Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-11-16
The Breeding, Rearing and Fat
teMiug Of SWINE.

tNAsS ~ SAlit dih III tbC III CCiliii5s
rearing, and fattening of swine. Of Al
nations, the United States have he
greatest facilities for prosecuting his
branch of husbandry in the most CON
omical manner, by reason of ths fact
that Indian corn may be grown ~ A
merican farmers on which 10 feed hegs,
cheaper than in any ether conEry. II
lis our superior natural advantages for
keeping this class of animals hat make
the swine Of American husbgndmen ex-
eel their sheep in number nearly ten
millions. Tennessee has four times
more hogs than sheep; and the business
of producing pork, lard, aud bacon for
foreign CONSUMPTION, extends mupa more
rapidly than growing, although q
pretty high tariff has been brought to
bear in favor Of the latter.
Less attention is paid to the breeding
of hogs, generally speaking than to :
ny other do.psslin eainals. This neg
lect leads to their deterioration in many
districts, vdrticularly where pork or ba-
con is n5t staple of agriculture. The
remedy lies in keeping smaller number
seleeting both males and females with
the greatest care as 10 form, quiet hab-
is tendency to take on flesh, and the
females should be good nurses. Breed
ing in-and-in, or in too close relation
ship, is common error with farmers
who allow their hogs to run in large
herds, and with little regard to males
Carelessness in the propagation of swine
cannot be TOO severely censured for
beyond all question it imposes a need
less loss on the country Of many mil
lions of dollars every year.
One should breed large, or small, OF
medium sized hogs, according to the
market, and the cheapness which
they can grow the food consumed by
this kind OF stock. As general rule
hogs of medium size, well fatted, are
most desirable, although instances are
not rare where packers and hog buyers
pay "a premium for heavy porkers.-
They are said TO cut up 20 better adj
vantage, and yie!d larger cash return
per 100 pounds. The intelligent far
mer will readily learn what his market
calls for, and meet it in the most econ
cmical way Having wisely selected
that breed which suits his circumstances
best, he will not allow his sows to bring
up more pigs than they can fairly sup
ply with milk. unless he has the milk Of
cows to aid in pushing them forward il
the first two months OF their existence.
Where hog-raising is prosecuted on an
extensive scale, pigs are wholly Deepen
dent on their mother fer nutriment for
some weeks when young and then is
the time when tha;s constitutional pow
ers and habits are mainly fixed for life
A pig once seriously stunted, is irrepar-
ably damaged; and we cannot too ear.
nestly insist on the policy of attempting
to rear no more than one can feed wei
all their days. Cheap meat--that is
meat made at a small cost to the produ.
Ger, is that which is the product OF
cheaply grown food, not that obtained
from half starved pigs, shoats and stock
hogs. Il is all-lmportant To the farmer
who makes fat hogs his principal crop
that he understands the art of producing
clover, peas, oats, and corn in the chea-
pest possible manner. Fresh clover
fields are exceedingly valuable as ran
ges for large herds Of swine they MAY
be even winiered on good clover, hay
although corn, peas, oats and roots ar,
cheaper winter feed. To produce nea
at minimum cost, whether pork, beef, o
mutton, one must have rich land.
The farmers of New York and New
England can not compete success sfull,
with those of the richest portions 0
Ohio and Indianna IN producing fat hog
because they neglect TO improve thei
lands with view TO have them equa
to the best on the Scioto and Wabash
rivers. To make millions Of fat hog
on lean land as cheaply as it may b
done on fat land, is an impossibiIity.-
But if the farmers in the Atlanti,
States will first fatten their land, it ma,
be continued SO as easily as any land, al
the West. One great advantage o
pork making is, the facilities it affords
for the Improvement of ones farm; fo
all the crops being consumed on the ians
it regains not only the mineral element:
of said crops drawn from the soil, brt
considerable share Of the organi
elements taken from the atmosphere
1t Is impossible TO rear and faiten hog,
and not make a good deal of rich ant
valuable manure; but il is easy to ALLOW
manure to be dropped in the woods, O
in low swampy grounds, where it is no
needed, and where hogs are allowed t,
run. Tie art of rearing hogs at tn,
greatest profit includes the husbandin.
of ali the dung and urine produced b
them in the best possible manner. Ii
this way alone can one enconomicall,
fatten his clover fields as we'll as hi.
hogs. Let them have both shelter
and water in the lots where they feed o.
are fed. While young they need rea
sonable amount oil exercise to develo,
muscle and bone, and for their health.
In state of nature in forests, swine
take considerable exercise in searching
for their daily food and in this way
they acquire great strength Of limb anc
muscle, and remarkable constitutions
powers OF endurance. Many tamilie.
fof swine are injured by too higl
feeding when young ard this re
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