The Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-03-17, Page 32•
Page 16—Farm Progress '93
•
- - RUGRE S 9
44
Pork producer adapts to changes in his industry
by Ron Wassink
CHESLEY--It's pretty difficult to
pencil out profit in the pork
business if you are considering
expansion by building new, and
often expensive facilities.
Richard Ross, a Fergus area pork
producer, knows the value of a
dollar. When he was faced with
expansion a few years ago, it didn't
make sense to invest a lot of capital
in more buildings. Instead, he chose
the least expensive route.
When Ross spoke to fellow pork.
producers at the recent Swine Day
in Chesley's Grey -Bruce Fanciers'
Week, he left many skeptics.
However, Ross has proven that
pigs will grow just as fast acted just
as healthy in inexpensive quonset
type "finishing barns".
Beside his old bank -barn are two
such quonset huts, or Port -A -Huts,
that hold 45 pigs each.
The building are on skids and are
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ATWOOD
open at one end. Pigs are allowed
to roam -in an outside penned area,
winter and summer: The way Ross
tells it, "pigs like playing in the
snow as tong as they have a dry
place to get in."
The only down side he's found is
the system requires straw.
Ross' experiment has paid
dividends and he advised farmers
that he never lets himself forget that
"I'm farming for the profit. When
the profit goes, so will I."
Ross also said the days are gone
when governments will bail them
out in tough times. He blamed
governments as the reason Ontario
is one of the highest cost places to
produce hogs. •
In explaining his 118 -sow
operation, Ross said his farm has
very little disease. No veterinarians
or other hog farmers are allowed in
the barns, • except in rare
circumstances. Dead stock removal
trucks aren't allowed on the •
property. Medication is only used to
treat disease and medicated feed is
only usedin a prestarter until
shortly after weaning.
"A 100 ml bottle of penicillin
lasts us about two months."
Fly control is 'achieved using
Muscovy ducks. Ross said he used
to spend $25 a month for fly bait.
Now he buys a dozen ducks a year
for 55 cents each, and they keep the
fly population "down to a very low
level."
Ross offered several ways farmers
should look at to minimize
expenses. He said he seldom buys
new machinery, preferring to build
or rebuild his own. If he can't fix
it, he buys used machinery.
He also said farmers should
negotiate with the banks for the
best deal as "some will be willing
to sharpen their pencils to get your
business."
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He said' he vies to keep abreast of
the latest in technology and
installed a computer system about
seven years ago.
"Always remember to be a
business person first and a farmer
second."
He said farmers should not be
influenced by the traditional way of
doing things and that they should
not allow themselves to be
influenced' by their neighbors.
At the same time, he said farmers
should not be afraid to adopt new
ideas.
"You are the best judge of what's
right for your operation....don't
expand facilities with borrowed
money."
He also said farmers should look
at diversifying, either in other
business of investments.
"Don't put all your eggs in one
basket."
Lastly, he said farmers should
take time for vacations at least once
a year.
Ross • is a private pilot and is
involved on the Canadian Owners •
and Pilots Association board of
directors. He said farmers should
have off -farm hobbies or outside
interests.
By doing so, he said you keep a .
healthy perspective on .business.
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