22—Lancaster Faming, Saturday, July 14, * Energy savings (Continued from Page 1) Nebraska hog house. Swan will realize savings from his electrical bill. When it comes to feeding, he will eliminate the cost of drying corn, and he will have the advantage of buying the crop right out of the field to put into his 20-by -80 Harvestore. Another reason Swarr went to the energy-saving hog-raising set-up is that he wanted to be more in dependent with his feed. He did not want to be tied to feed contracts. Reviewing his situation, Swarr says simply: “If you’re feeding livestock and you don’t have to dry gram, why do it”? When you sell grain to the handler m the Fall, the deductions for moisture can be very costly. This is cheaper.” “Of course, drying is essential for some sales and operations,” Swarr con tinued, “but in this case I expect to be able to feed the pigs cheaper.” Admitting that the cost of a 20-by-80 sealed feed storage structure is no small item, Swarr does believe it is Ins best alternative. “The thing I like about this whole thing is that it doesn’t use much energy,” he said with a wide gnn. Swarr’s big, gleaming Harvestore is rated to hold 19,000 bushels of com. He expects to feed more than 1500 pigs per year. Presently, Swarr does not intend to feed his young pigs high moisture com as soon as they arrive. He wants to start them out on dry feed After about a week or ten days, he’ll switch them to a ration of high moisture com and a commercial protein supplement. Feeding rates will be unlimited as long as waste is avoided. Feeder pigs will be pur chased at about eight weeks of age and then be moved through the facility to market weight. The goal is to have them ready for sale after about four months, when they should weigh m at about 220 pounds Swarr’s Nebraska Unit has four separate open rooms for different age groups The structure is 154 feet long, 28 feet wide, and can hold 600 pigs at a time. A manure pit extends for the building’s entire length and half its width There’s a slatted pre-fabncated concrete floor over it Swarr expects that he’ll have to emoty the 8-foot deep pit about every three to four months As with all Nebraska Let Us Know Year Service Problems HOOVER DIESEL SERVICE PH 717-656-6133 Units, the facility depends on natural air movements for ventilation. The south side is open, and the rear portion, which is lower than the open front, can be opened too. Plastic curtains can be raised or lowered to par tially close the otherwise open front. That’s the way ventilation and temperature will be controlled. It saves energy, says Swarr, but it demands closer attention and better management. If temperatures get unusually hot in the building, there’s a bmlt-m spray system which will deliver a fine mist, of water over the hog confinement area. “This investment was Jerry’s idea,” said his father, Ear 1 . “It doesn’t take near the capital of other types of farming,” he went on. A big consideration was that it offered independence. The Swarrs are going ahead with their hog production plans despite the trend in prices and the death “EN features that comes in coi In operating an “Enei placed on closing the silo after operation Proper use of this systc. reduces the oxygen content in the silo and re:, more ideal condition for maintaining the quality of ti feed put into it Detach and mail to: WEAVER STAR SILO, CO. RD4 Myerstown, PA 17067 of ALLEGHENY STAR—Jackson Center Pa 16133 412-662-2883 NORTHERN STAR Watsontown Pa 17777 717-649-5151 WEAVER STAR Myerstown Pa 17067 717-866-5708 I AM INTERESTED IN STORAGE FOR Corn silage Haylage High moisture corn Manure Gunite repairs (High strength concrete sprayed on surfaces) Please have salesman call Name Address City County last May of Mrs. Swarr. Acknowledging that tunes were and still are difficult since his wife, Mary, died, he expressed appreciation for the many people who came in to help during the severe time of stress. The late Mrs. Swarr knew of the plans her husband and son had. “She was always interested in everything ALL TYPES OF FARM BUILDINGS • Broiler Houses • Layer Houses • Pullet Houses • Hog Houses • Cattle Barns • Horse Barns And Many Others Will Design To Your Needs Call: REYNOLDS & YELLOT CO., INC. 12800 Gores Mill Rd. Reisterstown, MD 21136 Over 24 Years Experience 301-833-1840 PA.^ FEED EASY Silo unloaders Conveyors Feed-mixer wagon Feed transit wagon Feeders State. .Phone the elder about the farm,” Swarr indicate 14 What about pow’ the “Prices for hogs are down, but feeder pig prices are down too,” Jerry Swan reasoned. “The pig industry will still be a good in vestment. Hog expansion is dropping off. If you want to get into it, you get in to stay m.” Engineered for Convenience And Dependability tu f,,r e HEAVY GRADE TUBING EXCEEDS SCS SPECIFICATIONS. ! WE STOCK ALL PIPE & FITTINGS I ; FOR TILE OUTLET TERRACES. 11 COCALICO EQUIPMENT CO. V DRAINAGE & EXCAVATING RD #3, DENVER. PA. 17517 (215)267-3808 t«N * N „ •v v N V* *s* * > ** > V* ' * * s 4 'v s M Little David BOTTOM UNLOADING SYSTEM MODEL 350
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