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Clinton News-Record, 1946-06-20, Page 5'71I1.7IISDAY, JUNE 20, 1946 CLINTON NWS -RECORD Increase in Price RAGE FIVE of Export Bacon Explained L.W. Pearsall Provides Statistical Breakdown In response to a request from --Ontario Hog Producers' Association, L, W. Pearsall, secretary -manager, % Canadian Meat Board, has written the • following detailed explanation of many questions now being raised by hog producers in connection with the recent increase in price of export bacon: There appears to be a general • conclusion among producers that, since there is a set price for export bacon, this should in turn provide a uniform and set value for hogs. This is not necessarily the case,. and the reason should be clearly understood by the producer in endeavouring to relate export price of bacon to the price of hogs. The meat board pays all packers the same price, quality considered, for bacon. at Canadian seaboard. This provides what is considered a floor price in the various areas, depending on freight costs based on distance to seaboard, There is also a ceiling 'pried. on domestic pork products which is some- what higher than the export value. Forsome time past, the meat board has been requisitioning bacon for ex- port supply to the point where it is reasonable to assume that all domestic products can be sold at the ceiling price. Hog prices may, therefore, -fluctuate between the floor and the ceiling, and the average price will depend on the percentage going into export and the percentage left for distribution in the domestic market. For example, if only one out of every ten hogs is exported and the packer received domestic ceiling prices for nine and export price for one, the total value world be greater than if nine hogs were sold at export price and one in the domestic market. Even if all hogs were sold at a Hog Chairman WILLIAM TURNBULL Brussels, who is chairman of the Hog Committee, Huron Federation of Agriculture. Other members are Charles Coultes, Belgrave, and W. R. Lobb, Clinton, R.R. 2. uniform seaboard price for export, it would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to give the exact value for the hogs at any given point or market. As an illustration, two farmers are in the market for feeder cattle. Even if they could be assured of the same price •on selling their finished cattle, their ideas of feeder cattle values might differ depending on eircnm- CREDIT- Where Credit Is Due The Canadian Farmer has done an amazing war job. He is now faced with an even greater peacetime job - feeding the world's starving people. We shall be pleased to continue finding the best possible market for your poultry and eggs as vile have in the past. Livermore 'Egg Grading Station Phone 214 In the Heart of the Business Section Clinton stan,ces. One farmer might feed more efficiently. One has cheap grab's which' might otherwise go to waste, where- as, on the other hand; the cost of grazing to the other farmer might be substantially higher. These and other factors would determine their ideas on what they can pay for feeder cattle. The same conditions are applicable,. although to a lesser degree in the packing business. One packer operates more efficiently and turns•out a bet- ter Product. His overhead is relativ- ely less and, what is more important, he may be able to utilize by-products to better advantage than another. The value of by-products is an im- portant factor in determining hog values. To illustrate -a change of two cents a pound In lard is equival- ent to approximately 20 cents a hog or 13 cents a hundred pounds, warm dressed weight. All these factors combined may not amount to more than 10 or 15 cents on a hundred pounds carcass weight; otherwise„ some packers would shortly go broke and the others would get all the hogs. These differences indicate why it is impossible to give an exact value for hogs and to endeavor to do so would be very misleading. Notwithstanding these variations, however, it is impossible to give an approximate value, and it is highly desirable that the producer should understand the basic factors in deter- mining hog value, both export and domestic. The following statement shows what may be considered an average out -turn from a good type bacon hog carcass although there inay be a variation of one or two per cent in Wiltshre yield. TABLE 1 Breakdown of 150 Ib. Warm Dressed Carcass for Export Weight Pounds Wiltshire sides 116.25 Head 8.62 1.23 3.77 •50 1.01 3.47 .68 2.40 Neck Fat 1.66 Blade Bone .58 Bones 4.13 Trim 1.61 Scrap .19 Shrink 4.00 Total 150.00 The following tables show the ex- port prices being paid for bacon at Canadian- seaboard prior to the price increase on April 1, and also the price schedule now in effect: TABLE II Price Schedule for Wiltshire Sides from Hogs Slaughtered on and after Jan. 2, 1945. 50-55 55-65 65-70 70-75 lb. lb. lb. lb. A-1 $22,25 822,75 $22.25 520.20 A-2 21.75 . 