Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-17

II will be noted that the average
amount of corn fed per farm was ~
bushels, which at the time was worn =
about rs cents per bushel or total Oh
s94.7O. other concentrates valued at
81 60 were fed. making the total con-
centrates used S1O3.30. The average
amount of grazing crops was 42.2 acres
which was grazed for IA months. the
grazing acreage calculated at the cost
of producing the crops amounted 10
sAe761. making the total feed cost
$500. 90.
The cost Of breeding fees was very
small item, averaging only cents per
farm. Where hogs were an important
mart of the business, the farmers usual
lv kept a pure-bred boar. The veterinary
service and cholera serum, were quite
q large item on some farms, due to
outbreaks of cholera, the average ex-
pense of these items being $l4.Z6. II
was noticeable that cholera losses were
less frequent, and, therefore, much
lighter on farms where the hogs were
not allowed to run on open range. On
some farms in Decatur county 1t is the
practice to employ veterinarian 10
administer the simultaneous treatment
or injections at the same time OF the
cholera serum and virus TO pigs shortly
after thew are weaned. The object of
inoculating the pigs when they were
Young was to minimize the cost OF
serum and virus. it being approximately
60 cents Der head at this time. AS TINS
method insures permanent immunity, II
would seem to deserve consideration.
The average cost of dips, crude OIL
medicine, etc, per farm was Sf'Lo' Inc
man labor in feeding and attending to
the hogs averaged a little over fifty
five DAVIS for the year, amounting to
s66. 40 The mule labor used in connec-
ton with the hogs was nearly eight
DAYS and totaled SS.36 for the year.
The hogs were charged with their pro
rata of s222 for interest on the money
necessary to operate the farm. and with
81 Sc, their pro rata of the implement
cost The interest on the investment
in stock hogs amounted to $2S.S1. The
upkeep and interest on buildings and
eouipmenC chargeable to hogs was
S241e per year and the taxes amounted
IN 63 cents. Thus the aggregate of costs
other than feed was S15443 which with
the feed cost of s600.90 made a total
gross cost per farm of s755.33. Sub
tracing from this the credits Tor
manure and breeding fees of SASS,
leaves a total net cost of S71O.75. The
total live weight gain was 1928
pounds per farm, therefore, the net cost
per 100 pounds gain was s5.SS, or a
cost per pound of SIS cents.
While the average cost per pound gain
on 2lS farms was 5.SS cents, on 90
farms having an average of about s
sows, the cost per pound was 5.66 cents.
The highest cost of "a cents is shown
in the last column on farms having an
average Of ia sows. but as this group
represents only two farms il should
not be used in comparison with the
larger groups of farms representing a
more reliable average. With the excep-
ton of the last group, the classification
according to size of the hog enterprise
as measured by the number of sows
kept per farm indicates that the range
I'm costs as Influenced by this factor is
rather small, it being from 5.66 to 604
cents per pound of 1--we weight gain. The
data presented indicates that under ex-
listing conditions the cost per pound de-
creases as the number Of sows in
creases until to 10 sows are kept per
farm, and when the sows are increas ed
beyond this number the cost per pound
of gain increases.
Other fluctuations show that gain in
live weight is produced one-half cent a
hound cheaper where two filters per
SOW are farrowed each year instead Of
one litter. A comparison was made of
farms where the open range was utilized