Sustainability, Year round production, and marketing

Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Thu, 11 Jun 1998 20:09:19 -0500

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Its beginning to become clear to me that the marketing of sustainable =
livestock production is
going to take year around production. I have three serious leads for =
alternative hog markets(one organic, one requires pasture and no =
antibiotics, and one local). All of these markets are going to take a =
year round pork supply. In fact the largest demand(summer) would =
require a larger portion of yearly=20
farrowings during the winter.
We have always been a seasonal operation. We currently farrow twice a =
year. Spring and Fall.
But we have been seriously considering farrowing only once a year in =
late spring/early summer. These are by far our cheapest pigs to produce =
because of forage availability and their ability to hog down corn. They =
are also a lot lower labor requirements because of nice weather and not =
having to grind feed for them. Quality of life is the primary reason =
for considering a once a year farrowing operation. =20
It seems to me that if I have been considering once a year farrowing =
that pursing a year round alternative market would be a step backwards.
It would be nice to have a crystal ball to know how long independant =
hog producers will have market access. If the hog industry ends up like =
the poultry industry, the time to give alternative markets serious =
consideration is now.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Best wishes,
Greg
Gunthorp's Pasture-ized Pork
LaGrange, Indiana (a stones throw from Ohio & Michigan)
hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com
visit our farm at www.grassfarmer.com

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  Its beginning to become clear = to me that=20 the marketing of sustainable livestock production is
going to take year around = production.  I=20 have three serious leads for alternative  hog markets(one organic,=20 one requires pasture and no = antibiotics, and=20 one local).  All of these markets are going to take a year round = pork=20 supply.  In fact the largest demand(summer) would require a larger = portion=20 of yearly
farrowings = during the=20 winter.
  We have always been a = seasonal=20 operation.  We currently farrow twice a year.  Spring and=20 Fall.
But we have been seriously = considering farrowing=20 only once a year in late spring/early summer.  These are by far=20 our cheapest pigs to produce = because of forage=20 availability and their ability to hog down corn.  They are also a lot lower labor requirements because = of nice=20 weather and not having to grind feed for them.  Quality of = life  is=20 the primary reason for considering a once a year farrowing = operation. =20
  It seems to me that if I have = been=20 considering once a year farrowing that pursing a year round alternative = market=20 would be a step backwards.
  It would be nice to have a = crystal ball=20 to know how long independant hog producers will have market = access.  If the=20 hog industry ends up like the poultry industry, the time to give = alternative=20 markets serious consideration is now.
  Any thoughts would be=20 appreciated.
Best wishes,
Greg
Gunthorp's Pasture-ized = Pork
LaGrange,=20 Indiana  (a stones throw from Ohio & Michigan)
hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com
visi= t our=20 farm at www.grassfarmer.com
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