IsaanAussie

Lucky,

Firstly the feeder and pigs picking up the drum. There should be a bolt set through the central shaft, about half way up. This stops the drum from being lifted up. Check if the bolt is missing. If you can lift up the cylinder, then it is gone. Having said that, I only put in as much feed as the pigs should consume to avoid spillage and wasteage. If there is too much feed, the pigs will just play with the rest.

Now the feed regime. Please note, this is only my opinion and any feeding program must have a clear objective to suit what you want to produce. I believe you should feed to appetite with growing pigs when they FCR figures are low. If you dont then you are not maximising their growth rate. Once the pigs get to around 70 Kg their growth rate has slowed per kilo consumed and over eating starts to produces fat. At that stage I try to regulate the feed to maintain a body score rating of around 2 to 3 and feed the pigs what they will eat quickly with a little extra to prevent competition. I would rather see food wasted in the bowl than on the floor and we adjust the ration to maintain a slight remaining amount in the bowls.

At 100kg the pig hasnt finished growing but requires maintenance type diets rather than high protein feed. More than they need will just get laid down as fat. Thai people doesnt seem to care how much fat the pig is carrying and the temptation is to grow them as quickly as you can to get to the magic 100kg size. The feed regime decision is farm dependant IMHO above 60 kgs.

I make final selection of possible gilts at about 60Kgs. They are fed to prepare them for an adult breeding life of several years and so you have to consider things like their calcium intake for bone structure. You may spent 3 - 4,000 baht to feed a pig to 100kgs for market, but a sow is going to cost you 10,000 to 15,000 baht per year to feed.

Last point, I use bowl feeders so observing how much each pig eats is much easier.

IA

What happened to the feed cylinders?

I received them in the state visible on the pic.

My mother in-law told me that it was necessary to remove the tank (or ton) because the piglets would play around with the feed and spill it all over the pen.

Thats a new one on me, opposite to what I thought. I have never seen anyone use them without the drum to regulate the feed. I have some of these feeders in my nursery pens. They are locally made and are not very good quality but work reasonably well as long as they are kept clean. The cast iron base units are much better but very expensive.

Just a quick question: How is this breed called ?

Today I was offered a batch, priced at 1500 ฿ per head.

The two common white breeds here are large white and landrace. The easiest way to pick is the ears. Landrace pigs ears usually fall forward over its eyes. Even with its head stuck in the feeder my bet is still large white.

What happened to the feed cylinders?

Do any of you guys produce chips or even meal from your cassava?

Love to hear from anyone who can sell me a few dozen strawberry plants.

Heres a tip for anyone who may have mummified piglets in a litter. First, it can be caused by having too many in the litter. If there are more than one or two it is likely disease related. There are a number of infectious diseases that can kill the piglets selectively but for the two virus related causes for concern, PRRS and PPV, heres how you tell what the cause is likely to be.

The piglet foetus attaches around day 30 beginning to form a skeleton which prevents it being reabsorbed completely and begins having immune responses to disease around day 70. PRRS doesnt attack before day 70 and PPV doesnt attack after then. So if you have mummies up to ranging in size up to 160 -170 mm long it is probably PPV (parvo) and longer PRRS.

Remember there are other causes.

Isaan Aussie

Well, to be honest, I supplied him with a FREE sack of 301 to calm him down early in the morning.

I also spent about half an hour to educate him about the feed type issue, thus explaining that the feed I sold to him was just according to Betagro's spreadsheet.

However, he was defiant.

Later in the morning, when I returned with the vet, that customer just arrived mith a sack of SPM 105 feed and told me that he don't believes me at all.

After the vet concluded that the death was not related to the feed (after injecting some preventive medicine which I paid in full) , the customer presented an empty pack of "medicine" which he administered to the sick piglet yesterday. After I had a look at the (Thai language) instructions, I quickly found out that the powder was for ducks and chicken...no pigs were mentioned whatsoever.

This means that the customer used the wrong type of "medicine"

Furthermore, he didn't believe that the actual weight of the herd averages 15kg - until I insisted on weighing the piglets...15kg was pretty accurate.

In fact, when the piglets arrived at my farm, average weight was 10kg, so the weight increase after 1 month of feeding was merely 5kg. Needles to say that I found traces of corn inside the pen, so it is clear that he stretches the feed...no one does this for little piglets, not even the most 'kiniau' farmers.

