Cooperative Feed and Animal Health Operations
Farmer Cooperatives in the United States
Cooperative Information Report 1 Section 21
United States Department of Agriculture
CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Feeds ...........................................................................................
2
Retailing ...............................................................................
2
Wholesaling ........................................................................
11
Manufacturing ...................................................................
.14
Ingredient Plants .................................................................
19
Research and Farm Testing ................................................. 20
Transporting and Distributing ............................................. 23
Custom Grinding and Mixing ............................................. 23
Contracting and Feeding ..................................................... 24
Benefits ..............................................................................
25
Challenges Ahead.. ............................................................
.27
Animal Health Products.. ........................................................... 30
Retailing .............................................................................
31
Wholesaling ........................................................................
33
Challenges Ahead ............................................................... 36
Cooperative Information Report 1, Section 2 1
February 199 1
Cover: A major change over the years in the livestock industry has
been the switch from bagged to bulk custom-mix feed, with on-farm
delivery to large operations. The intricate push-button control panel
on the cover is part of a state-of-the-art feed mill owned by Southern
States Cooperative, Richmond, VA.
A little imagination could p