The Republican journal., 1874-06-11
Growing aud Fattening Hogs.

The hog is accustomed to Il great variety
Of food He will eat animal and her
baceouS food alikc-there is nothing that
comes amiss to him. and he thrives upon
all To select food for him, then. is not
the thing. Though you can tatten him on
ore kind OF food, you cannot do it econ
omically. Take what breed YOU like, and
it is economy in producing the greatest
result from given amount of food-that
is the point that gives the profit in hog
husbandrv The cheapest food, then, is to
be sought, if it answers the purpose BY
the cheapest we mean also that which ac-
cords with his nature, and which he relish
es and thrives upon. Corn alone, though
the great hog teed--made specialty-is
not the most advantageous The eXcep-
ton to this is in the West, where corn is
very cheap. But even here, other grain
and feed added will produce 4 better
growth of muscle and tat All animals
require variety of food, and the hog is
no exception. His appetite, then, will be
satisfied, and all the wants OF his system
supplied Grass in summer suits him; he
revels in Il clover field. Milk suits him all
the year round, and assists rapid growth.
Milk contains a great variety of elements
in solution, and is an aid to the digestion
Of the more solid food He likes vegeta-
bles-they stimulate his appetite, not only
for the vegetables, but for the more con-
centrated and richer food. Though a
hog, he is governed by the same physi-
illogical principles as other animals, and
| is, therefore, liable to diseasc-to many
ailments but most OF these are caused by
abuses in management Where he is well
| attended to, and supplied with a variety
Of good food he seldom suffers from
disease
HOW THE PIG SHOULD BE GROWN.
Milk. then, to begin with, Sweet milk
first; then sour or skim milk with Il little
meal, (corn and oats ground,) OF some
other grain. We have found all of them
good, and find the advantage to consist
principally in selecting as a main feed the
cheapest, whether that be corn, barley,
rye, or some other grain. In addition to
the milk and meal, little potatoes or
roots of some kind afford an agreeable
dessert. Occasionally a handful OF hard,
dry grain will be relished. This petting
exactly suits the hogs nature. Though
''hog" he will thrive best when he is
treated delicatelv, changing his food to
suit his appetite He will now want grass
in the season in lieu of roots and potatoes.
You cannot give him too great variety
He is especially fond of lettuce.
In this way he is not ''forced'' in his
growth, but takes it on naturally, health
| fully, pleasurably There will be better
pork, also a better hog throughout. He
has thus far been growing. His tattening
is yet to come, it will be thought. But
this is mistake. 1t is the great mistake,
or one of them in the treatment of our
hogs The diet which has been begun
and thus far carried out, must be continued
You must grow and tatten your hog as
you 60 along, from his pighood up; grow
him all he will healthily grow, so that
when fall comes he will be in condition
for the knife-to be put in better condition
by increased proportion of grain-corn
principally, and old corn at that--in his
diet. Do not, however. omit the other
aids entirely; it is not only the proportion
that should be changed The health, the
vigor, the strength, the appetite, will then
be continued. You have the sweetest
pork throughout, nothing rank, providing
| always there is clean pen and pure at
| mosphere, point that is too much over
looked where quality is a consideration
The animal will also breathe better and
enjoy himself more in clean quarters,
asnnnially when cool and with '.'-eosS /"
pure water in summer. BY nature the hog
IS not dirty" He will wallow--so will
a fowl-but it is not because he relishes
mire he seeks to be cooled, and water
will do it. The fattening, then, is to begin
when the growing does-at birth-to be
increased as the killing period draws near,
but only sufficiently SO to reach the desired
degree of tatness This with some breeds,
notably the Berkshire can be done with
but little extra feeding For good, healthy
pork, you must avoid -fattening An
over-fat hog is suffering hog, remember !;
and its carcass, which suffers, cannot
have the excellence which healthy hog
furnishes. Strain at nothing; use regu-
larity and care in feeding, and there will
be no difficulty in securing profit as well
as a fine article for the table. five Stock
| Journal