I just want this customer (a retired policeman) to become happy with that SPM stuff and never coming back to my store again.

A real no win situation. A "big face" that listens to uneducated people and believes it all. Is told what they use (can afford) and how to use it, but never trys to understand the why? 5 kg in month 2 is just rediculous, he is the cause of death, he has already destroyed any chance of getting a decent FCR at 100 Kgs. I budget for 15kg at 60 days for costing purposes but expect much better. That is why I am introducing the two new boars. The Landrace was 100 kgs at under 5 months and the duroc at a little more. The current boar is producing piglets around 1.6 Kg at birth, but a high percentage of gilts. I have yet to determine if my previous health issues are a factor, so I cannot put that down to him yet.

The point being, if you have no idea of the impact of what someone else told you to do, how can you know what is right or wrong? Amazing Thailand!!!!

I was taught that the customer is always right and I used to believe it until I came here. I can imagine that your guy is stretching the food with something else and if it is a viral death he is just trying to blame someone else and any other reason but it being his fault, either feed induced or lack of biosecurity. Do you know the weight of this grower pig? Or the chain of events surrounding the death?

I would just let that die down by itself. If you make a point of the actual reason, then for sure you will get blamed for supplying diseased pigs. If the ten piglets were all from the same litter than it is unlikely the problem was PRRS or PPV as the pigs should have maternal immunity for longer than 2 months. I would be interested in what the disease was and how the vet tested for it.

I have the same type of ignorance issues here. Many locals think I am too expensive, currently charging 2000 baht for a 10 Kg piglet. One guy told me that I should reduce the price because the piglets do not cost me anything, they are born free. I have given up trying to explain cost recovery for the boar and sow, let alone wafes and overheads. To him that didnt count because I had already spent that money. It doesnt occur to them that most young pigs they buy are just the rubbish that the large farms wont feed and sell to some middleman with a pickup truck.

In your case selling the feed and the piglets perhaps you should provide a "How to Feed a Piglet" brochure. Maybe you should dream up a story that makes everyone happy and stays away from the issues. But do not replace the pig or return any monies! If you get pushed then offer to call in the Livestock develoment people to test this guys farm and pigs. Bet you he just disappears!

Isaan Aussie

I'm looking for some opinions on my current litters. The boar I have has been working well and to date has produced a 100% pregnancy rate. I have two very good young boars that I had been planning to bring on and get rid of Cyril. One is a Duroc and the other Landrace, both good pigs.

Here is the question. Out of four litters farrowed that he has sired , Cyril has produced over 80% gilts, best 9 of 11 piglets. What would you guys do?

If anyone is looking for a boar to breed, one of the three has to go. The two new ones are 7 and 6 months, Cyril is 15 months. They are all too good to slaughter.

Isaan Aussie

Try contacting Dok Mai Gradens in Chiang Mai. I believe they will be able to lead you in the right direction.

Isaan Aussie

Take a look at the Thai governments Board of Investment website. www.boi.go.th There are incentive programs for farming and part of the deal under BOI is foreign land ownership. If your project is of interest you will find the BOI very helpful in cutting through all the reed tape and approvals.

NOT INSPIRING ENOUGH..... What? Pigs not inspiring? Mato, sorry, but I have to disagree.

I understand that being your "own" man Is inspiring, even more so when it is financial profitable.

It is all a misunderstanding, the environment I was referring to is the part of Isaan where our plot of land is at. This area is not inspiring or have not been for me the times I have been there as a visitor (with nothing to occupy my brain with), I was not referring to the pig industry...not at all, not your life nor anybody else´s.

Also, I really appreciate your benevolent attitude. Perhaps I have not made that clear in former posts, for that I am sorry.

Hey Mato,

It is me that should apologise, I was taking the p1ss. I understand just what you were talking about. From personal experience the feeling you currently have is 100% correct.

I dont know any farangs that are living here who don't share that feeling at least occassionally. The petty jealousy and superstitions of the local people here can drive you crazy. At times it seems it doesnt matter what you do, how much you try, it is never enough. Want, want, want without a thank you or any thought of returning the favour.

IMHO, you either adapt or you get out. One thing I have learnt is you will not change anything, so just go with the flow and follow their lead. No more, no less.

What? Become one of THEM? Live local, act local? My God, you must all think I;m nuts!!!

Thanks IsaanAussie....wise words.I hope that all went well with your sow and that she provided you with many healthy piglets.