22.25 21.76 19.70 B-1 21.65 22.15 21.65 19.60 B-2 21.05 21.45 21.05 19.00 TABLE III Price Schedule for Wiltshire Sides From 'Hogs Slaughtered on and after April 1, 1946 50-55 55-65 65-70 70-75 ib. lb. lb. lb. A-1 $24.96 525,50 524.45 $22.45 A-2 24.56 24.85 24.05 22.05 A=3 24.20 23.45 B-1 24.35 24.60 23.85 21.86 B-2 23.95 24.20 23.45 21.45 B-3 23.60 22.85 Prior to April 1, a 150 -pound warm dressed "A" grade hog, priced at $17.75 per 100 lbs., Toronto, less con- demnation insurance, would cost the packer $26.49. Assuming this produced a Wiltshire side grading A-1 sizeable (55-65 lbs.) 'and the packer received the top Wilt- shire price of 522.75 per hundred pounds, the packer's return for the Tenderloin Leaf Lard IKidneys Tongue Feet Tail Fat � d The 1etail Merchants m as ''(YOCY rely on ande active partici- ien s, ] nein shej,sour community. pants in the ilk our drtr moist hurrtes Sfanyoneissicky, often, if a up the prescription; andtelavailable, doctor is not he can and will render firsy t -aid in an emergency. And isn't it marveutcher cater llous the m your our Iwantsa d whims? What woulYour d you _could you -do h without them? he ?every- thing ve 1' hardware m tin tacks y - thing you needs frons o And think of the seas swheelbarrows• sof specialty merchants whom you rely o afor r shoes, wearing apparel,ther and the thou your co nfort and one oLife simply that add to smoothly without could not run retail merchants. NinCanada's obliging of a hundred retail merchants no n life insurance and thousands are valued policy- ownerof them owners in the Confederation Life Association. Li In this Seventy -Fifth Annive>, Year, the Confederationi tribute Association is glad to pay' publicly to the retail merchants Canada. Before you insure consult-- oriel e 'ation Uj'e TORONTO HEAD OFFICE Association, d CANADIAN FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE Statement of CANADIAN FARMERS' ACHIEVEMENTS IN WARTIME PIRO'DUCTION Meats, Dairy Products, etc, Cattle Sheep and Marketings Lambs (Yards & (Total Hoge (inspected) Plants) Marketings) Head Head 1,183,305 753,062 1,209,964 772,241 225,274 1,344,794 829,666 6,232,087 1,288,61.7 833,147 7,149,839 1,243,888 887,199 8,863, 000 1,528,947 1,039,691 Head 1939 3,628,369 1940 .. 5,456,844 1941 1942 1943 1944 Total 5 wan years - 34,000,000 6,615,600 5,114,000 Beef Mutton and Pork Production Production Lasob (000's omitted) lbs. lbs. lbs. Av. '35-'39 625,120 '703,731,000 61,554,000 1940 865,404 717,467,000 52,630,000 1941 1,060,761 812,072,000 58,594,000 1942 1,189,098 822,530,000 56,732,000 1943 1,395,705 892,969,000 62,239,000 1944 1,504,586 960,991,000 63,542,000 Total 5 war years 5,915,554 4,206,049,000 293,737,000 Dairy Products Butter Production lbs. (Creamery) lbs. 15,282 '254,773,000 16,000 264,724,000 1.6,549 285,848,000 17,488 284,591,000 1'7,519 311,709,000 17,604 298,252,000 Total Milk Production (000,000's omitted) Av. '35-'39 .1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 Total 5 war' years 85,160 1,445.000,000 Egg Purchase Egg Production ' for Ebcport (000's omitted) Doz. Doz. Av. '35-'39 219,$32 235,525 244,468 280,688 315,608 350,948 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 Cheese Production (factory) lbs 119,925,000 145,339,000 151,866,000 207,431,000 166,274,000 180,160,000 851,070,000 Wool Production lbs. 16,022,000 14,895,000 15,254,000 16,477,000 17,818,000 19,279,000 Woman Director MRS. O. G. ANDERSON Wingham, who is active in Federa- tion work as one of the six women of the Board of Directors of Ontario Federation of Agriculture. For reasons outlined earlier in this letter, the meat board have always considered that it would be incorrect and misleading to name any arbit- rary price for hogs as being equival- ent to export value. On the basis of available facts, however, it was con- sidered that "A" grade hogs at Tor- onto were worth from 517.65 to $17.75 Buying, killing and eat- en the basis of export prices prior to ting April 1. It was obvious that the proportion of hogs going into the 15,336,000 5 domestic market at ceiling prices 37,756,000 during periods of short supply would 33,642,7501 raise the average value of all hogs 82,435,380 above these prices, but, on the basis of export value, the above was con- sidered to be a floor price. By reason of increase in export bacon prices and domestic price ceilings on pork, the value of export hogs has been in- creased by about $2.00 per hundred, which would mean hog prices in Tor- onto of 519.65 to 519.75 on "A" grade hogs delivered. Whether or not the indicated floor prices should be a nickel or a dime higher or lower might quite properly be questioned, but with this basic information the producer should be able to determine whether hog, and it was on this basis the an- or not he is getting a fair return for neuncement was made that the aver- his hogs in relation to export value. age increase to the producer would Packers' expenses for killing, be equivalent