The Rural Voice, 1978-02, Page 9A Matter of Principal
by J. Carl Hemingway
Dressed
Wt.
188
164
181
159
172
164
168
169
Back
Fat
2.9
2.4
3.0
2.6
3..3
3.3
3.2
3.4
1978 GRADING
Index Price
107
107
105
103
102
100
100
100
68.46
68.46
67.18
65.90
65.26
63.98
63.98
63.98
SS
5128
5112
$121
$104
$112
$104
$107
$108
Per
Pig
70
27
60
78
25
93
49
13
1977 GRADING
Dressed Back Index Price SS Per
Wt. Fat Pig
188 2.9 91 58.22 5109 .22
164 2.4 109 69.74 5114 37
181 2.4 91 58.22 5105 38
159 2.6 105 67.18 5106 81
172 3.3 102 65.26 5112 25
164 3.3 102 65.26 5107 03
168 3.2 102 65.26 5109 64
69 3.4 100 63.98 5108 13
8 pigs shipped 5900.15, Jan. 3, 1978 - Value under previously
grading regulations 5872.83.
On Jan. 3. 1978 I shipped eight pigs to market. These were
paid for under the new hog grading regulations introduced Jan. 1
v.ith the base price of 563.98 for index 100.
The chart of figures under "1978 grading" are copied directly
from the settlement form which I received from the Ontario Pork
Producer's Marketing Board.
The figures under "1977 Grading" are my calculations of what
I would have received had there been no change in the grading
regulations. I hope they are correct.
Probably the first figure you will notice is the t$27.32 in the
total for the eight pigs. Surely that is a pleasant surprise.
Hoy. ever v: hen you look at the reason for the increase you will
notice that it is extra I received for 2 "heavies" under the
previous grading regulations. But how much did 1 actually gain?
According to feed conversion tests it requires 3.5 lbs. of feed
to produce one pound liveweight from 40 lbs to 220 lbs which
should give a dressed ‘:eight of 165 to 170 lbs.
However v. e are told that it requires five pounds of feed per lb.
of gain after about 200 lbs. live weight. Therefore my "heavies"
cost me an extra of about 55.50 in lost feed conversion.
If you look again you v. ill find that the break even point in the
two grading regulations seems to be 170 lbs. dressed weight.
Ot course it is easy to have some heavies but that is simply
poor management. I have a set of scales set up so that it is quite
handy. 1 paid $2.50 for the scales at a farm sale a few years ago.
Other costs v.'ere my own labour, which doesn't seem to be worth
much, and a little "scrap" lumber.
Much more important than the gain or loss on what used to be
"heavies" is the effect of the heavier weight on the amount of
pork going to market.
We have been in the habit of judging the market prospects by
the number of hogs going to market each week. We have been
marketing something like 555.000 over the past few months. If
the dress weight goes up 10 lbs. which it must if we are to get an
equal return on the nevi grading regulations, it will mean
550,000 lbs of pork or the equivalent of about 3500 more pigs
going to market each week.
1 wonder how much an increase of that size will drop the base
price for our pork?
Apparently those who manage to devise these "improved"
Gain or Loss on
1978
Grading Change
1519.48
-52.10
1516.22
-52.03
0
-2.10
-2.15
t$27.32
regulations to improve the farmers income always manage to
come up with a plan that forces increased production.
This kind of planning for farmers doesn't seem to match up
very well with the "lay-offs" taking place in International
Harvester and Massey Ferguson plants. Apparently the
Directors of these companies don't believe that increased
production is the road to higher corporation profits. Why
shouldn't farmers try their methods?
What we have been doing doesn't seem to have worked too
much to our advantage over the past 40 years.
WE HAVE IT
•a complete line of beef feed available. We can
custom formulate your requirements with the new
product "RUMENSIN" - ask for it.
•a complete selection of fertilizers and seed grain.
Act now for early delivery discounts.
•beet pulp available now at competitive prices.
AND COMING SOON
a new service from Listowel. Have your feed de-
livered in our "NEW" Auger Truck.
- less separation
- faster unloading
- higher molasses level for feed available.
SHUR-GAIN...
FOR THE
MODERN
FARMER
ANIMAL
HEALTH
PRODUCTS
SHUR-GAIN
FARM SERVICE
250 Wallace Avenue South Telephone 291-4660
Listowel, Ontario
THE RURAL VOICE/FEBRUARY 1978, PG. 9.