Yes she did. She is a gilt and one of the smallest pigs in the herd so I was watching carefully. Only ten but all vigorous and very much alive. The problem of the last few months seem a long way away right now. I just hope they stay there.

Having bred all 12 of my sows I know how attached you get to each one, hope your wife gets back "on the bicycle" soon after such a loss.

IA

NOT INSPIRING ENOUGH..... What? Pigs not inspiring? Mato, sorry, but I have to disagree.

I spent a large part of this morning sitting on the floor of the pen where latest mother and litter are roaming around. Piglets climbing all over me, sow giving piglets and me a gentle nudge now and then.

SPEC...(integrated adjective)..TACULAR....

guess where my motivation comes from? It isnt hard, I'm a dog person, always had a dog to pat and take away my stress, simplify life. But pigs, WOW, they might not help financially but they sure make you rich!

I musty say that it is very admirable of you Isaan Aussie to share with us all of your information you have gathered up during all this years. It must have cost you a lot, money and sweat, to learn all.

3 million might sound like a lot of money, but the ROI is about a year and a half, (if I understood all and know my maths) after all is set up and finished for operation.. of cause.

Again..many thanks

Sincerely,

Mato

Mato,

You are more than welcome, glad you find it of some help. Yes it has cost a lot to get to where I am now. And yes you know your maths, the budget numbers should start to look good after a year and a half.

What I have shared is some of my technical details, methods and personal opinions and I consider myself to have been fortunate to get it to work so far. But the game is far from over, the sty far from finished, many planned projects yet to be started and cash flow issues are a constant challenge. I hope that I havent given the impression that it has been easy because it hasn't, nor is it getting any easier. Maintaining my own drive and motivation in this environment has been, and remains my biggest challenge. I am three years into this and ROI is now just out of reach rather than over horizon.

So to those who advise others to risk only what they can afford to loose, I say this. Take what you can afford to loose and set it on fire, it would be a lot quicker and much easier!

Isaan Aussie

A question or two , if I may. Where did you get the "Guide" I have not seen them in Southern Buriram. Also , which blade are you using ?Is it the standard 3 cutter, which comes with the "weedwacker" for attacking weeds or is it the special blade , they also use for cutting trees?Answers will be much appreciated.

Feed shop in Khukhan and a multi tooth saw type blade.

Finding information to suit Thailand is not easy. I am not an expert on fruit trees but collected the attached information from the web a few months ago. Until you get some better information try reading this. The Longan information is pretty comprehensive. Sorry I cannot remember the website/s I got it from.

Rambutan Longan Mangosteen Thai Background.doc

The FAO has these to offer

Logan FAO 1.pdf

Logan FAO 2.pdf

IssanAussie, could you please give an estimate about your mashine's cost to buy such?

Also if you can give some avarage number on the productivity, ie. how long is to cut 1 rai for example.

We have a smaller rice field ( 7 rai) so, maybe harvester isnt much an option, as the field is small, but finding labourers not always easy neither.

I have a cheap Chinese type brushcutter (3,500 baht) the blade and rice guide were cheap at less than 1,000 baht from memory. The only real issue is the 2 stroke is hard to start. If you can afford it, buy a 4 stroke Honda or Stihl.

Take another look at the video to see the productivity gain. If you cut rice by hand or even watched others do it, you will see the potential gain. But note, the crop being cut is not rice and the ground is dry not water logged paddy.

I'm no spring chicken but working in our paddies in ankle to knee deep water, I can cut 1 to 2 rai per day. On drier ground you could possibly double those numbers.

A question folks.....yesterday we lost 1 of our herd from an accident in the farrowing cage,as a result of this we lost our sow and 13 piglets (due to be born tomorrow).I know that we are not meant to get emotionally attached to any members of our herd but this is the 1st time we have lost one and to tell you the truth it hurt.My poor wife sat with the Lyndy until she past away and now is so distraught that she is thinking about stopping with pig farming.My question is has anyone else experienced this? Are we too soft because this may happen again in the future and i do not want my wife to feel like this again.

Shaggy

Shaggy, I know how much losing a sow hurts, it has happened to me. I have one due to farrow this morning, hence the reason I am up and online early, waiting.

Sows are special. These are animals that you a close relationship with for two years or more, not just for a few months as one of a pen full of growing pigs. Sows are individual animals that depend on you for their well being and for that of their offspring. Unless you are close to each one you will not have their trust and be able to handle their piglets freely. Everything becomes harder and more stressful for you and especially for the pig.

