Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-09
GFrOm the Ohio Farmer.
Management of Swine.

In the Ohio Farmer of Dec. 20, 1885, we
made mention of nice pigs which we had
seen ct various times, passing through this
city by express, from Cyrus McCully. of
Trumbull Co. Mr.. McCuly sends us the
following as his practice III the manage
ment of these animals:
1 don't propose to discuss the good or
bad qualities of any particular breed. but
to give my ideas of what hog should be,
and not as some advertisers of stock, that
their breed is the best in all respects and
for every purpose.
In selecting pigs from any breed for
breeding purposes, great care should be
taken to choose the best specimen from two
distinct families of the same breed, and by
so doing you avoid the injurious effects of
in-and-in breeding. 1t is necessary that
these directions be closely observed, as
swine will degenerate where no attention
is paid to proper crossing. | always
choose those of good length of body,
straight on the back, square build, heavy
hams and shoulders. short head and legs,
fine hair and small ears, although large
ear generally denotes large growth. TIE
male should be less rather than larger than
the female, and more compact in form.
never allow SOW to breed until at least
one year old, as am satisfied that allowing
swine to breed too young, not only checks
their own growth and vigor, but that OF
their progeny also. prefer a boar one
year old or older to breed from. think
both continue to do better tor raising fine,
large pigs, until tour to six years old. [
keep my sOws in fair condition until they
drop their pigs, when they are removed to
a separate department from each other, be-
ing careful not TO allow them too much bed,
as there is danger of their lying on the pigs.
They are fed with ground feed prepared
by pouring boiling water on it and letting
it stand twenty-four hours. To this add
the slops from the kitchen. Feed regularly
three times day until the pigs are from
three TO four weeks old, when provide a
place to which the pigs can have access. ]
the feed them with ground corn and oats
prepared as above, with the addition of
milk when convenient: this they eat read
lily and gain from one to two pounds per
day. BY this treatment there isno check
to their growth when taken from the SOW,
and have no difficulty in making spring
pigs dress from three to four hundred
pounds at usual butchering time.
AS to diseases, think they may generally
be prevented by proper care aud attention.
The idea with some that anything is good
enough for the hog is an erroneous one;
they should be provided with dry aud we'll
ventilated sleeping apartments, with proper
food, of sufficient variety. By being par
ticular in this respect have never been
troubled with disease Of any kini. Sui
phur or copperas, given In their feed oc-
casionally, will eradicate almost any skin
disease, and copperas and wood ashes is
good for what is called kidney worm or
weakness Of Che hind parts. An occasioii-
al dose of salt and charcoal in their feed,
will be attended with good results. /
shonld be glad to hear from other breeders
of fine hogs through the columns of the
Farmer, and if they have better breeds, viz:
Chester. Suffolk and Berkshire, or better
plan of breeding and raising, will cheer
fully adopt them. CYRUS MCCULLY.