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VIRGINIA POLY ECH IC I STITU1 AND STATE UllIVERSITY LIBBARIES

FEEDER PIG PROJECT RECORD

•

Extension Division • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University • June, 1973

Name Age Club Year

Address County Zip Code

Name of Club Years in 4-H

Name of Leader Record Book 93

Who Uses This Project Record All members enrolled in the 4-H Feeder Pig Project must

complete this record. It is designed for use by the club member with two or more sows and perhaps a boar and other breeding stock. This project can be as large as facilities and interest will permit. Beginners and club members with one gilt or sow should enroll in the 4-H Breeding Gilt Project.

Each member taking this project should obtain a copy of Publication 562, 4-H Swine Breeding Guide. To get your copy, contact your 4-H project leader or Extension Agent.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. W . E. Skelton, Dean, Extension Division, Cooperative Extension Service, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061.

4-H Feeder Pig Project Record

Prepared by

H. John Gerken, Jr., Extension Specialist, Animal Science

Planning Your Project

Good planning is necessary for a successful project. This is especially true of a breeding project such as the 4-H Feeder Pig Project, which may involve a number of animals, considerable work and expense, and extend over a lengthy period of time.

For these reasons, you need to plan your project well and work out a budget of expected costs and returns. If you do this, you will be better prepared to conduct a successful project.

" The first step is to list the resources you have to work with. These should be listed in Table A and Table

B.

Table A. Beginning Livestock Inventory

Name or Number Date Wt. Value at start or of animals Sex Birthdate Obtained (lb.) when obtained

Total Value of Animals at Beginning of Project $

3

Table B. Facilities and Equipment Inventory

rnc:t tn R11v RPnt nr RPnriir Suggested Available Estimated Actual

Small pasture lot (2000 sq. ft./gilt or sow)

Adequate Shelter (20 sq. ft./bred sow)

OR

Pen and shelter with wood or concrete floor ( 1 00 sq. feet for sow and litter)

Adequate farrowing stalls

OR

Farrowing pens 8' x 8' minimum with guard rails

Facilities for boar, 1 /4 acre lot, 50 sq. ft . shelter

Feeder, watering equipment

Heat lamps for baby pigs

Small tools, brushes, etc.

Tota I cost of needed equipment $ $

4-H Feeder Pig Project Budget The sample budget given below is for a project consisting of six sows (or gilts) and one boar producing

60-70 lb. feeder pigs, two litters per year, and sows farrowing every six months. An average of eight pigs are expected to be produced and sold per litter. In the sample, three gilts are saved as replacements, two of which are selected to enter the breeding herd to replace two cull sows each year. A new boar is obtained every two years. This provides for a continuous operation that can be carried on for several years. Plans for a portable farrowing house (Plan G-2.12) and a sow farrowing system (AS-69-4) are available for use by club members planning to conduct a project of this size.

Club members with only two sows will probably use existing buildings which should be modified to provide adequate housing for sows and pigs. Housing costs will therefore vary depending on what is available to the club member. Feed and other costs are expected to be similar on a per sow basis, whether the project is large or small. Breeding costs may be higher if a boar is kept for only two sows unless arrangements can be made to share the use of the boar.

Costs and prices used in the sample budget are average values from recent years and will not always agree with prices in effect when your project is conducted. Use the most recent and accurate price information you can get to figure your budget.

Feed costs are based on the use of corn and soybean meal rations properly supplemented with minerals and vitamins. These rations are usually lower in cost than commercial rations and should be used when possible. Refer to Publication 230, Virginia Swine Nutrition, for specific suggestions.

At the conclusion of the project, compare your final results (project summary) with your budgeted estimate. Also, your final results will provide accurate information for preparing the next year's budget.

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Income & Expenses Budgeted Example My Beginning Estimate

Income: Feeder pigs ( 1)

93 pigs, 65 lb. avg. wt.

Breeding Stock 2 dry sows, 400 lb. 1 /2 cull boar, 500 lb. 1 cull gilt, 250 lb.