Are you too soft? No, it only natural to feel the worry and the loss.

Will it happen again? Hopefully not, and it is up to you to eliminate the risk of recurrence. Have the right drugs and gear available to assist when necessary. Learn what lessons you can from this and adjust.

Your sows are expensive assets that have a major impact on farm results, but they are not pets. To be successful IMHO, you have to get tough emotionally on yourself whilst still showing calm control and affection to the pigs. We are present at farrowing to intervene and protect our investment, the awe of watching a birth is the payback not the purpose. We are farmers, not zoo keepers or animal trainers.

Some interesting questions here and a few opinions in response.

Do you have any ideas what you want to feed your pigs?.

Not sure yet. I think though that we will go with a premixed type, at least in the beginning. Any tips?

Feed is the largest component of cost. The safest bet is to select a commercial feed at the start. The costs can be reduced significantly be mixing your own feed but if you are planning on growing some of it yourself, have a careful look at the amount of cropping area you will need and the storage of those items. Take a breeding sow as an example, she will eat 1,100 kg per year (dry weight) that will mean something like 2 to 3 Rai per year per sow. Whether you grow it yourself, or buy in bulk to realise a gain, you have to store it somewhere. Mixing is not easy to get right and there are many formulations to cover. IMHO look for supplementation rather than self reliance.

we have a large concrete drying area as far away as possible (due to smell) which is also where we grow chicken. The pig sh1t creates thousands of maggots and the chicken eat these getting them fat and stopping flies, we then sell the dry sh1t per bag.

Mention was made of the smell. The smell is the result of anaerobic decomposition usually and anaerobic conditions breed pathogens such as E.Coli. IMHO not worth the risk to people or pigs. Maggots means flies. Flies mean fly blown pigs and believe me that is not something you want to deal with. Yes it has happened to me. A slight drop off in cleaning, a few lice or mite ridden chickens wandering around, and finally flies and your pigs will have nasty open wounds within days if not hours.

I´ve come across a more trivial issue though, water. As I understand it, one of the best ways to prevent decease among the pigs is to clean them regularly. I assume that the prevention of decease (by daily showers) along with the normal consumption of water adds up to a substantial amount. The plot of land we intend to use for our pig farm is a couple of kilometres from any communal water supply. Do all of you have communal water, or is there anyone who gets their water supply from a groundwater well? Would it be (to) risky to relay on a groundwater well?

After a running-in period we intend to have 200+ pigs at our farm. This is the reason behind my "water worries". Also, as explained before, our land is just outside Maha Sarakham. I don't know is there is plentiful of groundwater in the area. I do know that rainfall is far between, which doesn't help with the ground water level..

There is nothing trivial about water. A sow and litter will consume 20 litres a day, it has to be fresh, clean and cool. For a target on cleaning, my allowance is 15 litres per pig per day. Now I dont use all of that but it would indicate that for 200 pigs, you will have to have a supply of 3,000 litres for cleaning and about the same for drinking water. So you have to have a source (with or without electricity supply) of perhaps 6,000 litres a day.

I use a simple 4 inch bore and have 4,000 litres of gravity feed storage. In my area the ground water is at 6 metres with the water table rising above that in the wet season. I use a simple 1" piston pump that supplies 80 litres a minute. The only risk of relying on ground water is not checking on what your conditions are and the rate at which you can draw it off. As a practical test, smell and taste the water. If you can drink it, so can the pigs. Minerals content and sediment must be donsidered as they will both effect the drinking taps quickly.

On the hygiene side there are two issues. First the pens must be kept clean. Secondly water is not enough to do that. When you move stock, the pen must be cleaned of ALL dirt and then disinfected. I use a 170 bar high pressure cleaner and each pen is cleaned using it. You cannot get rid of all the muck with a hose. If there is any dirt left, then you are wasting your time using disinfectant.

The issue with water and waste is the total cycle, Are you adding to the pollution of the water? If the BOD and COD levels of your waste water are high then your sty is not sustainable and you will ultimately have a disease problem. Clean up the waste water before you discharge it. I use septic tanks and carbon filteration prior to release of waste water into a soak away system.

One more thing; could anyone give me an idea on how much it cost to build the holding pens?

