The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-09-11
EFFECTS OF FooDs-LEAN PORK.


The best results can be had with breed
ing sows, writes f. d. Curtis to the
american AgriculturiSt, by turning them
into a field where there is plenty of pas
ture. 1t is not advisable to allow them
to have pigs where other hogs run, all
though, in a large range, there is little
danger of the pigs being disturbed or in
jured when born. One thing is sure
there is no food which will make better
pigs or put the sows in better condition
for bearing young than grass. 1t seeml
to be as natural food for swine as for ant
class of animals. l have known sow
which destroyed their pigs in the spring
to make the best of mothers in the sum
mer when fed on grass. In the spring
they were feverish and made frenzied bl
their physical condition; while in the
summer by the cooling and succulen
character of the grass they were in per
feet condition for the ordeal of bearing
young. Feeding vegetables has a similW
effect, and when sows have these regularly
they are always sure to do well. Fruit
are also natural foods for swine, and sow
will do well if fed nothing but apples
In the summer hogs should always be OF
the earth and given a chance to root
When it is known that all these cheat
foods are so natural and healthful fol
swine, it seems strange that so many far
mers persist in keeping their hogs, thu
year round, on grain. An acre of sweet
corn, fed stalks and all, will go a long
way toward fattening a lot of hogs.
Sorghum is also excellent. Weeds are
allowed to go to seed, for extra work the
next year, which would make excellent
pork Here is maxim: The cheapest
foods make the best pork. The reason
is, it is the leanest. Lean pork then be-
ing the best, we should try to make it,
Confinement in pens tends to increase the
fat. Exercise develops the muscles
The muscular part is the best food. The
fat is largely waste. We make fat to
| throw it away. People buy hams, not
/ for the fat, but for the lean. When the
fat is wasted it makes the lean cost just
so much more. Reduce the fat and in
crease the lean.
Can this be done2 Certainly. In this
way: Keep the pigs all their lives in the
pasture. Feed skim-milk and bran.
Keep corn away from them. Give them
vegetables and apples with the bran.
When the bodies or frames are grown,
give them oat meal or rye, ground entire,
mixed with bran, putting in twice as
much bran as rye. Keep up the vegetable
and apple diet and allow them during this
time to eat all the grass they will. A
little corn may be fed toward the end
Pork made in TINS way will have
more lean, and will be tender and Juicy
At Kirby Homestead, with our breed o
hogs, and using turnips, we have pro
duced hams seventy-five per cent. lean
The fat is something more than mere larC
animal oil. 1t is meat, with the sub
stance and grain of meat. To get sucl
pork is worth trying for, as it is in de
nand. The sausage and the other tooC
products made from such pig meat ar,
superior in quality and taste. There is
tenderness and flavor which enhances tn
Talue. Pigs should no be fed so muc
ar gorged to such an extent that they wi
not go out into the pasture. An activ
pig will make better meat than a helples
sne-made so by lack of true muscle an
Figor. It is advisable to plant appl
.rees for early ripening, in order to Civ
,he pigs start. Fifty trees of this kin
: have been set this year at Kirby Hom'
tead, including twenty early harves
Apples do not make fat pork, but they d
make plenty of lean meat, and that {
r extra quality. Pumpkins can be utilize
in the same way. Gradually the requir
Q ments of consumers for more lean POI
0 will open the eyes of farmers to the fla
? that the consumers are right and we wi
: have less of the greasy, indigestib
4 animated lard tubs called "eaTly mature
pork" "The most weight in the shor
4 est time,n is a heresy which has brok
: down lots of American stomachs and S
. thousands of people against pork. The
2 Is no animal on the farm which can
a turned to better account than the hog
q utilize wastes and cheap foods, and as
factor for enrichin0 the farm. For