Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-10-15
Raising and FatteninG Hogs.

Mr.. EDIToE.-In iuIfillment of my
promise to you at Cedar Rapids, to
give you for the Progressive Farmer
my manner of raising large hogs, |
send the following:
In discussing our subject we will
treat upon the latter part first. We
raise the Poland Chinas, for the same
reason that every breeder raises his
fayorltc brceds-yiz: because they
are the most profitable hog to raise.
4, This stock has gained its prominent
position by being thoroughly tested
for the past thirty years; and to-day,
we find double, if not treble as many
of this breed as all others, which
demonstrates their superiority.
In selecting those from which our
increase is to come, we prefer to get
our stock from extensive and exper-
fenced breeders, who have been en-
gagged in the business for years, and
who can show a uniformity OF color
and makeup in their swine. Poland
China is 4 mixed breed, and there is
danger Of their being intermiXcd too
much Notwithstanding We sell ma
ny pigs ut fairs, our advice to all is
to be very careful in selec ing stock
at fairs, because it is very fat and
consequently seems very nice. The
best place is the breeders farin,
where all of his stock can be seen.
We breed young sows to have them
iarrow in april and May. We find
that ground floors are better than
plank for sows and young pigs, but
the SOW must be hinged. s,ows are
kept separate until the PIGS are two
or three weeks old, when Ill are turn
ed together on pasture. The sows
are fed car corn and wafer; the pigs,
soaked shellcl corn and what swill
the kitchen affords. We wcan the
pigs ut ten or twelve weeks old, by
turning the SONS into another pasture
where they get no grain. The pigs
are pnt after cattle in the fall, and
they continue there till grass starts
well i'll the spring, whci they are
turned into pasture where it is so
hog or die" and noses ringed ut that
And right here lies the secret of rails
ing strong, healthy hogs that will
tatten easy and tip the beam at 800
pounds.
For three or -four months III the
summer we feed no corn t. hogs
We feed the new corn Sparingly till
1t IS hard enough to crib. 1t is poor
policy to stuff hogs with green corn,
especially to iatten them in Il few
weeks; they eat L large amount, if
fed, and do not Give halt return for
il. When hogs are fed corn all sum
mer, they should be tattcmed and sold
off Of the old corn. His whole mate
rial system has to first undergo II
change before he can make fresh
start, which is too expensive with
soft corn. Green corn should be ted
only to thin hogs, and sparingly at
first
We civ &c our hogs in wintera warm
place to sleep in, a dust nest which
II dlNd ) tllc same lll)cidtufc.-
We generally feed them until Fcbru-
airy.
During the last three years the
Iightcst lot Of hogs we have sold a,-
eraged 42o pounds, and the heaviest
49, pounds. We boldly assert that
by our mode of feeding, these
weights were attained with less grain,
trouble and expense than could have
been by amy other mode.
We are positively opposed TO feed
ing cooked food to pigs and growing
hogs. If pigs are to be crowded for
early market, or matured hogs to be
fattened, it may pay to cook feed
We don't believe that nature design
ed that swine should have cooks. 1t
Is the worst thing farmer can do to
feed his growing breeders cooked
fool. &. BRoWN, lii Proyressice
E,,Y4fcr.