AN EGG ECONOMICS UPDATE

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Number 135 October 15, 1992 AN EGG ECONOMICS UPDATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION REPLACEMENT PULLET COSTS Part #l - A. Labor costs and requirements B. Vaccine and vaccination costs INTRODUCTION Costs of raising replacement pullets were last published by the University of California in Twenty-one major pullet growers were surveyed and data were analyzed with our Cash Flow Projection Program. Costs in 1984 were estimated to be $2.59 for 20 week pullets. The present study represents a typical 100,000 bird flock using current (1992) feed, labor, vaccine, and other costs. The following assumptions were made: Two 100,000 capacity brood-grow cage houses. New chicks every 10 weeks. Pullets are raised to 17 weeks and moved during the 18th week. Houses are cleaned during the 19th and 20th weeks. Delivery is within 10 miles of rearing farm. One delivery vehicle with three sets of twenty 250 bird moving racks. Mortality rate is 4%. 104,000 chicks were started - 99,840 pullets were housed at 20 weeks of age. This report will discuss the budgeted labor and vaccination requirements. A following report will describe other costs, feed intake, and capital expenditures. Labor Reauirements With the increase in very large farms, replacement flocks are now commonly in excess of 100,000 pullets. This size was chosen also to allow scaling up or down by simply moving decimal points and factoring in thousand bird units. We chose to assume a two house pullet rearing facility and a ten week replacement cycle in order to fit a two cycle replacement program with a uniform spacing of age groups. Pullets are assumed to be housed during their 18th week and sold at 106 weeks of age with two weeks empty for cleaning. Such a program would serve nine laying houses. I - I n sccordsnce with appllcmble Fedwe. laws end Lhlrerrlty bollc~, the lhir*r~ltv 01 Cslliornla doss not dlscrlnlnat~ In ani of I+, po,,c,.s. procedures or practices on the bsrls of race, rellglon. color, netlonsl orlgln, sex. marital status. sexual orlcntatlon, age. vctsren status, medlcal condltlon lar dellnod In SectIon Of the Celllornle Government Code1 or hsndlcap. Inqulrles regsrdlng the nlvwrlty, equal opportunity p0li~i8s may be dirrted to the Personnel Studlas h AtfIrmstlv# ktlon Managw. Agrlcultur* L Natural R*swrccs, 1120 On,v.r,,ty Avmue. Berkeley, Csllfornle Phone: 1415) LhIrersl+y 01 Calllornle end th. Unlted States De,mrtnent 01 AgrlCulture Coob.ra+lng,

2 I Table 1 describes the labor requirements and costs budgeted for one 100,000 bird flock. The time listed is that required to do the various chores; additional personnel would be required to provide days off for the workers listed but, their time is already included. It is assumed that the caretaker, when available, would help in various chores - receiving chicks, vaccination, beak trimming, moving and clean-up. The manager s salary is split between two flocks Table 1. Labor Reauirements for Raisina Reolacement Pullets ( Job DescriotiorJ 8 hour Woikers Period Total Hours S/hour House caretaker House prep & receiving Night caretakers Moving chicks days 1 day 7 days 1 day Total $ S/bird Crews * Water/spray vaccination Handling vaccinations 6eak 7 day Beak 6 wks House cleaning Moving to lay farm Loaders Unloaders Driver Truck & rack clean-up 1 6x days days days days days days days days days days days day Farm manager.5 20 wks Total Assumptions: Hours are based upon the following rates: Handling birds/hr. First beak 333 birds/hr. * Second beak 200 birds/hr. Catching and loading or 500 birds/hr. Four 5000 birds/trip from grow to lay farms. Farm manager is responsible for two flocks at a time. Chicks are 4 weeks, pullets are moved out during their 18th week. House is cleaned during the 19th and 20th weeks. The house caretaker and crew leaders assist with the various chores -2-

