Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-19
Pig Feeding.


From the Progressive Farmer.
We are quite aware that we do not
express the undivided opinion of the
public, when VIC declare our abiding
faith in forming as business. What
is more, with the proper conditions,
it ranks as high and pays as well as
any industrial pursuit under heaven.
The lesson must be learned some
time, that it is the man and not the
location that conquers success. =
Skillful management will, as the
years run, make any legitimate bust
ness prosperous, and the utter lack OF
it will ensure Il failure Oh the farm or
any,chere else.
Two words reveal the whole secret
Of Il farmers thrift, namely, skill and
economy, skill in the processes and
economy in all the materials of farm
ing.
Take winter feeding, for example.
If done carelcsslv, it makes waste
enough both of time and food to
swallow all the profits. If carried
on judiciously, it will, except in extra
ordinary eases, leave its margin to
pay the feeder. The man who keeps
his pigs on scanty rations till corn
ripens, will secure u growth of bones,
legs, and snout out of all proportion
to the muscle they carry; and the
form which such a policy develops,
will not pay high to round out with
corn at tatteni"g time. The South
ern hog, from the sucking to the full
grown shoat, ranges the woods and
lives on mast and other prccarious
food thercfrom. The consequence is
that when you reckon him up, the
head, hide, legs, bristlc, and tail
about complete his inventory; and it
takes crack riheman to hit him, I'M
less he draws a bead on. his broad
side. With such pig, lankness be-
comes normal condition and he
changes it to plumpncss with extreme
reluctance.
Try the experiment if you doubt it.
Take three pigs from Il litter of six
of whatever breed, and underteed
them from littcrhood up to the final
size they can make under such treat
ment. Feed the other three for the
same period, not lavishly but as much
as they will cat with relish and eat
clean. Then put the whole six to-
gether for the final fattening. You
cannot fattcn them in the same pen,
with any profit The well-fcd three
will quickly increase their fat to the
limit Of profitable feeding. The i'll
fed three will cling to their leanness
long after the others are ready for
the market, and no corn or coaxing
will bring them, in any reasonable
time, up to an equal weight. The
surplus time and feed expended in
fitting such hogs for the butcher, will
far exceed the cost of the food that
ought to have been given them in the
period of their growth. The plump
pigs, if fed judiciously and in proper
proportions, on the cdibles that the
season supplies, such as grass, clover,
corn, and roots, can be raised and
f,tted at 4 profit nine years out Of
ten. The lank pigs cannot be raised
and f.tted ataproft one year out of ten.
The truth is, the practice Of half
starving young animals, is one of the
leaks Of western farmers, and its
effects OH the years profit is enough
of itself, to breed doubts rs to whcth-
er the whole business Of farming will
pay. Pork and beef are the staples
of Iowa, and they cannot be produced
ut a profit by feeding well only at the
time of maturity. This endeavor to
overcome lankness and stunted
growth by confinement and abund-
ant feeding at the last, will never pay.
1t is the system that furnishes plenty
of food suitable for every period Of
growth from birth to butchcring-
the system which keeps the animal
uniformly in Il thrifty and healthy
state, that will bring, in the outcome,
the surest and largest returns.