Milford chronicle., 1955-12-30


operators and low cost producers
viii continue to find broilers a good
use Of their labor, talents, and capi-
tai in the year ahead. Producers
that usually experience production
costs above those Of their neighbOrs
may find broiler growing to be a
disappointing adventure in 1855.
With the possibility of smaller
profits from brOilers in the year
ahead, it is a good idea to investi-
gate opportunities to improve your
flock management and further re-
duce production costs. Some grow
ers may find it to their advantage
to change their financing arrange
lment as profit margin narrOWs.
Others may find the opportunities
in other farm enterprises or in non
farm employment to be IS attrac-
tive as broiler growing.
Eggs: Egg production over the
years has established itself into a
rather definite 2-year cycle. In 1855
about Is percent fewer flock re-
placements were started due to the
unfaVOrable egg price Of 1854 and
early '55. As a result, egg prices
this winter ard spring will be fav-
OFsbls particularly with feed pri-
ces down. In response to this good
egg price, poultrymen that had the
housing space have held onto their
old hens. These hens viii gradual
ly move out as they go out Of pro-
ductiOn, but it appears that enough
summer and fall hatched pullets
are available to keep production at
or slightly above present levels.
Spring prices in 1856 should aver
age above those of 1855. Late in the
placements expected because of the
present favorable egg-feed ratio
will mean more fall eggs and pri-
ces below that of the fall Of 1866.
Turkeys: The favorable prices
fOr turkeys in 1855 probably will
mean larger turkey flock in 1856
accompanied by lower prices. Early
reports on growers Intentions in
dicate more turkeys will be prOduc-
ed next year. AS of October L there
were 10 percent more breeder hens
with 8 percent increase in number
pullorum tested. This coupled with
an expected increase in the egg
productivity per bird would be the
makings Of a big increase in the
turkey flock next year. At present
the industry advisory committee is
encouraging growers to market a
part Of their breeder flocks for the
1855 holiday season rather than
hold them for breeding purposes.
The results Of this and other efforts
to reduce the 1856 crop will not be
known until early in 1856.
The market and profits from
BeltsVilles and "small whites" will
be about like that of 1855. COmpe-
titiOn from other poultry and red
meats viii be keen, but feed costs
will be below those Of a year ago.
Livestock
Hogs: Last year started off with
13 percent more hogs on farms than
a. year earlier. AS a result, hog mar
keting in the fall Of 1855 has been
considerably above normal with
prices propOrtionately lower. In
October 1855 hog prices at the
Chicago market averaged s5.40 per
hundredweight below a year earl
ier. Hog slaughter has been rum
ming between and 10 percent
above that Of the same period a
year ago.
Normally, such a situation would
cause farmers to drastically reduce
production; however, the cut-back
in hog production will be some
what less than would be expected.
Hog prices and corn prices de-
clined at about the same time so
the cOrn-hOg ratio, the barometer
for hog production, did not become
highly unfavorable-11.8 in 1865
compared with 12.5 in 1854. While
this is below the ratio hog growers
consider necessary for normal
profits, the plentiful SUPPLY of corn
not eligible for government loan
the need to keep the volume OF
sales up-and the lack of imme-
diate alternative uses for farm re-
sources has retarded the adjust
ments usually expected when the
bottom drops out of a market
Opportunities for profits from
hogs in Delaware in 1856 will be
small. Low. cost gains will be inn
pOrtant Hogs that are raised on
salvaged feed that would otherwise
be lost have low production costs
and place on some Delaware
farms. Such forms OF salvaged
feeds are down corn, and corn and
grain lost during harvest, poultry
and vegetable wastes, and in the
beef cattle feed lot.
Beef: Beef cattle numbers ap-
pear to be leveliEg off after a
steady climb for several years. bun
the plentiful supply of lower pTic-
ed feed and strong demand for beef
products will prevent any large
down turn in cattle numbers next
year. It would appear that prices
for fed cattle will be equal to OF
slightly below that of 1855. With
feed prices lawer than last year
there is an opportunity for fair
profits on beef cattle for the eff
cient farmer that knows how to
buy, manage, and market beef cat
tie.
Beef cattle on many Delaware
farms hold a similar position as
that Of hogs, salvagers Of surplus
or waste feed. Extra pasture,
roughages, off quality or lost
grain frequently can be marketed
to advantage through meat animals
Also, they offer an opportunity for
the farmer to make better use OF
labor and other resources than
would otherwise be possible.
Sheep: Very little change in