Posted by DLMKA on November 25, 2015 at 12:26:28 from (65.121.44.50):
In Reply to: Butcher Hog Price posted by Matt E. on November 25, 2015 at 09:17:44:
I started raising pigs last year out on grass/dirt. Two sows, grind my own feed (have to buy corn, SBM, and mineral + occasionally some oats for sows). I'm attempting to move pigs to new paddocks every week or so to minimize parasite load in the soil and keep it from just getting mashed down to bare dirt. I have Bershires which are not the fast growing York/duroc/landrace crosses used in confinements. If I wanted tasteless pork I'd get it at the store. The first hogs we've taken to market have taken about 8 months to finish, I'm limit feeding in pans and not free feeding. It takes almost 1000 lbs of feed to finish one to 280-300lbs. You can't buy piglets for much less than $50-75 on Craigslist. If you JUST take into account feed and piglet cost (direct expenses) it costs about $240 to finish one.
At $1/lb your BIL is making $40-45 per head. Let's assume he's just doing it for fun and raising 10 at a time and it takes him 30 minutes twice a day to go feed and water, check fence, make repairs, etc. He makes about $1.80/hr for his labor. Throw in all the indirect expenses for feeders, waterers, bedding, fence, electricity for fencer and well and he's likely losing money.
I charge by hanging weight at locker, not live weight and get $2.75/lb hanging which works to be ~$2.06/lb live. I've got a waiting list on hogs with paid deposits through December next year. I figure I still make less than $10/hr. I'm not going to get rich doing it and sometimes I question why I waste my time but I enjoy doing it and I can feed my family better quality meat without antibiotics, dewormers, and confinement buildings. My pigs roll in mud, lay in the sun, eat grass and weeds, and root up dirt like pigs ought to. I feel good knowing every one I bring to the locker has had just one bad day in their life, I'm okay with that. Plus, it gives me a reason to buy tractors and old equipment and farm like my grandpa did.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Sunday Drives - by Cowboy. Summer was finally upon us here in Northern Maine. We have two types of industry up here, one being "Forestry" (Wood Products) and the other "Farming" (Potatoes). There is no shortage of farm tractors and equipment around here! I have been restoring old Farm Tractors for the past 6 years, and have found it easier and less expensive to hit all the auctions and purchase whole tractors for parts needed. My wife who works at a local school, and only has weekends and summers off, while on t
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
