COST OF PRODUCING HOGS IN IOWA AND ILLINOIS 13 
‘In 1921, the average gross cost of maintenance per sow bred for the 
one-litter producers was $22.62 for an average period of 8.04 months. 
In 1922, for a similar class of producers the average cost was $19.74 
per sow bred for a period of 7.47 months. The cost per sow bred was 
equivalent to a cost of $2.81 er month in 1921 and $2.64 per month 
in 1922. When the cost of maintenance of the breeding herd is 
expressed in terms of weaned pigs, it equaled $4.75 per pig in 1921 and 
$4.61 in 1922. The appreciation, or average increase in value per 
sow, was only 65 cents in 1921 but increased to $5.50 in 1922. This 
large increase in value is accounted for by falling hog values in 1921 
and rising hog values in 1922. Appreciation in value of the breeding 
herd amounted to 14 cents per pig in 1921 and $1.28 in 1922. 
The farms producing 2 litters per year had an average gross cost 
of maintenance of the breeding herd per sow bred of $26.04 for an 
average period of 10.26 months in 1921 and $21.33 for 9.37 months 
in 1922. This was equivalent to $2.54 per month in 1921 and $2.28 
per month in 1922. On the basis of total spring and fall pigs weaned 
the gross cost of maintenance was $3.57 per pig in 1921 and $3.35 
in 1922. Appreciation in value of the breeding herd was $1.13 per 
sow in 1921 and $5.24 in 1922. These costs are itemized and pre- 
sented in Table 6 for one and two-litter systems of production. 
TABLE 6.—Average cost of maintenance of the breeding herd for the years 1921 
and 1922 
One litter per year Two litters per year 
Item 1921 1922 1921 1922 
Per sow| Per pig| Per sow] Per pig |Per sow] Per pig | Per sow} Per pig 
ING DeROU Nerds. Be foe Fs 
Nan peROL SOWS-Ss — 
Number of months on farm--_-_______- 
Items of cost: 
LPLWG bes BB oily 2) es PER Rea OC Ree ee $2. 07 
(PASE ee ete St rose Sh .16 
PpOpeeee eee . 38 
HWaQtipiiewps yesre pe as eh ; . : L . 84 mea ls} 
VID IRS SS a bee (eee : : : . 01 
Overheads. sie: 72-34) oe SR ests ‘ . 09 
WIGAN erISKE mo ee te ee ce ‘SET 
[Faxes wIncigontals: <2 60202 ee . 04 
Interest on breeding herd____________ . 20 
Interest on lot and equipment____-___- . 16 
Gross cost per year____-_________ 3% 35 
Appreciation in value___.____________ . 82 
ING: Costs = ee tT a 2. 53 
A comparison of average costs of the breeding herds when one and 
two litters are raised each year shows that the cost of maintenance 
er sow for the year is somewhat higher when two litters are raised, 
argely because they are on the farm for a longer period of time. 
When they were reduced to a monthly basis there was practically 
no difference during this two-year study. 
