The single most important number in pig farming is your breakeven price per kilo. If you do not know this number, you are guessing whether you are making or losing money. This page explains how to calculate it and provides a free tool to run the math for your operation.
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What Is Breakeven Price?
Breakeven is the minimum farmgate price per kilogram you need to receive in order to cover all production costs — feed, piglet, vaccines, housing, labor, and everything else. Below breakeven, you lose money on every kilo sold.
Formula:
Breakeven ₱/kg = Total Cost per Head / Target Market Weight (kg)
That is it. Total all your costs for raising one pig from weaner to market weight, then divide by the number of kilograms you expect to sell.
Quick Reference: Breakeven by Cost Level
| Total Cost per Head | Target Weight | Breakeven ₱/kg | Margin @ ₱185/kg | Margin @ ₱200/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₱8,000 | 90 kg | ₱88.89 | ₱96.11 | ₱111.11 |
| ₱10,000 | 95 kg | ₱105.26 | ₱79.74 | ₱94.74 |
| ₱10,000 | 100 kg | ₱100.00 | ₱85.00 | ₱100.00 |
| ₱12,000 | 100 kg | ₱120.00 | ₱65.00 | ₱80.00 |
| ₱14,000 | 100 kg | ₱140.00 | ₱45.00 | ₱60.00 |
| ₱15,000 | 100 kg | ₱150.00 | ₱35.00 | ₱50.00 |
| ₱18,000 | 100 kg | ₱180.00 | ₱5.00 | ₱20.00 |
| ₱19,000 | 100 kg | ₱190.00 | -₱5.00 | ₱10.00 |
At ₱190/kg total cost with a ₱185/kg market price, you are losing ₱5 on every kilo — or ₱500 on a 100 kg pig. Many commercial operations were in this zone during the late 2025 price crash.
Factors That Shift Your Breakeven
Feed cost (biggest lever). Feed is 60-70% of total cost. A ₱200/sack increase in feed price adds roughly ₱1,000 per head, which raises breakeven by ₱10/kg. See the feed consumption chart for per-phase numbers.
Piglet price. Weaner prices range from ₱2,500 to ₱5,000 depending on genetics and source. A ₱1,000 difference in piglet cost moves breakeven by ₱10/kg on a 100 kg target.
Feed conversion ratio (FCR). An FCR of 2.5 vs 3.5 on a 90 kg gain means 225 kg vs 315 kg of feed consumed — a 90 kg difference. At ₱30/kg feed cost, that is ₱2,700 per head.
Mortality. If you lose 1 pig in a 10-head batch (10% mortality), the surviving 9 pigs must absorb the cost of the dead one. Effective breakeven rises by roughly 11%. Industry standard mortality for grow-out is 3-5%.
Market weight. Selling at 90 kg instead of 100 kg raises breakeven by roughly 10%, because fixed costs (piglet, vaccines, housing) are spread over fewer kilos. Push to target weight — but avoid going past 110 kg where FCR degrades significantly.
Is Pig Farming Profitable in 2026?
Here is the honest picture based on current numbers:
| Metric | Backyard | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Total cost per head | ₱9,600 - ₱14,900 | ₱12,800 - ₱19,200 |
| Breakeven ₱/kg (at 100 kg) | ₱96 - ₱149 | ₱128 - ₱192 |
| Current market price (Q1 2026) | ₱180 - ₱200 | ₱185 - ₱210 |
| Estimated profit per head | ₱3,100 - ₱10,400 | ₱0 - ₱8,200 |
Margins are thin but positive for most operations — if costs are controlled. The late 2025 price crash (farmgate down to ₱150-₱180/kg) pushed many operators below breakeven. The recovery to ₱180-₱200/kg in early 2026 has restored profitability for efficient producers.
The operators who survive price dips are the ones who:
- Know their exact breakeven number
- Keep FCR under 3.0
- Buy weaners at fair prices from reliable sources
- Time batches to avoid selling into soft markets
Sensitivity Analysis: How Price Changes Affect Profit
For a pig raised at ₱12,000 total cost and 100 kg target weight:
| Market Price ₱/kg | Revenue per Head | Profit per Head | Profit on 50-Head Batch |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₱150 | ₱15,000 | ₱3,000 | ₱150,000 |
| ₱170 | ₱17,000 | ₱5,000 | ₱250,000 |
| ₱185 | ₱18,500 | ₱6,500 | ₱325,000 |
| ₱200 | ₱20,000 | ₱8,000 | ₱400,000 |
| ₱210 | ₱21,000 | ₱9,000 | ₱450,000 |
Every ₱10/kg change in market price moves profit by ₱1,000 per head or ₱50,000 on a 50-head batch. This is why tracking current farmgate prices and timing your market entry matters.
Calculate Your Exact Breakeven
The tables above use typical ranges. Actual costs depend on location, feed source, genetics, management, and scale. Calculating breakeven with operation-specific numbers provides a more accurate picture.
The Profit Simulator accepts specific inputs — piglet price, feed cost per phase, vaccine budget, overhead — and calculates breakeven price, projected profit per head, and batch-level returns.
Bisaya / Cebuano
Also useful:
- Feed Calculator — estimate feed consumption and cost by growth phase
- How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Pig? — detailed cost breakdown with vaccine checklist
- The Real Cost of Pig Feed — feed price analysis and locally mixed ration economics
Sources: DA production cost surveys, PSA farmgate price data (Q1-Q3 2025), PIDS hog farming analysis, farmer community reported figures. Cost ranges represent typical Philippine conditions and may vary by region and management level.