Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-11-30

the herdS In many sections, ana Uno
fluctuations in the prices for pork, hog
raising has received quite a number OF
discouraging checks; but in the major
ity of cases the business has failed
from not taking advantage of the op-
portunities which present themselves
on every farm. In the first place, the
farmers must sooner or later recog-
hize the fact that good cheap pork can
be produced without feeding corn the
whole year. The corn crib and the
hog pen have been made inseparable,
though at the same time there are GER
tain portions of the year when corn is
the most inappropriate food that can
be allowed.
Examination by experts into the
causes of diseases among swine have
resulted in attributing such results to
the feeding of corn exclusively. The
corn itself is not really injurious, but
it is q lack of variety of food that
ing and fat-forming food, possess
ing but little that serves to supply
bone and tissue, hence the animal
perishes in the midst of plenty, simply
because the body can not renew itself,
though loaded down with fat A
growing pig is only encumbered when
fat, and should be supplied with suit
able food for the growth, but also with
coarse, bulky substances that serve to
disteDd the stomach, regulate the
bowels and aid digestion.
1t is generally conceded that when
young pigs have the run of a clover
pasture they thrive and grow rapidly.
Disease seldom occurs when they are
so kept, and they apparently cause
but little expense. But some farmers
object to turning a large number of
hogs on the clover, claiming that they
do enough damage to more than Off
set the gain over the plan of feeding
them in confinement. The hog, there
fore, may be made an expensive ami
NAL unless fed in such a manner as to
utilize that which would be of but lit
tie value, in addition to more costly
substances. By feeding the sows well
when the pigs come in they will pro-
vide sufficient nOurishment to give the
pigs good start. This is very i'm
portant point TO observe. as the first
six weeks of pigs existence deter
mines 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 providing them
with a variety of food.
If the pasture is too valuable for the
pigs the cheapest mode of feeding
them is to allow thin slop three times
day. made of water and shipstutf
(middlings). No corn or meal should
be 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 for them. And
not only clover, but weeds and unde-
sirable grasses. A hog, like a sheep,
! will consume nearly all plants that
come up on the farm, and will thrive
well Oh many kinds that are Of no
value otherwise Purslane and plan.
tam are delicacies to hog, and even
crap grass is eagerly devoured by him.
/ Cooked food has not been recommend.
ed, as it may entail labor, but the
roots are excellent. Potatoes, turnips,
beets, carrots, parsnips and sweet po-
tatoes give large yields, and. with
clover and weeds Will furnish an ex-
cellcnt variety, enabling the soft mess
of shipstul to be reduced to one a day
the evening meal. With a variety
of such food the cost of procuring
pork will be very little, especially il
there iSa .siliiicint number OF animals
TO compel the constant care Of one
person. When the pigs have become
hogs, and their frames are large anC
ready for receiving the fat, then tn,
corn NAV be fed and the hogs made
ready for the butcher rs soon as pos
slble, but even when feeding corn i
should be fed in connection with bulk
food, and the animals will thrive bet
ter and gain more rapidly.