This is impossible to answer without knowing more detail of what you are planning. My sty has been described as the Pig Hilton by some and has been built to be as easy to clean and maintain as possible. Basic size is 14 pens at 3 by 5 metres with a centre aisle 2 metres wide. I have built a loft over the top that is 4 metres wide. Each pen has a gate in front and at the back, most have adjoining gates between to allow for easy stock movement. The walls are low height with steel fencing to maximise air circulation and social interface for the pigs. Total cost was around 1 million baht and currently would be more like 1.5 at todays prices.

I am not saying that all this is necessary, but I will say it sure makes things easy.

So for 200 pigs in a grow finish operation. Five month cycle from wean to finish, means 40 pigs per month at each weight stage. For my size pens and space allowance that would mean up to 20 pens, or if you use all in all out hoop barns, 5 barns plus one cleaned and rested per month for a total of 6. Let me take a guess and say, allow 250,000 per barn.

Whatever you plan, consider biosecurity first. Not the cheap and easy Thai idea but a modern, clean and odour free environment.

To all my ramblings let me add the major startup costs. Feed. If you are going to grow finish then you will need to support 200 pigs for 5 months before getting a return. If you are going to build up a breeding herd then the time extends to 11 months minimum. If you buy the pigs then 2,000 baht per piglet is reasonable. Add around 250 kgs of feed per head at an average of say 15 baht per kg and you are looking at working capital of some 1.5 million baht.

The bottomline to establish a 200 pig operation to break even, I would allow 3 million baht.

Isaan Aussie

PS. There you go boys, rip into that!!!!

Nobody can predict price per kg however last year it started dropping in July and bottoming in November(51 baht a kg I think?), we all have to be aware of price fluctuations and not do our forcasts from top price. Which you are most probably aware of.

Scully you are right, anyone who bases their business at the top of a market is taking a huge risk instead of enjoying a brief period of opportunity. So I thought I would show my baseline numbers and try to explain a little about my operation. The figures shown below are set at 55 baht per kg live weight which was the original planning number I used. The cost base is the same as the table I posted yesterday.

The second table looks at the return from each sow per year. To me this is the most important part and the most complex.

In my case I have been running an average of 9 surviving piglets per litter since we started breeding. Currently, due to planned culling and herd replacement, the average piglet numbers stand at 5 per litter. I assume that once a gilt enters the breeding herd the clock starts ticking regardless of when she is first mated. So if I hold a gilt back to gain weight or to await a cull sow removal, it effects the herd averages.

The current high prices have allowed the final step for me to reset the parity average of my breeding herd and reduce the output while new gilts are introduced. On current costs, the average feed cost of maintaining a working sow per year is just under 14,000 per year. The second chart shows that at 55 baht per kg a sow with an average litter size of only 5 still yeilds a small gross profit. At the normal 9 piglets figure the sow's minimum contribution is a gross profit of around 100% over her costs. This occurs if 60kg pigs are sold at 55baht.

Current costing 2-5-11(sow at 55B).pdf

The obvious question is why would I sell a half grown pig at a lesser return? Well, that has to do with accomodation and the stage the business is at. My sty is designed to cater for four litters per month. However the grow/finish pens can only cater for 10 adult pigs each. So if I wean 4 litters per month I can accomodate them all in the 4 nursery pens for the next month. At that point they enter grower1, grower2 and then finish1 and 2 for a month each in turn on an All In All Out basic. So in that 5 month post weaned period I have to reduce the numbers by 25 to 30 pigs per month. So I sell weaned piglets, grow 1 pigs at 30kgs, at 60 and 90 kilos as well as finished at 100 kgs and cull stock.

What that means is I have had to develop a market for each weight class of pig. Up to 30 kgs to people looking for grow stock. Up to 90 kgs for ham pigs as a premium product if possible and those over 90 kgs to the local market or as premium bacon pigs. Along the way I am always looking for replacement gilts for the breeding stock and select them as batches of four from the same litter if possible. The reason for this being I group house 4 sows per gestation pen and I want them happy and familiar.

Going back to the tables here, I track the sow productivity on an individual basis, but more importantly on a gestation group basis. If the group is underperforming I will cull them all if I have a gilt group ready. Normally I will breed the gilts when ready and use them to fill any returns from the current sow grouping to keep the farrowing output constant. There is a market for pregnant gilts and for cull sows so there is plenty of choice on what to sell. I tend to hold the gilts until they reach 140 to 150 kgs before I breed them so I have a gilt pen which actually forms the fifth breeding females pen in the sty.

