Let me explain how this applies to you. In this example we will use corn but any grain can give you a significant amount of savings. This savings is also for grain only; your savings could potentially amount to more if you are trucking grain in or out, putting additives into your feed, etc.
Through a verbal communication with Kansas State University, it was stated if the particle size of corn can be reduced to a 400-450 micron size we can possibly save 10% of the grain needed to feed a hog to market finish. Thus if it takes 9 bushels of corn to finish a hog then 10% of 9 bushels is .9ȼ per bushel X $8.00 per bushel would save you $7.20 per hog.
If 10-12 day old pigs can be ready for market in 26 weeks just by changing the feed to a 400-450 micron size you will reduce that time to market to 24 weeks. Then rather than 2.0 groups per year we can raise 2.167 groups per year and we can raise 2.167 groups per year from the same barn therefore from a 1,000 head hog barn we will produce 2.167 hogs, saving $7.20 grain on each hog which equals a $15,602.40 savings on grain.
Because of better digestive efficiencies the hog will produce 20% less waste. Using 400 gallons of waste to be a good figure of waste per hog, 400 gallons of waste X 20% equals 80 gallons of waste and 80 gallons of waste X 2.167 hogs equals 173,360 gallons of waste therefore the cost of getting rid of waste is .5ȼ per gallon X 173,360 gallons equals $8,668.00 per year for a 1,000 head barn therefore savings for 1,000 head barn per year where pigs are brought in 10-12 days old and finished in a six month cycle are:
$15,602.40 – grain
$8,668.00 – manure wastePlus the EPA will be happy because of toxin pollution reduction due to the grain being totally digested before becoming waste.