3 The efficiency of labor usage in raising replacement pullets is in a large part dependent upon the size of the flock, the number of bird handlings, the proper sizing of the crews, and the efficient utilization of crew help within the organization. The timing of chores must coincide with the needs of the flock and the programs used, but they should also consider the efficient use of crews which must be kept busy in the overall operation. The vaccination ages given in this projection, for example, are representative of the California industry, but alterations are probably necessary within organizations in order to avoid conflicting demands on the service crew. The $.33 per pullet labor cost ($.37 if birds are vaccinated for MG and infectious coryza), represents 13 to 14% of total costs to raise a pullet to 20 weeks of age. Besides the time for the daily caretaker, handling of the birds requires the most labor. The present model includes only one handling for vaccination but three are required if the flock is to be vaccinated for Coryza. Large flocks such as this, usually have a three to four day spread in ages because of the limits of the hatchery. For this reason, we ve adjusted our crew sizes to that required to handle the flock in a maximum period of five days (vaccination, beak trimming, and moving). As chicks are housed, they should be identified by arrival date and vaccinations, beak trimming and moving should be done accordingly. Smaller crews would lengthen the time required to accomplish each chore. Larger crews would result in fewer work days for the crews. Crew work requires careful on-site supervision for the entire operation. We ve allowed for one crew leader for each of these operations (two for moving - one with the loaders, and one with the unloaders). s are expected to relieve their crew members and to assure that supplies are available when needed. The crew leader is also expected to monitor the quality of work from each individual. Handling rates for vaccination, beak trimming and moving were based upon previous studies and consultation with growers. In any study of individual farm work rates, it s not uncommon to see one farm handling twice as many birds per hour as another. Much of this can be attributed to crew skills, working conditions, equipment layout, and organization. But, some of this apparent efficiency may contribute to poor workmanship and the flock may suffer from missed vaccinations, broken bones, poor beak trimming, etc.. Obviously, we don t recommend setting speed records in any of these vital areas and we certainly do not recommend the paying by the piece system. Table 2 itemizes the labor budget for each of the major chores by week. In Part #2, we ll list all expenses on a weekly basis for cash flow purposes. -3-

4 Table 2. Weeklv Labor Budaet bv Chore ($1 Week Caretaker Vaccination Beak trim Moving Cleanuo Other Manaaer Total Total Vaccines and Vaccination - The example used is typical of the many programs being used in California, but in no way should be misconstrued as a recommended program. Typically, most California pullet growers vaccinate for the diseases listed in Table 3. The brands of vaccine, the timing, and the manner of application are subject to much variation. In addition, many growers will use additional vaccines (MG, infectious coryza and others). We ve chosen to budget only the vaccinations listed in table 3, but costs for MG and coryza are given in Table 5. Table 4 gives the vaccination rates, labor requirements and crew sizes to handle 100,000 pullets. Table 3. Assumed Vaccination Proaram AsIB Disease Day 1 Marek s Disease (HVT + SB-1) Day 18 IBD 3 weeks ND/IB 4 weeks IBD 7 weeks ND/IB 11 weeks Pox/AE/LT 13 weeks ND/IB 16 weeks LT Method Sub 0 (at hatchery) Water or spray Water Water or spray Water WWleye Water Spray -4-

5 Table 4. Labor Reauirements for Vaccination ( oullets) Total hrs Days Disease Method Birds/hr reauired Crew no. reauired Crew leader MD (SB-1) Sub 0 IBD Water or spray ND/IB Water IBD Water or spray ND/IB Water Pox/AE/LT WWleye ND/IB Water LT Spray (done at the hatchery) Optional vaccinations MG Spray Coryza #1 Injection Coryza #2 Injection Vaccination time is strongly influenced by the choice of application method. In years past, birds were commonly handled more frequently. A 1968 study in Southern California, for example, indicated that the average grower handled their pullets four separate times for vaccination plus twice for beak trimming and twice for moving. Today, these eight handlings have been reduced to three (five if vaccinated twice for Coryza). Total labor for all chores in 1968 amounted to approximately 3.5 minutes per pullet compared to only 2.2 minutes in the current study. In addition, the stress of handling has been greatly reduced. Table 5 illustrates a s.07 cost of vaccine and vaccination labor for the basic immunization program but a more than doubling of costs if MG and coryza are added. The additional costs (s.108 per pullet) is equivalent to about s.34 per dozen in egg production costs when amortized over two cycles of production. This represents a major cost difference between areas that must vaccinate for these troublesome diseases and areas where these problems are either non-existent or under control. -5-

6 Table 5. Vaccine and Vaccination Labor Costs $ per pullet Disease Vaccine Labor Supervision Total ($1 - - MD (SB-1) IBD ND/IB IBD ND/IB Pox/AE/LT ND/IB LT Optional vaccinations (done at the hatchery) Total.OlOO MG Coryza #I Coryza # Total.I082 Grand total Next Issue: REPLACEMENT PULLET COSTS Part #2: Total costs, beak trimming, house cleaning, moving, capital expenses, feed costs and cash flow. Donald Bell, Poultry Specialist Cooperative Extension Highlander Hall University of California Riverside, CA