Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-02-10
FARM AND FIRESIDE.

A WORD ABOUT PIGs.-The cheapest
pork ever made was from pigs born in
July and kept till September OF the follow
ing year. Ipresume pork can be procured
with less expenditure of feed from spring
pigs, fattened during the summer and au-
tumn. and killed about the 1st of Decem-
Der. And if the food has been the same,
the latter plan would be the most econom-
ical. There is much truth in the remark
that 1.-The cheapest place to fatten hog is
in the pork barrel" If he is fit to kill,
make pork of him as soon as possible; and
if he is not lit to kill by the time he is "a
hog" you need better breed or better
system of feeding and management.
But feel sure that many farmers can
well afford to winter over few young
pigs. II three or four months old, when
cold weather sets in. and if they are strong
aud thrifty, they will do far better than
younger and less robust pigs. In either
case it is desirable to have dry, warm pen
for them to sleep in, and if they are fed
outside the troughs should be placed in
sheltered place. 1t is said that s'pigs can
sse the wind" Their skin is as sensitive
to changes in the weather as a rheumatic
old mule or delicate barometer. I have
seen herd of pigs, on the approach of a
storm, not foretold by the Signal Service,
running about with straw in their mouths
to make a nest or bed to sleep in. / have
seen my breeding sows, that slept in the
basement under the barn, and were fed in
troughs in the yard, come to the open door
when supper was announced, look at the
storm of wind and sleet, and then shake
their heads and say, mo thank you"
They would rather go without their sup
per than to eat in the cold. In the case of
well-fed breeding sows that have gotten
their growth, I am perfectly willing to let
them experience little of the harshness
of this rough world, but not so with young
pigs. They will stand steady cold weather
very well; in fact, with the thermometer
down to zero, they like to come out of
their pens and take walk in the sun on
still day in sheltered spot. But a little
wind walk will make them squeal. Well
ventilated pens are desirable, but knot
strongest pigs will get the warmest part of
the bed, and leave the smallest and weak
est on the outside when the draft strikes
them.
Old pigs in Winter. will do well enough
with one meal a day. But young pigs
should be fed twice day, and if not more
than two or three months old, would feed
three times. Feed at regular hours, and
be very careful not to give more than
the pigs will eat up clean. I know this is
easily said, but. unless you feed the pigs
yourself, it is not so easily done. 1t is one
of the great secrets of success in feeding
pigs. | tell NY man who has charge of
the pigs that the ''less he feeds them the
more they will eat.''
When you feed. it is not of so much con-
sequence as how you feed. AS rule, there
is no cheaper food than corn meal. 1t is
supposed to be too cheating" for young
pigs, and many prefer Zine feed'' or the
finer kinds of wheat bran. presume they
are right. Still in cold weather l am not
particularly afraid of getting my young
pigs too fat. We feed more or less roots
and bran with the corn meal, and if the
pigs are getting too fat, lessen the proper
ton Of corn meal. But as rule, farmers
who winter young stock pigs will not get
them too fat.
Next summer these pigs can be cheaply
fed on grass or clover, and the fatter you
get them in winter the better they will
thrive in summer Suoh at loaot 10 ,ov
Observation-Disclosures and Chronicle.