A YORKSHIRE pig-breeding company has launched a website giving producers tips on how to make significant feed savings.

ACMC has calculated that, nationally, an improvement of just 0.1 in feed conversion would save 267,000 tonnes of feed, worth £40m.

The company, based at Beeford near Driffield, is inviting producers to key in herd details at www.acmc.co.uk/savefeed

The site will then calculate their feed costs per kilogramme of pigmeat produced and show what feed savings could be made, according to herd size and existing feed efficiency.

ACMC has introduced a new tier of boars to its Vantage range of sires, the Vantage Plus.

The company believes the use of the ultra-efficient terminal sire-line boars, which are also available through AI, can improved a herd's feed conversion by a minimum of 0.2.

Stephen Curtis, ACMC chairman, said: "With feed prices predicted to rise by 25-30pc, perhaps to £170 per tonne, the major concern to pig farmers is the inevitable increase in working capital. A £35 per tonne price rise requires an extra return of 15p per kg or £10.50 per pig at 70kg deadweight.

"So, farmers would need to receive 125ppkg just to break even.

"This level has been seen before in the mid-Nineties, but it is clear that all sectors of the industry will need to help producers through their liquidity problems until the end price covers the extra feed cost."