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Optimal Hog Marketing Weights. James Mintert, Ph.D. Professor Department of Agricultural Economics Kansas State University. Hogs Have Been Getting Heavier for A Long Time. Why Have Weights Gotten Heavier?. Technology Genetics Feeding regimens BECAUSE IT’S PROFITABLE.
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Optimal Hog Marketing Weights James Mintert, Ph.D. Professor Department of Agricultural Economics Kansas State University
Why Have Weights Gotten Heavier? • Technology • Genetics • Feeding regimens • BECAUSE IT’S PROFITABLE
How Does Weight Impact Returns? • Three keys to examining impact of weight • More pounds • Sort Loss • Lean Premiums
Economic Principles Goal is to maximize profits • Determine marginal revenue for a weight change • Determine marginal costs for a weight change • Maximize profit when Marginal revenue = marginal cost
Compute Marginal Revenue At each weight • Estimate base carcass value • Estimate expected sort loss • Estimate expected lean premium • Base + sort + premium = Exp. Net Carcass Value Calculate revenue gain for additional pound of gain
Compute Marginal Cost • Pounds of feed per lb. of gain • Increases as weight rises • Feed cost per lb. • # of feed X cost/lb = marginal cost
Profit Is MaximizedWhen Marginal Revenue Equals Marginal Cost
Estimating Your Optimal Weight • Use your kill sheet data to estimate relationship between weight and • Sort loss • Lean premium • Use models to predict sort loss and lean premium at each weight • Calculate expected marginal revenue for a one lb. weight gain
Estimating Your Optimal Weight • Estimate your marginal costs • Know your costs • Key is feed costs • Pounds of feed per lb. of gain • Cost per lb. of feed • Other variable costs per lb. of gain • Compare your expected marginal costs to your expected marginal returns • Profit Max occurs when MR = MC
Next Step • Development of a downloadable spread sheet tool