Feed supplier question
Greg and Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Wed, 25 Feb 98 23:53:16 PST
Anybody want to help me with a decision. Its over my source of minerals/vitamins for my hog operation.
I have three choices. Which one is the best choice for a sustainable hog operation?
1. A local manufacturer of a national brand. Its all mixed locally. I would be supporting local
labor and a local feed mill. The catch: They are bringing a bunch of pigs in from NC. I'm not opposed
to the contract feeding from an environmental standpoint, but how much better for our local economy
would it be if these hogs were raised by local independant producers. They have the cheapest
feed and quickest service.
2. A local very small feed mill. The feed salesman goes to the same church. The catch: They are
a distributor of one of the largest feed companies. I'd tell you it is one of the "supermarkets of the worlds" brands but that could give away which feed company it is. They also are the most expensive.
3. A non local company. 200 miles away. A friend I went to college with sells for them or I wouldn't even know they existed. They only sell minerals/vitamins. No soybean meal. No complete feed. They aren't in the contract hog business. And I wouldn't be supporting a huge corporation.
Catch: I have to order vitamins and minerals 3 to 4 months at a time. They are cost competitive with the
local supplier.
Any sugestions on which way to go(or other options) would be appreciated. By the way, I try to get as many vitamins and minerals out of a high quality legume pasture system. I'm looking into processing my
families beans to eliminate all purchased feed except vitamins and minerals.
Best wishes,
Greg Gunthorp
pasture hog farmer
LaGrange, IN
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