The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-06-20
;M'ykt EEarnt.
Spring and Summer care Of Swine.
From the Lice Stock Journal.

From the Lice Stock Journal.
The readers of our journal have
learned that we do not believe in
period Of storing" in the management
of pigs; that the business of the pig is
to turn food into pork, and not be root
ing around for a mere subsistence,
thereby wasting all the food it eats.
No farmer can afford to keep any ami
NAL intended for its flesh in stationary
condition; there must be progress, con-
slant and unvarying, to insure profit.
But we do not believe in growing pigs
altogether upon grain or refuse of the
dairy. The pig is a grass-eating ami
NAL, and therefore is not likely to be
healthy when fed entirely upon concen-
trated food The farmer will find it
greatly to his profit to have small
grass lot connected with the pen for
his pigs to run in after grass starts in
the Spring; but he must not depend
altogether upon the grass for growth.
They should be fed in pen, also, all
they will eat of bran and corn meal,
other grain or skim milk, or whey and
bran; giving all the food they can use
to make rapid and vigorous growth
The grass will keep them in health by
mixing with the grain in the stomach,
and thus assisting in the digestion of
the solid food. When it is not conve-
nient to have pasture lot near the
pen, a small quantity of grass Glover
is besD may be cut and carried to them.
A bushel basket full is enough for six
pigs day. We have found the same
quantity of meal to produce fifty per
cent better result on two pigs, fed thus
with grass than on two others Of the
same litter with no grass. Skinned
milk with grass will produce as good
growth as can be obtained by feeding
grain instead 1t will be found that
one-seventh to one-ffth of the live
weight of the pigs will be consumed
daily of skim milk, and this will pro-
duce gain of a pound live weight to
about twelve pounds of milk, average,
during the first 800 days in the life of
the pig, with the small quantity of
grass mentioned. This will give, in
many states, the value of one-half cent
per pound, or one cent per quart for
refuse milk. 1t will also make the
value of the skim milk of an ordinary
COW (say 1000 pounds of milky worth
$40 per annum. But this can only be
predicated upon full feeding, for if fed
only enough to keep the pig in store
condition, the milk would pay little or
nothing. Farmers must remember that
it takes from three-ffths to two-thirds
of the food that is ordinarily fed to AMI
mails to keep them alive or in their pres
ent condition, and that from the other
third or .two-fifths comes the pay for
the whole food used, as we'll as the
profit. Some of our readers may think
we illustrate this point oftener than
necessary, but we know there is nothing
in stock raising upon which the farmer
is so conservative as that of feeding.
He is always inclined to seek breeds
that eat less, whilst his efforts should
be to develop those that can eat more
and consequently produce larger sur
plus of growth.
We must also call attention to the
economy of feeding pigs we'll through
the warm weather, because it takes
one-eighth to one-third less food to lay
on a pound of live weight in warm
than in cold weather Fatten your
pigs every day of your lives, and do
your principal feeding in Summer
Pork usually brings better price, in
local markets, in September and Octo-
Der than in November and December.