OCR Text |
Show Plg4 August UTAH FARM BUREAU s'jti-S- ' 1971 A'"- 'P r- ' y Old type coops have the familiar open front end and curtains to control the heat and sun light. chlk makes cleaning A modern loader ee.y. coop. In tlgM quarter Unnoticed Utah Industry Confine Poultry and egg production in Utah probably doesnt receive the attention in agricultural circles other commodities do in relation to size and economic contributions. Poultry and egg production in Utah goes almost unnoticed. The consuming public is delighted when the price of eggs falls to low levels such as they are currently. Very little time is spend wondering how the industry is doing. Are they able to acquire the capital for (i construction and operation of a modem, economic facility? Are they able to control disease problems before they get out of hand? What does a poultryman do with the droppings from his operation? Does he have acreage for spreading the manure or what does he do? 0 These are questions that few have felt to ask or take an interest in salving. Every morning, those people who still start the daywith a tferk s, ry YX 111 S s : . S V V S,,S :' . v,2 .v. i for distribution. ,or paclta9ln9 chain store. uniform cartons for ft,Whee' - n,"eWhenh wholesome breakfast, usually have bacon and eggs, fruit and cereal and other items. Eggs are normally fundamental in a breakfast menu. But few consider the significance of how they got there. It is interesting to note how the poultry industry in Utah has changed in the last few years, particularly egg production. In 1967 egg receipts totalled $6,667,000 in Utah; in ,000; in These figures represent 3.5 percent, 3.7 percent and 3.9 percent respectively of Utahs Agricultural receipts. This compares with 3.2 percent, 3.7 percent and 3.6 percent for sugar beets receipts for corresponding years. It would appear the eggs have not received the attention that sugar beets have in relation to economic returns. Is it because sugar beets are a part of a government regulated program? It may be old stuff to many farm and ranch people but for the record it is interesting to review what has to happen in order to produce quality eggs. Aside from the fact that a source of finance for is operating and construction essential and would be a similar problem in other phases of agriculture, other problems and conditions are peculiar to egg production. Large tracts of land are not significant but land away from the city seems to be important as a means of avoiding criticism for odor when handling manure disposal. A few years ago 4,000 birds would have represented a large operation and about all one person could handle. Now days 20,000 laying hens would compare in size but more would be required to improve farm income. The cost of building a home for laying hens would run about $3-- 4 per bird. This will vary of course with the extent of automatic equipment the poultryman uses in the building. Everything can be the automated, including . gathering of eggs if desired. The amount of automation depends on the time an operator has to perform each operation. Only if this time can be put to greater use doing another chore can automation be included. Hie cost then for 5,000 hens would be anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 for the laying house. A growing coop and a brooding coop would also be necessary if the operator grows his own replacement birds and would represent a sizeable investment representing V4 more of his building costs. is i cos bul chc yoi red or 1 eni In the beginning chicks are placed in the brooding coop at one day old. They are kept there and hand fed for approximately 6 weeks and then placed in the growing coop for about 3Vfe months at which time they are placed in the laying coop to replace hens that have outlasted their usefulness. The normal life of a laying hen is from 18 to 20 months. Five months to production age and 5 months in production. This time period can be extended and the usefulness of a bird can be rejuvinated by molting. That is,: chickens like trees during the rest from productive winter, activities. After a time the hens start laying eggs again and will continue for about 10 additional months. The production of eggs after a normal molting period will 5 likely average only about If a chooses percent. poultryman to force molt his chickens by with- .drawing feed, light, and water file chickens will usually peak at 70-7-5 percent when they are returned to production. This would appear to be the most economical method to follow if molting was to be included as a practice. After molting, flock has to be checked or Culled and only productive hens left in the flock. This reduces the total number and the building utilization 13-1- 50-5- hoi sid $1. coi pr egi ob Di: pri coi 1 wi his so su otl sui ) bis thi coi pr ca tei fa the lev 1 sei 3-- 4 m uti cb as bo mi re J - I"kilMn(n9 at B and T Farms takes ej machine and place In car processing most of the eggs for proces layers produce An employee |