The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-01-28
About Pigs.

The present high price of pork, and the
prospect that it will continue high for
some time to come, makes it more than
ever important that farmers give their at
tention not only to the. careful breeding
and the management OF their Pigs, put 70
the selection of the best varieties, Z +.
Pig breeding may be divided into two
distinct classes. First that Of raising
thoroughbred pigs for the supply OF breed
ing animals second, the raising OF such
crosses as are best for growth by ordinary
farmers. " .-s.
The first requires qualifications that only
the best farmers possess, such as the ablll-
ty and willingness to pay high prices for
stock; an appreciation of the importance of
extra care and liberal feeding, and facili-
ties for making known the advantages of
these breeds, and for finding a market for
their stock. A thoroughly fine young
breeding SOW often costs from 800 to
5000. and bears sometimes even more.
The finer breeds have been produced only
nnder the influence of the most %judicious
crossing, and the most liberal and careful
feeding and housing Their good qualities
can be maintained only by a continuance
of the saras influences. A single days
neglect may, give such a drawback to the
progeny Of the finest animals in the world
as to cause permanent deterioration, and
a point once lost can never be regained.
Those who would rap the advantage of
high prices for progeny-selling to other
breeders-must continue In every PaFtlcu-
lar the close attention that first secured
improvement. .4@' Z l
Those who zealously carry out the re-
auirements of such breeding will find it
extremely profitable. The amount of care
given, though troublesome. is not expen-
siye. and the extra feed as well as the
more comfortable shelter, will produce q
result in dead weight Of pork that could
not be attained by the similar treatment Of
inferior animals, and it makes a great
difference whether ones pigs are sold at
SIS per pair or at $50, which is by no
means an unusual price for thoroughbred
animals of the best quality, eight or ten
weeks Old tEfs e.. #aa= Z ~ a@5H1t I.
Those who, on the other hand, breed on
" store pigs, find their work much les
expensive and less 'exacting. The result is
proportionately less profitable, but at
present rates It is highly satisfactory, and
it need only be borne in mind that the
profit increases more rapidly than the cost
Of extra care and feed. The breeding
sows should be of q robust, vigorous, thrift
ty class, but not too coarse and bony,
Nothing would be better than the best
class of Chester county. animals, which are
attainable at moderate prices. The key
to success lies with the boar, and in select
ing him no amount of care and no reason-
able expense should be spared to get the
very best animal that is a~ttainable. Any
farmer who has even two or three sows,
had better pay 500 for a thoroughly first
class animal than to drive, free of cost, to a
~neighbor's scrub hog. He had better pay
$40 for the service of the best than to get
the service Of one emily slightly inferior for
nothing. 1t is Q business in which only
the first step costs. After that, at every
turn an advantage is derived. In the case
of litter Of ten pigs, even an extravagant
outlay for boar service is insignificant IS
compared with the increased value Of the
ten animals at Strengthening time ~.
As to the breed Of the boar, opinions are
divided between the small and the medium
sizes. For the finest animals it seems to
as that the large breeds are out Of the
question. OF the best known varieties
where the color is no Objectionable Essex
undoubtedly takes the lead. The com-
pact shape, fine bone, neat hams, and
heavy broad side Of these animals, are all
that could be desired and after all it is on
lythe scarf skin that is black, and the
hogs dress beautifully white. s'sse}9.5
If tie Essex. has a superior for the use
Of ordinary farmers, it is unqtestionably
the rk.Cumberlana breed, which is the
best of what is known IN England as the
middle.white-a perfectly white animal, or
only slightly notified, which has all Of the
fine points Of Essex, and d little more size.
Several importations of these animals have
recently been made from. the pedigreed
stock that has carried the prizes of the
Royal Agricultural Society for years, and
they are finer than, any other white swine
that it has been our good fortune to see.
" -*--o~ iay.
Bee Stings.K
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