Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-11-19
Profits OF Swine Raising at the Massa-
chusettS Agricultural College.

Mr.. A. A. Southwick, the farmer of the
Massachusetts agricultural college farm,
has written an article on the above subject
for the Massachusetts, P'0ughman, from
which we make pretty full extracts.
We have fattened and sold only seven
pigs this season, with our dairy of ten
COWS, and raised five calves. The profits
of the business we think are to be found in
the pretty good sized pile of manure which
we hope to apply on the corn field next
year, (shall we pillow or harrow it inO
and we feel pretty certain that is net profit
after paying for their feed and the work.
We heartily endorse all Mr.. Southwick
says on the necessity of n good bed and
comfort for pigs to thrive, as we'll as for
other folks, and we like the Berkshires
we'll, too:
Mass. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,
October 81, 1879.
IStOine account from April /, 1876, TO
October 81, 1879.
Cash outlay for breeders Isl 90
Cash receirts from safes. ;.........,.. Sl495 q
Value OF breeders on hand. ........... s53 w
Total value. Sl,s2j AZ
:$ls25 IS ST. 825 a
As my connection with the college
ceases to day, am able to give the follow
ing statement in regard TO the swine de-
partment, in which | have been deeply
interested. AS my outlay for stock is
small, it may not look reasonable that
such an increase should come from so
small an expense, especially when nearly
every other farmer in the country is will
ing to say that there is no money in hogs
at present prices. AS usually treated there
is no money in this business, as can well
imagine, even at much higher prices than
we now get A large majority of our
swine are treated more rs inanimate oh
jects, which suffer none from kicks and
blows and exposure.
One might as well throw his money in
the fire as 10 eXpend it for feed, even ut
any price, to feed to swine as they are
usually kept. A fine well bred hog cannot
do well if kicked about and compelled to
sleep in n mud hole for II bed. a great
many of our farmers lose by feeding an
mails that will never pay under any cir
cumstances. A coarsely bred animal
never looks well in the eyes of any one,
and when the time comes for marketing
him, think if the value of the feed were
placed on one side of the balance and that
of the hog on the olher that the former
would outweigh the latter.
With little care ard natural good
judgment on the part of the overseer, |
feel justified in saying that nothing on the
farm pays better. Never let any of the
animals know what it is to be ancomforta-
Die. Some of our good men will say that
| talk nonsense, when l say that a good
clean dry bed is necessary erery daV in The
gear. There may be weeks and perhaps
months that you will not see n pig in the
nest; but there are days even in hot
weather when good dry bed is absolute.
ly indispensable. No good hog can stand
cold, damp or exposure with any profit to
his owner. Therefore have always at
hand good sheltered dry bed.
Provide good supply of fresh pure
water at all times. If allowed the oppor-
tunity hogs will drink oftner than cattle.
Our market demands an animal not
overwhelmed with fat, with n good pro-
portion of lean meat, large ham, shoulder
and broad loin. Most of us well know
that there are many breeds that come up
to this standard in nearly every respect,
but the most important point in the whole
subject is cost of preparing for market.
Then the question might be asked, What
class of animals will bring the greatest
return in dollars and cents for the outlay
for feed and care
have kept and seen kept six different
breeds of hogs, all of which are excellent,
but the most value with the least cost may
be found in the Berkshire and tho crosses
Of the Berkshire boar on other breeds. |
And here, lest forget it, let me say that
he Berkshire is the most exempt from the
skin disease called mango of any of the
breeds. In fact might say Of this breed
hat never have known one sick from
my disease.
Every farmer with farm of fifty acres
,ught to fatten at least thirty hogs to dress
rom 200 to 400 pounds every year. Larger
armers of course could go in on a larger
Gale, then we should begin to see some
money from the hog business. We should
,eep I'M immense amount of money at