The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Justin on June 18, 2019, 06:41:03 pm

Title: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: Justin on June 18, 2019, 06:41:03 pm
This is our third year raising pigs. As we run a glamping site, we sell some of the bacon and sausages/burgers to our guests, all prepped/packed by a local butcher, we price them by the pack.

This year, we've had a couple of friends ask to buy half a pig and I'm wondering what sort of cost other people charge if they sell that sort of half-a-pig box. It'll be butchered by our local chap according to how people like it divided but other than taking the feed cost and butchery cost and working that out per pig then adding 'a bit' for time and profit, I just wondered what others might be charging. These are Berkshires, outdoor raised, no antibiotics etc and the tastiest pork I've ever eaten.

Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: bj_cardiff on June 19, 2019, 10:35:34 am
I've only ever raised pigs for my own consumption because its so much more expensive than intensively raised pork.

I would do as you've already done and add up the cost of buying the weaners, cost of how much they eat, butchery costs, and electricity for chilling/freezing and petrol for moving them about. I would try and add 25% to make it worth my while.

I suspect it you compare your costs to organic free range pork that's for sale in supermarkets it'll still work out more expensive..
Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: sabrina on June 19, 2019, 10:38:32 am
Selling to friends is not easy as they can expect you to give them it cheaper. My butcher priced my pork for me and even I was surprised on what he thought I should be selling it for. ( more than I thought ) If you take in the cost of your time, cost of feeding etc  then work out your price that you are happy with.
Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: harmony on June 19, 2019, 11:04:17 am

Technically you can't sell your pork to anyone without meeting the necessary guidelines on storage, packaging etc. I know that's not the question, I am just pointing it out so you are aware.


There is plenty of people selling pork boxes on line so take a look at their pricing than as suggested work out your production costs and see what the difference is.


Feed, slaughter, butcher costs can vary enormously around the country. Most people under value their product and don't know their production costs.
Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: Rupert the bear on June 19, 2019, 09:33:44 pm
Selling to friends is not easy as they can expect you to give them it cheaper. My butcher priced my pork for me and even I was surprised on what he thought I should be selling it for. ( more than I thought ) If you take in the cost of your time, cost of feeding etc  then work out your price that you are happy with.
Our butcher priced our last lot , holy cow ! was the expression used , way more than I thought.
Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: greenbeast on June 19, 2019, 09:33:50 pm
We typically price ours at 140/250 (half/whole), traditional breed, bred and raised outdoors
We've had to sell some off at half that recently as we're overrun.
Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: bryntevans01 on June 19, 2019, 09:59:20 pm
Depends entirely on your market and geography! Of your selling half or whole look somewhere from £250-350 direct to local restaurants or pubs. This makes it more affordable for them to make a profit. But hers will pay virtually nothing for pigs as they’ll compare it commercial whites unless you get a good one locally. Selling to public you should be able to get around £8-10 per kilo, for joints, sausages etc  some sell whole rare breeds at £450+ but realistically a restaurant wouldn’t pay for it.
Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: Justin on June 20, 2019, 11:22:14 am
Thanks everyone, we've decided to charge £160, that is just a little more than breaking even. Given that we buy the weavers in for £45, kill charge is £25, butchery charges on that and about £100 in feed, plus all the running around to deliver/take to slaughter etc, we won't really make much.

I'm going to go over our costs very carefully after this and work out exactly what we spent once everything's back.

Funnily, most people don't quibble at the cost, my mum however was 'gosh that's expensive' and promptly went looking online for what it costs. She said she could get half a pig for £75 so I told her to buy it. I can't even raise them for that. Then pointed out that she was talking supermarket meat and she could try feeding that to her husband who raves about the pork/sausage/burgers I've given them over the years and see if he can tell the difference. I doubt I'll have much trouble selling it after that :D
Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: PipKelpy on June 20, 2019, 08:57:25 pm
For me (and mum to scoff) + 2 customers i always buy a minimum of 4 weaners. After one carking it years ago, a few weeks before kill date, always now buy extra! So, 4 weaners, purchase price anything from £25 to £50 per pig depending on what the price is like at that time (always buy off the same guy), +£15 to go get them, £15 to take them to kill, £15 to bring them back (supplier is 40 miles one way and kill is 40 miles another way!) Whatever food they need, killing/butchering is currently £45 per pig (goes up each year). Usually 1 half of each pig is purchase, kill & their share of all the transport. The other half of each pig their share of food and bedding (shavings) and my time. I never charge more than £150 per half, usually always around £125 per half. My sister once commented on how expensive it was and cheaper in Lidl, so I actually worked out down to pennies the cost, and asked if she would work for 50p per hour because is what it came down to for me! I justify it that in a cheap pig year ALL costs are covered, I have extra cash and plenty of pork in the freezer! An expensive pig year, most costs are covered, I have no extra cash but I have plenty of pork in the freezer!! With regards to breed, i can't taste the difference! I've had demented Berkshires (never again) Blues (large whites x saddleback), middle whites. I'm currently sticking with Pietrain x Saddleback off my supplier
Title: Re: What do you charge for your pork?
Post by: SmallWelshBarn on June 29, 2019, 12:26:53 pm
I’m following this with interest. Would you expect to pay more for a wild boar cross ?
I’m wondering what to charge for them.
That is if I’ll ever be able to slaughter them given I have hand raised them all !