The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-19
Producing Pork at the Least Expense.

Philadelphia Record
IL has been charged against the hog that hs
does not pay expense on some farms. With the
cholera devastating the herds in MANY sections
and the fluctuations in the prices of pork hog
raising has received quite number of discour~
aging checks; but in majority of cases tho
business has failed from not taking advantage Of
the opportunities which present themselves ON
every farm. In the first place the farmers must
sooner later recognize the tact that good
cheap pork can be produced without feeding
corn the whole year. The corn.crlb and the hog
pen have been made inseparable, though at tisa
same time there are certain portions of the year
when corn is the most inappropriate food that
can be allowed
Examination by experts into the causes of dis
eases among swine have resulted in attributcg
such results to the feeding of corn, exclusively.
The corn itself is not really injurious, but it is
lack of variety of food that causes the difficulty.
Corn Is heating and fatforming food, pos
sessing but little that serves to supply bone and
tissue, hence the animal perishes in the midst Of
plenty, simply because the body cannot renew
itself, though loaded down with fat A growing
pig is only encountered when fat, and should he
supplied not only with suitable food for growth,
but also with coarse, bulky substances that
serve to distend the stomach, regulate the bowels
and aid digestion
It is generally conceded that when young pigs
have the run OF clover pasture they thrive anG
grow rapidly. Disease seldom occurs when they
so kept, and they apparently cause but
to turning large number of hogs on
the clover, claiming that they do enough damage
to more than offset the gain over the plan of
feeding them in confinement The hog, there
fore, may be made an expensive animal unlesa
fed in such a manner as to utilize that which
would be of but little value in addition to mozs
costly substances. By feeding the sows well
when the pigs come in they will provide SUIT
Gent Dourishment to give the pigs good start.
This is a very important point to observe as tho
first six weeks of pigs existence determines
his usefulness in the future. They should never
be allowed to.miss meal and should be pushed
forward as rapidly as possible. both by feeding
the dam highly and by providing them with a.
variety of food.
If he pasture is too valuable for the pigs taa
cheapest mode of feeding them is to allow TAIN
sop three times day. made of water and ship
stuff (middlngs). No corn or meal should ba
used in any form, as growth is the object that
should be sought. Between the three meals
cut the clover and throw it into the pen fsr
them. And not only clover, but weeds and
undesirable grasses. A hog like sheep will
consume nearly all plants that come I'D on ta0
farm, and will thrive we'll on many kinds shat
of no value otherwise. Purslaine and plan-
tain are deicaces to hog, and even crab grass Isl
eagerly devoured by him. Cooked food has LOG
been recommended, as it may entail labor, bus
the roots are excellent Potatoes, turliys
beets, carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes giva
large yields, and, with clover and weeds viii
furnish an excellent variety, enabling the soft
mess of shipstuff to be reduced to one day
the evening meal With variety of such food
the cost Of producing pork will be very little.
especially If there is sufficient number Of
animals to compel the constant care of one
person. When the pigs have become hogs and
their frames large and ready for receiving
the fat, then the corn may fec and the hogs
made ready for the butcher as soon as possible,
but even when feeding corn it should be fed I'm
connection with bulky food, and the animals
will thrive better and gain more rapidly