Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-15


rhe sooner Hog. Are Made kenAE -
Msrket the Better.
There is no particular gain In keep
ing the hogs fat during the hot wealth
er. If they can be kept "a good.
thrifty condition q very short time OF
heavy feeding will be all that Is aeces-
sary to get them ready for market
And fat animal can hardly be maze
comfortable while the weather Is so
warm.
1t Is very often the case that hogs
that are ready for the market reasona-
bly, early In the fall not only sell at q
better price. but return better profit
1t they have been kept gaining stead
lily all summer and all In a good con-
dition they can be fattened i'm = short
time and at less cost than later. Thew
can still get the benefit of a GOOD
pasture and viii keep healthier and
will require less food to fatten than If
they must depend upon dry feed alone.
Plenty of grass is usually one of the
healthiest and best feeds for any kind
of stock. and while in fattening hogs
for market considerable grain must be
supplied. allowing them the run of u
good pasture will help materially to
lessen the cost. Corn is the principal
material usually for fattening hogs,
yet it should not be made an exclusive
food or the hogs will tire of it and
fail to make as good a gain as can be
secured if more variety is furnished.
When grass and bran slep have been
largely depended upon to keep in a
good condition it will be found best to
begin feeding corn, gradually increas-
ing the quantity every day until they
are supplied with all they can eat up
clean To make a change of food all
at once from a light, open feed. as
grass and slop to corn, which is very
fattening, and is in addition heating
and constipating. will produce more or
less disorder in the digestive organs
that should be avoided.
In fatteuing stock of any kind it is
always an item to supply them with
all they can eat in such a way that
there will be as little waste as possible.
Feeding more than they will eat up
clean is waste, fully as much as not
to feed enough. 1t is not the quality
of food that an animal eats that is of
the most benefit 1t is always an item
in feeding stock of any kind to give so
as to derive the largest benefit If
this is done the food must be supplied
in such form that it will be properly
masticated and digested.
No one material is a perfect food
either in developing bone and muscle
or fattening for market; and while corn
is one OF the very best materials that
can be used for fat teuing hogs, yet
little oats. or mill-feed. slops and
plenty of grass given with corn will
make up more complete ration and
will give a more rapid gain than if
corn alone is depended upon.
A tight floor is necessary in order to
save grain from being wasted 1t is
not a good plan to feed grain of any
kind upon the ground; animals get too
much dirt in what they eat and W aste
too much grain
Good troughs for water and feeding
Stops should also be provided. Feed
regularly and give a good variety and
after they are put on full feed, give
them all they will eat up clean. After
to fatten. they should be
crowded along as fast as possible
And the sooner they are made ready
for market the better. They can be
fattened very rapidly. and at a less
cost than at any time later.