II. Performance and Costs in the Present System 

 of Live Poultry Assembly 



In New England in 1957, the average volume of poultry hauled per 

 truck year, per mile of travel, and per man-hour generally increased 

 with the size of assembly firms. The rate of utilization of truck capacity 

 was also higher for larger firms. Increased efficiency with size of firm 

 may be the result, in part, of a close relation between the size and type 

 of firm, as well as the result of cost savings as size of firm increases. 

 Table 3 summarizes measures of performance efficiency, by type of firm, 

 for 75 live poultry assemblers. 



The decline in the number of assembly firms and changes in their 

 characteristics have increased the overall efficiency of the assembly 

 system. Newer types of assembly firms have realized substantial econo- 

 mies through expanded volume and increased control over it. But the 

 efficiency of assembly operations may still receive little attention from 

 older-types of firms, particularly live stores and small slaughterers, be- 

 cause of the wider margin these firms obtain from processing and/or re- 

 tailing. 



Labor Performance 



Rising labor productivity in response to change in type of firms from 

 the old to the new results from the following factors: increased crew 



Figure 2. Relationship Between Pounds Handled per Man Hour of Total 

 Time of Labor and Annual Volume, 75 New England Live Poultry Assemblers, 

 1957 



5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 



ANNUAL VOLUME ASSEMBLED (MILLION POUNDS) 



13 