to about $2.00 per hog, Packers' and curing also. vary as between plants and are affected to a considerable degree by volume. A. plant with fixed charges, i.e., taxes, insurance ,and interest on investment, of say 5200 a week, and. killing 1,000 hogs weekly, has a cost for overhead of 20 cents per hog, If the kill is doubled, the overhead is cut in half -to 10 cents per hog. The expenses shown below are considered an aver- age for Ontario plants. The freight and icing costs from plants in west- ern Canada would be substantially greater. In submitting these costs, it should be added that export packers have claimed for some time that the above allowances are not sufficient to meet the higher wages now being paid packinghouse employees and the in- creased cost of supplies. The following tables show the com- parative export value of a 100 -pound warm dressed weight "A" grade hog carcass prior to and after the increase in price for export bacon which be- came effective on April 1: TABLE IV Export Value Prior to April 1 Total Revenue Packers Receive: Por Hog Basis 1161% lbs. "A" grade No. 1 (55-65 lbs.) @ $22.75 per 100 Lbs, Canadan seaboard , $26.45 Killing and cutting credits , 3.15 $29.60 Total Expenses: 150 lbs. "A" grade car- cass at 517.70 less 1% condemnation insur- ance , $26.42 Freight to seaboard, 118 lbs. @ 36c .43 Icing, 118 lbs. @ 10 .12 Curing and baling includ- ing supplies 1.68 .97 TABLE V 29.62 Export 1Value After April 1 Total Revenue Packers Receive: Per Hog Basis 1161% lbs. "A" grade No. 1 (55-65 lbs.) @ $22.50 per 100, lbs. Canadian seaboard . $29.30 Killing and cutting credits . 3.30 _ 532.60 Total Expenses: r 150 lbs. "A" grade ear- cass @ $19.70 less 1/2% condemnaton insuranee$29.40 Freight to seaboard, 118 lbs. @ 36e .43 Icing, 118 lbs. @ 10c .12 Curing and baling, in- cluding supplies 1.68 Buying, killing and cut- ting • .97 $32,60 era. Total 5 war years 1,437,000 84,516,000 Canada's Food Exports During the War, 1940-44 inclusive Bacon and Pork 2,677,000,000 lbs, Beef, 1944 and 6 months of 1945 *197,562,977 lbs: Cheese 601,500,000 lbs. Eggs . 180,149,000 doz. Evaporated Milk 180,000,000 lbs. Butter • 18,500,000 lbs, * (Equivalent 447,000 head cattle). export porton of the hog at Canadian seaboard would be $26.45 as compared with the cost of the hog of $26.49. It is quite clear that, at a hog price of $17.75 in Toronto, the packer must recover from the 29t/s pounds of by- products listed above, the cost of pro• cessing, including wages, plant ex- penses, supplies, burlap,' curing ma- terial and freight to seaboard. When hogs were selling at 519.50 at Tor- onto, the cost to the packer was over 52,50 more per hog than the value at seaboard of the export portion of the hog. On April 1, the'pr•ice for "A" grade No. 1 sizeable Wiltshire sides (55-05 lbs.) was increased from $22,75 to 525.20. This increased the export value of a hog, from which is pro- duced "A" grade sizeable Wiltshire sides, from $26.46 to $29.30 Canadian seaboard, or a total increase of $2.85 per hog. In terms of hog price, warm dressed weight, this is equivalent to an increase of $1.90 per hundred pounds, warm dressed carcass weight (285/150 x 100). In other words, all other factors being equal, the increase in price of bacon on the export por- tion of the hog is equivalent to 51.90 per hundred pounds, warm dressed weight, or $2.85 on a 150 -pound car- cass. At the sarne time that the export bacon prices were increased, the war- time prices and trade board increased domestic ceiling prices on pork which, ir. turn increased the value for a portion of the by-products of an ex- port hog. Some of the items such as bone, scrap. and tankage material were not affected, It was estimated that this increase would be equivalent to at least 10 cents a hundred pounds, which should make the total increase on an export hog $2.00 a hundred made up of 51.90 on the export por- tion and ten cents on the domestic portion of the carcass. The total in- crease in the hog price of $2.00 a hundred on a 150 -pound carcass would, therefore, be $3.00 per hog. At the same time the premium was reduced from $3.00 a hog to 52.00 a 34,000,000 HOGS 6,615,600 CATTLE 5,114,000 SHEEP Enough meat to feed millions of people has been producjed by Canadian Farmers during the past five years. Enough to feed millions more, must and will be produced in the years to come, As a Tribute to Canadian Farmers we say "WELL DONE! CARRY ON!" J. A. PETRIE CHOPPING MILL CLINTON trvv.,P0,04.4'44vri' Our Hats Are Off To Canadian Farmers 1 The greatest agricultural production in history was accomp- lished by Canadian Farmers during World War II. During the coming years, they be called on to further increase this record production to feed a starving world. It is indeed a pleasure for "Your Favourite Builders' Supply House" to join in this SALUTE TO AGRICULTURE swam V. D. FALCONER Lumber, Builders' Supplies PHONE 97 Coal, Wood, Lime and Cement CLINTON