Total Income

Expenses: Breeding Stock ( 2)

Boar (1/2 of $150 boar per year)

Feed Breeding herd (3) Pig starter ( 4) Pig grower (5)

Marketing Costs Feeder pigs, 75 e/head Breeding stock, $1.00/hd.

Lots, Building, Equipment (6) ($45.00 per sow)

Interest on breeding stock (7)

Miscellaneous Expenses (hauling, medicine, electricity, etc.) (8)

Total Budgeted Expenses

PROFIT

Return to members labor and management (Income-Expenses)

Return per pig (Divide profit by number of pigs produced)

Price/lb 38e

me 12 e 22e

3.8e 1.oe 3.8e

1. 96 pigs produced, 3 gilts kept as replacements, select at weaning time from best litters.

2.

3.

Cull two sows each year, replace with best two bred gilts, cull extra gilt. Buy new boar every other year . If boar is not owned, a breeding charge of $5 to $7 per litter should be included in the budget.

Feed for sows= 2100 lb. per year, boar 2100 lbs., balance to grow out replacement gilts from 65 to 250 lb.

4. Estimate consumption of 45 lb. of pig starter per pig-birth to weaning.

5. Estimated consumption of 100 lb. of grower feed per pig from weaning to market at 65 lb.

lb. 6045

800 250 250

17,000 4,320 9,600

6.

7.

Total $2297.00

144.00 30.00 55.00

$2526.00

75.00

646.00 302.00 365.00

70.00 4.00

270.00

21.00

90.00

$18~.J.00

$ 683.00

$ 7.11

Price/lb. lb. Total

Based on use of existing buildings with limited modifications. Construction of new building would increase this charge to $80-$90 per sow. To cover increased building costs, sow herd would need to be increased to make better use of facilities. In this situation, two sow groups farrowing twice per year (one every three months) would be suggested.

Interest on initial investment in breeding stock at 3.5%. Sows valued at $75.00, boar at $150, total $600.00.

8. Estimated at $15.00 per sow per year.

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Keeping Records of Your Project

Use this section to keep a record of your project including the jobs done each month, the feed used, items purchased and pigs produced and sold.

Project Pictures

Picture at Beginning of Project Date Picture Taken

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Picture at End of Project Date Picture Taken

Monthly Management and Activities Calendar For each month, record the jobs done in conducting your sow and litter project.

1 ST Month

2ND Month

3RD Month

4TH Month

5TH Month

6TH Month

7TH Month

8TH Month

9TH Month

10TH Month (

11TH Month (

12TH Month (

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Feed is the largest expense in pork production. An accurate record of feed used is essential for good record keeping. Keep this record up-to-date by recording each feed transaction. Estimate the amount and value of any feed used whether actually purchased or not.

Table C. Feed Record

Date Kind of Feed Amount (lb.) Price ($) Cost($)

x xxxxxxxx Total Feed Used lb. xxxxxxxxx $

Number of days sows were on pasture ___ X number of sows X 25 e per sow per day=$ ____ _ Total feed cost including pasture$ _______ _

8

Use this section to record all other expenses other than feed, livestock, and equir· ~nt. Be sure to include such expenses as hauling, marketing charges, medicine, electricity, etc.

Table D. Record of Other Expenses

Number or Price per Total Date Type of Expense Weiaht lb. or item Value

Examole Brush One s; 1.00 $1.00

TOTAL $

Record breeding dates so you will know when to expect your sows to farrow. Consult a gestation table to find the expected farrowing date.

Table E. Breeding Record

SI RE (BOAR) FEMALE (SOW) Regis. Name Regis. Date Date

Breed Name No. Breed and I or Number No. Bred Due

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Use this section to record information about the pigs your sows farrowed.

Table F. Production Record

Farrowing No. Pig No. No. No.

Name and/or Number of Sow Date Born Gilts Boars Weaned Comments*

*Report what was done with the pigs at weaning time, performance of sow, and other comments that will be helpful in making management decisions.

Obtain copies of AS-70-13, Sow and Litter Record Card and AS-70-14, Sow Production Record from your Extension Agent. These forms will be useful for keeping records on individual litters and the lifetime production of individual sows.

Table G. Receipts (Record of income from sales).

