Hogs preferred to job in town By JERRY WEBB Agricultural Editor Cooperative Extension Service LAUREL, Del. - Pork production is not a major farm enterprise in Delaware, accounting for no more than three per cent of total farm income. But that’s still almost $9 million yearly. Some farmers who used to raise hogs in the woods made the transition - others fell by the-way. Louis O’Neal, who farms with his father. Manning east of here, is one of those hogmen who made the switch. And like most successful producers he got bigger and better in the process • farrowing as many as 1600 pigs a year and finishing as many as 1200 UNCLAIMED FREIGHT CO. AND LIQUIDATION SALES SPECIAL ORDERS MERCHANDISE FROM MANUFACTURERS BY DEALERS AFTER BEING MADE UP, DEALERS CUSTOMERS CANCELLED, WE PURCHASED. 3-SOFA’S - REG. $4OO to $5OO-OUR PRICE $149.95 11 - LOVE SEATS - REG. $329 to $429 - OUR PRICE $105.00 8 - CHAIRS - REG. $189.95 to $289.95 - OUR PRICE $49.95 16 - BAR STOOLS, MAPLE, FULL SIZE-REG. $79.95 OUR PRICE $32.50 16 - 2 PC. SUITES EARLY AMERICAN, HERCULON & NYLON-REG. $529.00 & UP - OUR PRICE $269.00 5 - 3 PC. SUITES, SOFA, LOVE SEAT, CHAIR - REG. $599.95 OUR PRICE $329.95 5 - BENCH VISES - REG. $79.95 OUR PRICE $29.50 7 - ROCKER LOVE SEATS - REG. $369.95 OUR PRICE ■ $149.95 60 - 24 PC. SOCKET SETS - REG. $89.95 OUR PRICE $25.00 50 - BENCH VISES - REG. $59.95 OUR PRICE $19.95 ALL TYPES SEWING MACHINES, CAB. & PORT. -50 PERCENT TO 70 PERCENT OFF. 200 - RECLINERS - REG. $189.00 to $329.00 OUR PRICE $69.00 & UP 6 - BUNK BED SETS, INCL. BEDDING, MAPLE, PINE - REG. $309.95 OUR PRICE $149.95 & $169.95 30 - 3 PC. END TABLE SETS - REG. $189.95 OUR PRICE $99.95 30 - DESKS, ALL SIZES, WHOLESALE & UNDER 40 - COMPLETE BEDROOM SETS & ODD PIECES 6 - 15.3 CU. FT. DELUX CHEST FREEZERS-REG, $389.95 OUR PRICE $249.95 PURCHASED FROM ELECTRONICS CO. GOING OUT OF BUSINESS-CAR 8 TRACK PLAYERS - UNDER WHOLESALE - REG. $89.95 to $129.95 OUR PRICE $35.00-$49.00 30 - 122 PC. TOOL BOX SET - REG. $169.95 OUR PRICE $55.00 SHOW SPECIALS, PURCHASED AT CHICAGO ELECTRONICS SHOW 8 - STEREO COMP., AMrFM STEREO, TURNTABLE, 8 TRACK TAPE PLAYER - REG. $249.95 OUR PRICE $129,95 10 - 8 TRACK PLAY & RECORD DECKS - REG. $129.95 OUR PRICE $65.00 12 - STEREO COMP. SETS, AM-FM STEREO, 8 TRACK W-SPEAKERS, FULL MPX REG. $219.95 OUR PRICE $119.95 UNDER WHOLESALE 2 - AM-FM STEREO, 8 TRACK, TURNTABLE, 4 SPEAKERS DUOCONE STEREO CONSOLES AUDIO SYSTEM - REG. $269.95 OUR PRICE $169.95 12 - BLOOD PRESSURE TEST KITS - REG. $32.00 OUR PRICE $16.00 high quality crossbred porkers. Louis O’Neal’s story starts like that of a lot of other young Delaware farmers. He was a farm boy who wanted to stay on the farm. So when he finished high school back in 1955, Dad increased the tempo of farming activities and made room for him. That meant building another home and increasing the income potential from the 250 acre farming operation. Broilers had been a part of Manning O’Neal’s operations, so expansion in that direction was relatively easy. Father and son have modern broiler houses operated as separate en terprises, each turning out up to 200,000 birds annually. But chickens and 250 acres of crops didn’t prove to be enough to keep these two busy. Louis tried off-farm work a couple of times and didn’t really like. He preferred to stay on the farm. So it was decided to intensify the hog operation started in 1967 - make it the main business of the partners. At that point it was strictly feeder pigs in the woods. But once a year marketing, labor problems and the need to expand convinced them that large scale confinement production was the only way to go. That meant a big capital outlay and a long term commitment to con finement hog production. The O’Neals sought the 300 - TENNIS RACKETS, ALUM. - REG. $39.95 OUR PRICE $15.00 36 - UNIVERSAL %” DRIVE RACKET SETS - REG. $12.95 OUR PRICE $4.00 36 - ADJUSTABLE WRENCH SETS, 6, 8,10,12,15” - REG. $49.95 OUR PRICE $21.00 36 - 4 PC. WATER PUMP PLIERS SET - REG. $39.95 OUR PRICE $15.00 60 - CAR BOOSTER CABLES, 16’ LONG - REG. $34.95 OUR PRICE $15.00 PLIERS- ALL KINDS, 3,000 LB. FLOOR JACKS, AIR TANKS, SOCKETS SETS, MANY MORE TOOLS TO CHOOSE FROM. 10 - 40 PC. STAINLESS FLATWARE SETS - REG. $59.95 OUR PRICE $lO.OO 8 - 5 PC. DINING ROOM SETS, WOOD MAPLE, PINE, - REG. $269.95 OUR PRICE $139.95 40 - PULL OUT HIDE-A-BEDS, REFUSED FROM DEALER IN PHILA.. DOUBLES - REG. $469.95 - OUR PRICE $159.95 QUEENS - REG. $589.95 - OUR PRICE $249.95 ODD CHAIRS - REG. $89.95 OUR PRICE $39.95 BRASS BEDS - % PRICE 200 - SETS END TABLES, REFUSED, REFUSALS & FACTORY DISCONTINUED MODELS UNDER WHOLESALE. 