Custom Hog Feeding

Custom Hog Feeding “We keep getting new customers right along ” says Russell Grant operator of the first and biggest custom hog feeding operation in Kansas Since he pioneered the new service five years ago about two dozen other lots with a combined capacity of 150 000 head annually have appeared on the scene Grant owner of Ellinwood Hog Finishing Ellinwood Kan says about half o f the 6 000 feeder pigs he custom feeds come from hogmen who farrow the pigs then send them to him at weaning time The other half is sent to him from investors Grant gets paid for his facilities and services by charging 5 cents a day yardage on the pigs plus the cost of the feed which is based on a local feedmill’s price He mixed his own feed buying ingredients in car or semi-load lots plus buying grain at harvest time and storing it in hi elevator until it’s fed The owner stands the cost if a local bet has to be called Grant likes to get feeder pigs at 45 to 50 lbs and insists that new arrivals be healthy and come out of a healthy and well managed operation He does accept healthy pigs that have been through the sale ring but says the best pigs come direct from the larger farrowing operations Ninety-nine per cent of the hogs are marketed for the owners by Grant He keeps daily tabs on near-by markets and gets quotes over the phone when hogs are ready for market “Area hog buyers know we’ll have a triple-decker semi going out of here every week with hogs that will yield about 77% We get a pretty good premium for them ” says Grant Marketing of the hogs is done by the Grant at no charge to the customer The fact that customers are satisfied with results is reflected in the fact that 90% of the hogs on feed at any time are owned by repeat customers For further information contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ellinwood Hog Finishing Ellinwood Kan 67526 ph 316 564-2543

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.