THE COMPETITIVENESS OF PIG FATTENING AND ITS KEY DETERMINANTS

MIHÁLY-KARNAI LAURA – RÁCZ ZSOLT – MARCZIN TAMÁS – TÓTH SÁNDOR – SZŐLLŐSI LÁSZLÓ

Keywords: Keywords: pig sector, efficiency, fattening, case study JEL codes: Q12, Q13, Q14

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.53079/GAZDALKODAS.70.2.t.pp_127-145

The aim of the study is to demonstrate, through a case study based on data from a high-performing farm, how the income-generating capacity of a pig fattening operation develops in the 2024 economic environment under changing economic and physical parameters. The research was carried out using primary data collection, within the framework of farm-level analysis, by constructing a model based on the actual data of a well-managed large-scale enterprise. In addition, global and domestic aspects of pig fattening were analysed through a review of the relevant scientific literature.
The study presents the physical performance indicators, cost and revenue structure, and efficiency metrics characterising a high-performing large-scale pig fattening enterprise in 2024. The analysis also examines how African Swine Fever (ASF) and the Russia-Ukraine war affected the profitability of pig production between 2015 and 2022. Using cross-tabulation analysis, the study illustrates changes in income-generating capacity as a function of variations in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed prices, thereby providing a realistic picture of the efficiency levels required under current market conditions to achieve profitable production.
According to the results of the model calculations, it can be concluded that following the challenges of recent years, growing-finishing pig production was profitable in 2024. Furthermore, the cross-tabulation analysis confirms that better technological efficiency, reflected in a lower and therefore more favourable FCR, is associated with higher profitability. This finding supports the conclusion that improving FCR is a key determinant of the economic performance of pig fattening operations.