Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1885-06-13
SWINE INDUSTRY.
How 1t Should be Conducted for
Profit.

Inc price OF pigs Is very much lower
than year ago, and sill lower than
two years ago. The falling off in price
Is quite as marked as that on sheep and
wool; yet this industry is not affected
to the same extent as that of sheep and
wool. lhe question arises as to what
should make the difference in favor Of
swine. 1t may be answered that the
pig arrives at market age at nine to
twelve month while the sheep kept for
wool requires twice that time. In.
breeding the same number, only one
SOW is required to equal six ewes. 1t
costs as muehto keep a grown sheep
one year as TO grow ten-moulhs pig
ready for market, and $50. Id pig will
bring as muchas the feeces from four
ordinary ewes; 'or three good ones, and
the lambs can not make up the differ
ence, If raised for wool growing, and
will fall short even if for mutton. The
turn OF capital is much quicker in the
swine industry than in sheep.
These are some of the reasons for
there being less discomfort in swine than
sheep. The profit on pig raising, to be
sure, is less than when the market was
SO per cent. higher, but still it pays as
we'll as any specially in agriculture.
The products of the swine industry still
lead all our animal exports, notwith-
standing the exclusions in Germany
and France. The quality Of our pork
is, no doubt, the best in the world, and
the working classes in both Germany
and France are actively working for a
reversal Of the government edcts.
Our farmers are becoming more and
more satisfied that il is better to grow
pork, beef, and mutton, with our i'm
mense corn crops, than TO export the
grain, and the result will ultimately
be that much less grain will be export
ed and more meat. We can sell them
pork for less than European farmers can
produce it.
In the meaa,imc our farmers are
learning the Impouan. lesson thar pork
should be principally produced in warm
! weather. And 10 this eid more liiters
are farrowed in spring and less in ial.
|; Is not exasg afins 10 say ti.al, under
our present system Of openair feeding
in winter, the wiBtci-made pork costs
fully 5oPer cent. moIc tAan the summer
made pork, Tins renders 1t certain
that there Is really no profit on winter
made pork at present prlceS.
We hope Ill our readers will make a
special effort 10 push their pigs during
the warm weather, and have them ready
for sale at the beginning Of the cold
season, instead Of feeding till January
or February. Two hundred and fifty to
,wo hundred and sevenly.hve pounds
comes nearer the requirments of the
market than any other weight. And
when the feeder remembers that it con-
sIantly costs more 10 put on a pound
weight as the pig grows older and
heavier, be will see that, after reaching
the above weight, it is probable that
the additional weight costs more than 1t
brings on sale. Pasturing should never
be omitted except in cases of absolute
necessity, and then green food should
be brought to them in the yard. This
green food is necessary TO health; and
young pigs should be fed but little corn
oats and bran or middlings are much
better to develop the muscle and frame
Of the pig. When they get grown into
rangy shoats then corn will be safe.
With proper feeding and care, pigs will
put on an average OF a lbs. per day,
and they may be finished for market in
November or early in December. This
will leave the best proGt.--Nationai
Lie. SIOeR ToiOHdl.