The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-01-25
Pig-Feeding in Winter.

The average pig-feeder has improved.
no doubt, during the last decade.
There is not so large a proportion OF
pigs obliged to dive six inches in mud
to find their corn, but the number of
pigs so fed still would astOnish the
model pOrk-raiscr. Think of throwing
corn, worth one cent per pound. into
the m d, to be fshed out in that way,
simply to save the labor and expense
OF feeding floor of plank, where gray
el is not found for that purpose.
Perhaps we may help some reader
by mentioning way of making con-
yenient floor for pigs, where plank are
not cas- lv obtained, that is. take rails
with one smooth side, and lay this
smooth side up, for floor Lay these
rails on stringers, some eight to ten
inches from the ground, and lay them
so close together that pigs win not get
their feet through, and this will be a
self-cleaning floor until it fills up I'M
derneath, which will not be for several
months.
For forty pigs, make this floor TWEEN
ty-fOur feet square, and for this only
one hundred and twenty Ordinary-sized
rails are required. If regularly split
rails are not at hand, split fifty good
sized poles in the middle, and you have
the material for the floor Holes caused
by the irregular shape of the rail, can
easily be stopped by twisting a large
straw rope and caulking these spaces.
The whole floor could be laid and
caulEed by two men in one day. The
small spaces will let all the liquid
through, and most of the solid drop
pings. When this clean and conven-
lent floor is finished, a few posts set up
around the outside, with tier of poles
on the top for plates a pole roof put on
and covered or matched with corn
stalks, and the windy sides protected
with bundles of corn-stalI1s, viii give
warm, clean shelter for hogs in any
climate.
The pigs can be fed on the floor, or,
better, troughs can be placed on two
sides, and the corn fed in these. The
cost Of this floor and shed will be so lit
tie, that no pig-feeder would feel it,
and the first lot OF hogs would pay for
it twice over in extra profit. If the
hogs disturb the stalk bundles on the
sides, short stakes can be driven close
together, and left three feet h gh, so as
to prevent them from reaching these
on the inside.
If hogs are to be fed through the
whole winter, corn alone viii not be
found mo t prOfita lie for growth and
health. We have no doubt that an ex-
elusive corn diet tends to disease; that
it soon creates a feverish condition OF
the system, and often lays the founda-
ton for the most dreaded cholera.
Hogs lean in flesh viii get along very
well for few months on clear corn,
but there is great danger in continuing
it too long. The hog being naturally
grass-eating animal, can not be healthy
on such conc entrated food as corn.
Early cut and nicely cured clover hay
will be eaten with a good relish by hogs
in winter, in small quantity. If hogs
are in a pen so warm that it does not
free e, then the best way is to cut the
clover in a feed cutter, mOisten this
hay, and mix the meal for each hog
with two quarts of cut hay, and let it
lie in mass. aud warm up for twelve
hours before feeding. The hay will all
be eaten with the meal, and this will
prevent any fever in the stomach and
keep the hogs healthy. This is not a
fancy ration but practical one we
have tried with much satisfaction.
Never had a better gain than with
clover hay, cut, mOistened and mixed
with corn meal in this way. The hogs
gained ten pounds to each bushel OF
meal fed through a cold winter When
two or three-mOnths pigs are fed, there
is still greater reason for feeding other
food with corn. We have had uniform
success with an equal mixture by weight
of corn, oats and bran. Pigs grind
their grain very well, and this mixture
will be we'll digested Where Inseed
meal is easily obtained, this might
probably be substituted for the oats,
or part of them. This meal contains
so large proportion of muscle-fOrming
matter, and phosphate Of lime for the
bones, and i'm so direstihle a form, that
one-haf to one pound will produce a
rapid growth in the pig.
In the South, where decOrticated cot
tOn-seed cake OF. meal can be had at a
low rate, this should be fed, in connec-
ton with corn and other grain to devel-
op pics rapidly. The uudecOrticated
| cake is not safe to feed to pi s, because
of the sharp scales or the tough r'nd
mixed in. And even the decOrticated
must be fed in very small quantity to
young PIGS. 1t is not SO easily digested
as linseed meal, but in small quantity,
it is a very valuable pig food. The
small amount Or oil found in linseed and
! cotton-seed meal has a most beneficial
effect upon the digestive organs. We
do not believe pigs would ever have
! cholera with one half to one pound OF
| this added to the daily ration, unless
| taken by conta@ion. This question Of
| foods can not be too thoroughly studied
/ by pig-feeders. Their best profits lie
! in this direction. National Lice Stock
| Journal.