Pel Freeze/ Whaddia u suppose the deal is

[FarmboyBill]

For 20 yrs I couldnt get PF to take me on way out here in the wilds of Okla, They would always say they had all the growers they needed. Now, my boy says they got there sign out in ARBA wanting growers. Whats your thoughts? Also, I said I didnt think they would take on a guy who had a doz or less rabbits to sell every now and then. I thought they would require a serious effort with numbers like at lest 2 doz every month. Again, whats your thoughts??

[SquashNut]

I would think the feed prices may be causing some breeders to go out of business. There could be a rabbit meat shortage.

[Reauxman]

Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill

For 20 yrs I couldnt get PF to take me on way out here in the wilds of Okla, They would always say they had all the growers they needed. Now, my boy says they got there sign out in ARBA wanting growers. Whats your thoughts? Also, I said I didnt think they would take on a guy who had a doz or less rabbits to sell every now and then. I thought they would require a serious effort with numbers like at lest 2 doz every month. Again, whats your thoughts??

They are a business. Businesses are there to make money.

You can't expect them to go out of the way for you for 3 rabbits when the next guy on their route has 300. 24 a month isn't anything.

[Terry W]

yeah-- PelFreez wants large numbers at each stop-- Signing a contract with them is committing yourself to a LOT of work over the long haul-- you even have to submit your plans to increase your herd size, including how long it will take, how you will rotate does out, and getting replacement does into the herd. What will you do if your numbers are insufficient for pickup, what happens if the youngsters are too old for pickup, etc....
After readaing all their requirements, I decided, maybe not such a good idea....

[dlwelch]

May I suggest that you contact Danielle Edwards directly
regarding your questions? Her contact information is on the
ARBA website in the Market Report. I do know there is no minimum
to the number they will purchase. Along with our delivery, we
sometimes have taken 10 fryers for a neighbor. They do want
a producer who can be reliable and consistant with supply.

Whaddia u suppose the deal is

As suggested, there have been numerous producers go out of
business due to the price of feed and the cost of fuel to deliver
to the pickup location.

For 20 yrs I couldnt get PF to take me on way out here in the wilds of Okla,

They probably won't pick up at your location. Most of us have
to deliver to a central point.

Signing a contract with them is committing yourself to a LOT of work over the long haul

Pel-Freez doesn't operate on a contractual basis with the growers.

you even have to submit your plans to increase your herd size, including how long it will take, how you will rotate does out, and getting replacement does into the herd.

I've been a producer with sales to them for almost
10 years and I've never been asked to do this. I certainly
would not object since they are basing their business on my
ability to produce a product. Seems like a good idea to me!

what happens if the youngsters are too old for pickup, etc..

I don't see an age maximum in their requirements. It's based
on min/max weights.

Good luck, FarmBoyBill!

Linda Welch
Producer of NZW and Californians
Central Texas

[Terry W]

Linda-- I have a RECENT copy of Pel Freez's requirements top be a grower for them-- And a grower in Geauga County deals with them, and if the numbers are not there, he has to 'dump' the older youngsters unless he uses them for replacements. PelFreez wants a certain age because their FIRST/Primary product is centered around hormonally affected tissues. Yes, there is a min/max weight-- but there is an age issue,a s well--there must be NO chance that the rabbit is nearing a point in time that it would be sexually active-- those hormones change the brain and blood chemistry. The reason why they want REW is because the eye color is an indication of the brain color. No, they don't have a formal 'contract== just a nice agreement that one must sign--an 'unwitnessed' contract, if you will. Still binding in a court- and very easy for PelFreez to back out of. I spent hours perusing their site and doing other research-- the 'meat' they sell is now a 'by-product' of the medical products they produce.

[dlwelch]

Terry,

And a grower in Geauga County deals with them, and if the numbers are not there, he has to 'dump' the older youngsters unless he uses them for replacements

They buy all my rabbits regardless of age. The payment is
according to weight and is different for fryers and roasters.
I've NEVER had to dump a rabbit and the buyer has only refused to
buy two rabbits in 10 years. It was in my early days of production
and two "woolies" appeared in a litter of NZW and I took them as fryers.

They didn't pick up in Texas last week. However, I won't
be dumping the fryers that I reported as *ready*. They will
be purchased at the next scheduled delivery regardless of
age or weight. (Been there...done this previously!)

I hope everyone has a good week. Our weather is wonderful
and I plan to be outside enjoying it!

Linda Welch
(And now.... out to weigh rabbits for
processor notification)