Number Price/hd. or Total Date Item Sold Sold Weight Per lb. Value*

*Deduct any marketing expenses and record these on Table D. Total Receipts

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Table H. Final Livestock Inventory Average

Kind Number Weight Value

Sows

Boars

Gilts

Pigs

Other

Total Value $

Table I. Exhibit Record and Awards

Date Where Shown Placino Premium

Total Premiums $

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Project Summary Use this section to report what you learned and what you accomplished with your 4-H Feeder Pig

Project.

PROFIT OR LOSS

Use this table to find out if you made or lost money on your project. Compare the results with the estimate in your beginning budget.

Income

1. Value of livestock sold (G) $ __ _

2. Value of livestock on hand (H) $ __ _

3. Receipts from exhibits and awards (I) $ __ _

4. Other income $ ___ _

5. Total income (add lines 1 through 4) $ ___ _

Expenses

6. Beginning value of livestock (A) $ ___ _

7. Cost of equipment and facilities (B) $ __ _

8. Feed cost (C) $ ___ _

9. Breeding fees (if any) $ ___ _

10. Other expenses ( D) $ ___ _

11. Total expenses (add lines 6 through 10) $ ___ _

12. PROF IT OR LOSS (subtract line 11 from line 4) $ ___ _

13. Total number of pigs sold or on hand (G,H)

14. Profit (return to management and labor) per pig Divide line 12 by line 13 $ ___ _

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TAKING A CLOSER LOOK

The modern farm businessman needs to take a close look at his business to find out how to make improvements and increase profits. Here are a few key questions you should ask about your project. ·

1. What was the feed cost per pig sold? ____ (Divide the total feed bill for sows and pigs, breeding to weaning, by the number of pigs weaned).

2. What was your return for each dollar's worth of feed fed to your hogs? (Value of hogs and pigs sold plus value of hogs kept, plus change in value of breeding stock, divided by total feed bill.)

3. How much feed was required to put 100 lbs. of gain on your pigs from weaning to market? ----lbs.

4. What was your feed cost per 100 lbs. of gain from weaning to market? $ __ _

5. What was the average cost of each pig produced? $ ___ _ (Total expenses divided by number of pigs produced).

6. What problems caused losses or prevented better performance by your animals?

7. What changes should you make in your project to increase your profit next year?--------

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PROJECT STORY

Include beginning plans, program, results, future plans.

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Special Activity (Optional)

In this part of your project record, select a topic of interest to you as feeder pig producer for further study. Gather information on your topic and write a brief report of your findings in the space provided. Add extra pages if needed. Choose specific topics related to swine health, nutrition, management, marketing or pork consumption. Use farm publications, books, Extension resources and contacts with swine industry leaders to obtain your information.

4-H Activities Record

I. Club Responsibilities

Number of meetings your club held this year. ___ _

Number you attended. --------

Offices held in 4-H club work this year.

Committees you served on. ------

Did you serve as a 4-H member leader? yes __ no __

11. Project Activities

Projects you completed this year.

Give location for each activity below (Local, L; County, C; District, D; State, S; Regional, R; National, N).

Talks. Give title. ----------

Demonstrations. Give title.

Exhibits. Give name of project.

Judging Contests. Give type.

Showmanship Contests. Give type.

111.

IV.

Public Speaking Contests. Give title.

Other Activities Place a check (y) beside the following activiti~ and events in which you participated.

( ) Project tour ( ) Project workshop ( ) Judging school ( ) Fitting and Showing school ( ) Officer training ( ) Leadership training ( ) Community service project ( ) 4-H Church Sunday ( ) National 4-H Club Week ( ) County Camp ( ) Conservation Camp ( ) TV Camp ( ) Electric Congress ( ) State 4-H Congress ( ) National 4-H Congress ( ) 4-H Citizenship Short Course ( ) 4-H Citizenship Conference ( ) Achievement Day ( ) Health Check-up by Doctor ( ) Dental Check-up by Dentist ( ) News articles written, No. __ ( ) Radio programs, No. __ ( ) TV programs, No. __ ( ) Others

I I

4-H Awards and Honors

List those received this year.

Date project completed. _______ _;