13 - BENCH GRINDERS - $20.00 10 LAWN EDGERS, ELEC. - REG. $32.50 OUR PRICE $12.00 40 - AUTO AIR FRESHENERS-REG. $19.89 OUR PRICE $6.00 72 - 50 PC. FLATWARE SETS - REG. $89.95 OUR PRICE $30.00 48 -HAIR DRYERS, 1,000 WATT - $9.00 GUN CABINETS-6.8.10 GUN 2% TRAILER LOADS OF LIVING ROOM SUITES ON THE ROAD NOW, HERE WITHIN THE WEEK, SPECIAL ORDERED MERCHANDISE, DEALER CANCELLED DUE TO TIME WE PURCHASED FROM MANUFACTURER-WILL SELL AT WHOLESALE PRICE. BAR & STOOL SETS, VAC’S, HOPE CHEST, GRANDFATHER & GRANDMOTHER CLOCKS 16 - 19” COLOR PORT. T.V.’S, LIQUIDATING FOR DISTR, 100 PERCENT SOLID STATE REG. $449.95 OUR PRICE $329.95 24 - 19” COLOR T.V.’S, SOLID STATE, DIG. CHAN NEL SELECTOR, MASTER COLOR, W-PEDESTAL BASE - REG. $609.95 OUR PRICE $389.95 UNDER WHOLESALE FULL WARRANTY.' 100’S OF OTHER ITEMS, TOO MANY TO MENTION ALL, IF YOU DON’T SEE IT, ASK FOR IT. FULL WARRANTY, FINANCING THRU BANK, AC CEPTANCE CORP. LAYAWAY 3019 HEMPLAND RD., LANCASTER, PA, PHONE 717-397-6241 NEXT TO 84 LUMBER CO. HOURS: MON.-FRI. 10 A.M.-9P.M. SAT. 10 A.M.-SP.M. best information they could 'get on the direction of the future and then in 1973 set out to build a unit that would be suitable. They checked with other farmers, went to meetings and on tours. One of their sources of help was the Cooperative Extension Service in the form of Sussex County agent William Henderson, a long-time advocate Of confinement production, and Dr. Richard Fowler, Extension livestock specialist. Although there are similarities between the broiler business and con finement hog production, there are also big dif ferences. Part of Fowler’s job was to make sure the father-son team understood Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Nov. 6,1976 this and was up to the management challenge that lay ahead. Once that was done it was a fairly simple, though ex pensive, matter to come up with the physical arrangements. The O’Neal operation involves 80-100 sows farrowing twice a year in a 26 sow farrowing unit. Breeding is spread out so there is a steady supply of pigs for the 350 pgi nursery unit and the 250 pig finishing unit. Depending on the season, the number of pigs weaned per sow and the number of sows on hand, O u Neal can have an oversupply of 40 pound pigs ready for the finishing floor. The extras, about 400 a year, are sold at feeder pig auctions while the remaining 1200 are fed on the farm. When the farrowing is over the sows go out to pasture, are given some grain as needed and are sheltered in low cost, movable sheds. Electric fences provide control and allow the sows to be moved to clean ground as necessary. The farrowing and finishing houses are marvels of pig comfort and labor efficiency. There are no windows - fans provide controlled atmosphere, heat lamps warm the baby pigs. Manure falls through slats into underground holding tanks. All feeding and watering is done mechanically from a central control panel. In fact, - most routine medication is done through the watering system by means of an access nozzle at the control panel. Manure handling, traditionally one of the most difficult and unpleasant jobs on a hog farm, has been reduced to a simple spreading task every three months. The manure is pumped into a special tank wagon and is distributed directly into the soil through chisel plow attachmentts. The O’Neals raise most of their own feed - corn and soybeans - and have their own mixing mill. They do buy some grain - mostly as a safeguard in case their own crop yields are down. Louis O’Neal is active in the Delaware Pork Producers Association and knows how to raise quality hogs. He follows a crossbreeding program, including Yorkshires and Hampshires, and is looking for some good Landrace boars to improve the finishing qualities of the crossbreds currently in use. He knows the packers require a lean meaty hog that will yield 55 to 60 per cent of its live weight in the three prime cuts - shoulders, loins and hams. Packers also want a minimum of backfat - no more than one inch - and will penalize producers who bring in hogs that don’t meet the test. In fact, some packers just won’t accept the old style hogs - demanding the' modem crossbreds such as those Louis O’Neal produces. Consumers have been the ultimate winner in this hog carcass change. They get more meat for their money and if they know how to cook it, they can get nutrition and flavor that rivals any other meat choice. Louis and Manning O’Neal and a few other top producers have also benefited. They now have a steady, reliable market and fairly favorable prices for their hogs. And because of that, they’re in the hog business to stay. ® CONSUMER GUIDELINES Clean Iron Keep the soleplate of your iron clean and ironing won t be a sticky problem To clean the stainless steel soleplate of a dry iron un plug use a paste-type Sk iHi polish and apply it soleplate with a using a circular motion, buff, polish with a clean, lintfree cloth For badly stuck spots use very fine steel wool 53
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