COST OF HOLDING hOGS 



In the interest of feed conservation, hogs should be marketed at about 250 

 pounds weight, but congestion in hog markets is causing farmers to hold them to heavier 

 weights. Will the additional gain in weights pay for costs of holding these hogs? 



The experimental data in the table below show that the quantity of feed re- 

 quired per pound of gain increases from k,2 pounds for 180- to 200-pound hogs, to five 

 pounds for 280- to 300-pound hogs. Using present feed prices and with a hog ration of 

 90 percent corn and 10 percent protein supplemient, the cost of gain is 1.3 cents per 

 pound more on the 280- to 500-pound hogs than on 220- to 2U0-pound hogs. Thus the 

 feed cost of the 60-pound gain would be $6.0i»- with protein supplement at $80 per ton 

 and corn at $1.07 per bushel, or $6.95 if corn costs $1.25 per bushel. At $13-75 per 

 hundred, the value of this' 60-pound gain would be $8.25. 



Although feed costs on Illinois farms may vary one way or another from these 

 experimental data, the relationship between costs of gains at different weights should 

 hold. These data suggest that fanners in surplus corn areas cannot afford to take 

 price discounts nor excessive shrinkeige on medium weight hogs at temporarily congested 

 markets in preference to holding them to heavier weights. Neither should hogs be fed 

 to 280 to 500 pounds if they can be marketed at support prices. 



Feed Requirements and Costs of Gains for Hogs at Various Weights 



Feed requirements 180-200 lb. 220-2^0 lb. 280-500 lb. 



Feed required to make 20 lb. of gain 83.5 lb. 89.6 lb. 99.8 lb. 

 Feed per pound gain k.2 lb. k,^ lb. 5.O lb. 



Cost of feed per pound gain: 

 (90^ corn; 10^ protein) 



(a) Protein supplement at $80.00 ton 



Corn at $1.07 bu. 8.7 cts. 9.O cts. 10. 3 cts. 



(b) Protein supplement at $80.00 ton 



Corn at $1.25 bu. 10.0 cts. 10.7 cts 12.0 cts. 



--L. F. Stice 