Obviously this is a bit thin on detail but I hope it helps anyone planning to start a farm or to get an idea of my business model.

Isaan Aussie

Hi!

First of all, is this a good way to invest your money?

I understand that since this thread was active the price per kg has gone up on the meet. This should mean that the all of you whom made an average of 1000 bht per pig, makes more money at present date than you did before. Is this the case or has the price of nutrient, medicine and so forth gone up as well? I.e. how much do you guys make at the moment per pig?

Regards,

Mato

I have been thinking about answering this question quite a lot lately as I seem to get asked every week. So here is a partial answer based on my current operation of farrow to finish. The costs are based on my feed usage and the sow costs are based on actuals. The price at sale is based on the current 73 baht rate for pigs above 60 kgs. Below 60 Kg prices are calculated based on standard industry norms. The percentages are gross margins so dont get too excited by the potential.

Current costing 2-5-11(litter size).pdf

Isaan Aussie

So I knew the answer before. Don't think that IA figured it out in the few sentences that he described it in. He was factoring and figuring for a long long time with many other possibilities and strategies based on what would happen with the the future herd and also the potential ramifications from where and what he was actually dealing with. Volumic amounts of reasearch, re-thinking, remembering from what and where his herd had originated and been exposed. No easy bit of forensics to say the least and to see it now described in a few sentences doesn't do justice to what it took to figure it out and also be able to deal with it. Fruity you were the wizard when it came to hogs but your protege I believe is very close to your status as "hoggy emeritus".

And of course the answer all along was in v a p o r parvo. Fluently Ford Forever

Come on you guys....put us out of our misery (please)

Too kind FEF, it was a matter of assuming the worst and solving it. Turning a blind eye will cost you the whole herd ultimately. But on occasions you need the resolve and patience to let these things run their course. The pigs effected had been vaccinated as recommended and that had not succeeded. So by exposing the whole herd to each other and planning a few farrowing timings to check immunity and disease progression seemed the best bet to me. I had expected to loose up to three or four litters but only two were effected. The first lost completely, the second (the photo posted) showed progress. The latest litter had no mummifications and only one still born. If next Tuesdays litter is the same then I will rest well knowing that any and all breeding stock exposed are now immune and I have controlled the virus.

The important point here is these things are endemic and you should assume that they will pop up sooner or later. Be that Boy Scout, be prepared and deal with them.

PS Edit: For people grow/finishing pigs. PPV is something you should be aware of but not panic over. Piglets from immune pigs will carry immunity until they are finished. The risk is that some piglets may have come from naive sources and they may be infected by those will temporary maternal immunity. If you have a continuous source you should be OK. If you source from different places then immunise them all. In buying piglets check the status of recent farrowing at the source, mummifications at difference stages (size of the mummies differs) or high numbers of still born piglets are good indicators the disease. Remember the sows usually show no symptoms of disease.

How absolutely Australian,

f...g marvelous, absolutely f..marvelous!!! Time for a beer or three............

If it was raining feminine fundamental orifices I would cop a backside.

It seems we Aussies attract bad luck where ever we go, as we attract flies back home. Maybe it is just luck, Buddhas revenge or payback for not believing in ghosts. This thread is fascinating and has made me think a lot about all the things that seem to haunt most of us living the farmer's life here.

Take the constant theft of crops which urks us but seems part of the culture here. If you think about it, most of the stuff is seasonal and the village either has none or a surplus. Is it just a matter of the Thais helping each other to clear out the extra?

Perhaps my wife is right when she says, "You think to much!" Perhaps we should all declare it as time for the integrated adjective to laid aside in favour of Time for a beer or three .... Abso..bloody..lutely

Thank you for interesting reply IsaanAussie. I will try to get this wire framed guide and give it a go. Our harvestingcosts are way to high compare to what we get from the rice so i have to try everything that can reduce the costs.

I agree that with either paid labour or harvester involvement, the returns on single crop rain fed rice growing are poor considering the area that it occupies. However the cutter is only one part of the manual process and will not directly reduce the cost much. The rice still has to be bundled, threshed and dried. The one advantage they have is in reducing the number of people needed to cut the crop.

From the few comparisoms I have done, harvesters are now the cheapest way to go and as labour availability reduces furtherm that advantage will increase.