Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-09-04
Economic Pork.


One writer afirms substantially that
all agree that pound of pork Is made
witn less feed when fed 10 the small
breeds than when fed to the large
breeds trust that none win accuse
me OF a desire to be controversial IN
calling in question this assertion aud
popular belief, rs such II is. There IS
not shadow of q doubt that a young
animal viii make pound Of growth on
less food than the same animal will at
later date. / must confess to having
been misled BY the claims Of the breed
ers of the small breeds, for 3 brief
space. upon facts that have shown the
above truth. Only one phase of the
problem is. however, represented by
these facts In It's application to cattle.
L is now almost universally repudiated
here in the West, where the best cattle
of the world are found. The large
breeds of cattle have been found. or are
belieEed 70 have been found. the most
economical consumers OF food; hence
they are the sources of Western beef.
Theory and practice both affirm that
the policy Of the pork producers. rs re-
garIls relative size of the breeds TO be
led, IS one with that of beef producers
Indeed, Sir j. b. Lawes' and my own
results affirm that the law. that the
older and larger an animal grows the
more food IL takes TO make = pound OF
growth, is decidedly less pronounced in
the pig than in the steer Now the
larger breeds make more growth per
day and grow more pounds in two hun
dred DAYS, or grow two hundred pounds
in fewer days than the smaller breeds.
according to all known Is N animal
nutrition and growth. the larger pigs
vii make this growth with less food
than viii the smaller breeds. The
animal organism is supported fewer
davs, and the food Of support IS
thus saved More growth being
made daily makes it probable
that greater proportion OF the food
eaten IS used for growth. Such was
nv experience with Merinos ~ Cots
wOlds. | found that 1000 pounds Of
Merinos ate decidedly more tlian 1.000
pounds of COtswolds- n NUT be
agreed, inasmuch rs the large breeds OF
pigs start m life at about the size of
small breeds. that the larger breeds
either eat more. OF digest or assimilate
more food than the small breeds. In
either event. upon any Information now
known to the world, would select the
large breeds for economic pork Bnt
there is one Notifying factor that at
one time. early in my experien G.
counted too heavily upon. rs the result
of the teachings OF one Or two we'll
known men This factor is rs follows:
The small breeds get in shape 10 market
AZ a less weight than the large breeds,
aud are assumed TO be ready at less age,
and thus. BY virtue Of lessened age. the
law that the less the are and size the
less the food to make a pound of
growth is assumed to more than coun-
terbalance the superior growth per day
of the large breeds My observation IS
thas the Berkshines and improved
Poland Chines are in shape Aor the
market at as light weight IS the mar
ket presents any demand for them;
and. furthermore. that the little
SuEoiks. Essex and small Iorkshires.
TO obtain the weight admitted as desir-
able. are rs many DAYS IN accomplish
ing il as the larger breeds are in shap-
ing up. or at least the difference IS not
nearly enough to bridge over the as
sumed advantage over the. greater
growth per day Of the large breeds.
Without asserting positive knowledge -
for Il does not exist. although | have
several times contemplated th0 trial
I nnst affirm tina; su b evidence IS the
world has afiirrns the advantage of at
least the medium-s;zed breeds for max
ing pork IN the asost economical way
Prof J. ~ SFg50TR. iiI Rural Nclc
TOrker.