The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-10-22
Fattening Hogs.

THE length of time required for fatten-
ing hogs is from three to five months, de-
pendent upon the feeders means, the
breed he adopts and the attention he be-
slows upon them, as also to the amount of
judgment brought to the assistance of the
work. When hogs are first put up they
should be in moderate condition, not con-
fined until they are so, and the food should
be somewhat better than that on which
they have already fed, but not at once in too
great degree. 1t SHOULD be improved step
by step, till the digestive powers are
adapted for that of the most nutritious
quality with which the fattening is to be
completed; over gorging is sure to cause
Indigestion, and the only remedy for this
is abstinence. 1t is essential that pigs be
fed at regular intervals. Any animal fed
regularly thrives better than those fed at
Irregular intervals, and where the diet is
varied and not administered to safety, the
process is accompanied with profitable re-
suits. The best period to commence fat
tening is in the autumn; then almost every
kind of food is to be had in plenty, as well
as in perfection the weather is neither
too hot nor too cold; and the humidity
generally prevalent at this season acts ben
eficially upon the skin and tissues, and as
it were lubricates the whole animal econ
omy. Besides, they are ready to be
slaughtered at the period when this can
be done with most advantage, when the
lowness of the temperature allows more
time and consequently enables the owner
to turn the flesh to the greatest adj
vantage; whereas in warm weather the
meat must be sailed or picked, eaten or
disposed of Immediately, or it turns off
and is spoiled. The best kinds of food for
fattening pigs are pasturage on clover or
lucerne, or a run in the cornfeld immedi-
ately after the crop has been taken in.
Milk or whey mixed with corn, Oat, barley
or pea-meal, alone, or in connection with
each other or with boiled and mashed
potatoes. Peas given whole, or crushed,
or in the form of soup and either alone or
mixed with potatoes or meal Potatoes
and rice; potatoes and meal of any OF the
above kinds, or mashed potatoes and
whole grain. --,.y.t
A small portion of salt should always be
mingled in whatever food given, as it
tends to stimulate the appetite as well as
the digestive functions; it win also be
found advantageous occasionally to adj
minister little sulphur or powdered anti
mOny, say about once or twice a month;
these tend to purify the blood, as also to
facilitate digestion and maintain the appe-
tite Small meals and many of them are
preferable to few and large ones, for swine
are apt to overeat and gorge themselves,
or, if any be left in the trough to return
to it by fits and starts until it is all gone !;
in both cases the digestive functions are i'm
paired and the process is not fully and
beneficially performed. Regular hours of
feeding should be strictly observed pigs
soon learn to expect their meals at certain
hours, and their stomachs being ready for
it, Indigestion follows irregularity and pre-
vents much benefit being derived from the
meal when it does come. rV aasa
In the opinion of the writer the most
economical and advantageous form in
which grain can be used is that of meal
moistened with sour OF skim milk or water,
into kind of soup or porridge. Some
authorities recommend when mixing with
water the proportion of five bushels of
meal to hundred gallons of water, the
mixture to be stirred several times day
for two or three weeks, until an imperfect
fermentation takes place, and it becomes
ascescent. In this state its fattening pow
ers are claimed to be greatly increased.
Says one who has pursued this method in
large way. "The difference in profit
between feeding in this manner and Civ
ing the grain whole, is very great, so great
that whoever tries it once, will not be apt
to change it for the common method"
Hogs put up to fatten, highly fed and tax
ing little exercise are very liable to acidity
of the stomach. Calcoreous matters remedy
this evil and are found in occasional feeds
of ashes, cinder or earth which the ami
mails champ and swallow. Too many pigs
should not be fed in the same pen; three
arc sufficient and they should be AS near
as possible of the same age.-American
.Sy0rk L,urDaZ