The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-10-07

value Of them before they began to FEED
them corn, and received nothing fol
their work, corn and anxiety. Some
were even more nnfoTtun ate, as they
lost their; hogs by cholera after they
were nearly ready for the market.
Many farmers think, that no money car
be made in feeding corn to hogs this
year il the liability to loss BY cholera.
and other diseases be taken into CON:
sideration. Several stated that there
were fewspersons at present who made
q business Of buying corn eand feeding
it to hogs. AT one time there were
many in various sections Of the country
who made a practice Sof buying lean
hogs in the fall and feeding them with
corn bought Of farmers or in the open
market This business has become un.
profitable and risk and few are will.
ing to engage in it.
V Obviously the time has come when
good judgment is required to raise porl
with much profit. The animals must
receive I attention from; the time they
are dropped till they are ready for the
market. Breeds must be selected that
mature early Breeding sows must be
supplied with food that will insure
their giving a large amount Of milk fol
conside rable period. The larger and
stronger pigs in each litter must be
weaned first, 30 as to all low the smaller
and weaker ones better chance ia
thrive. Special pains must be taken
not to allow them TO fall off in weight
and condition after they are Weaned.
They must sbe supplied with milk.
kitchen slops,tnnd 4swiu made by mix.
ing bran, middlings, corn meal, and
pulyerized oil-cake with water. The
pigs must be made to subsist largely On
growing grass and clover at an early
age. heir pasturage should be ample,
and OF the best quality. It has appar.
emily been demonstrated that an acre
Of red clover will produce moro HOG
food than an acre of corn. The clovei
requires no cultivation, and is a spare
crop in most parts Of the I: west, while
hogs will do all the work of harvesting
it. An acre. Of bluegrass or orchard.
grass produces nearly as much hog food
as an acre of clover. ~ IS
Farmers in the east have learned
that pumpkins and squashes are very
profitable to raise for feeding hogs,
They are largely raised in corn fields,
on the site Of old hay and straw stacks
and N In manure heaps, and in hills on brok.
en- gIound that can not be utilized for
moScnltivated crops. Canadian farm,
ers, who raise very little corn, find ii
profitable to feed roots, potatoes and
peas to pigs. That western farmers
place too much reliance on corn fo1
raising hogs seems certain. The crop
is an expensive, difficult, and very un.
certain one to raise. ). It is liable to. in
jury by drought. too much rain, insects
and small animals. Corn is certainly
very desirable for :fattening hogs, but
cheaper food should be found for feed.
ing. them while they are growing. An
exclusive corn diet, even for q few
months, is not desirable. Hogs, like
other animals, delight in variety Of
foods, thrive better, and are more
healthy when they are allowed frequent
changes Of diet. There is always econ.
omy in providing shelter for hogs during
cold weather. in supplying shade in HOG
pastures, and in furnishing pure water
to hogs, whether kept in the pen, past.
ure or yard. Water is cheap, but it lis
as essential to animal growth as food.
@ With pasture seeded to red clover,
orchard or blue grass. supplied with
shade, and furnished with pure water,
hogs can be kept in a good growing
condition during the. summer at a very
small expense, The entire stalks ol
sweet corn. pumpkins, squashes. arti.
ehok es and. potatoes will furnish very
cheap food during a portion Of the fall.
The experiments made in the eastern
states and England with ensilage for
feeding growing hogs have been very
satisfactory. The plants most desira-
BILE for this purpose are clover, alfalfa,
rye and the fine grasses, that are cut
and stored VIII le they are vet tender.
In Germany and France the tops Of
sugar beets, and in England the tops Of
tqrnips. IRE preserved in silos for feed.
ing to hogs during the winter. Red
clover, the second growth of fine and
tender grasses, and rye will probably
be found to be the most desirable sub
stances for converting into ensilage for
hogs in this country. The farmers in
the western states can not afford ia
allow the hottom to fall OUT of the
pork oducing industry. If the meat
Of the millions can no longer be profit
ably produced from corn, cheap sub
stitute for it must be found. g Chicago
q o 4 . - z