. group. The calculated return on capital employed (ROCE) gave values of 1.03 %, 26.17% and 2.97% for the M.C., I.M and I.F groups respectively. The study revealed an enormous economic damage that could be inflicted by castration as a management practice on the profitability of the weaning to finishing operation of the pig enterprise. The study also unlocked the huge economic benefit that could accrue to farmers when intact males as opposed to their male castrate counterparts are used in this line of pig production enterprise.