The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-08-21
INFARM And GARDEN
Subjects of Interest to Farmers
and Breeders.
THE BEST BREEDS OF SWINE.
Suggestions and Selection and Breeding
Management of the General Herd
Other Notes.

There is rarely very little preference
as to the improved breeds, all being
about equally healthy, good feeders, pro-
life and profitable, whether the selection
be Poland Chinas, Chester Whites, Duroc
Jerseys or Victorias. Western Agricul-
turist says, very truly, that one may ia
vor his preference as to color, size, etc.,
and not go against the interests of his
pocketbook. Some breeds, as the Ches-
tiers, Suffolks and Yorkshires, are more
predisposed to fat, while others, the Po-
land-China, Berkshire and, by some, the
Cheshire, are as much inclined towards
lean-a valuable characteristic, as the
taste now tends nowadays. For the
rougher usage of a new country where
the hog must range the Jersey stands
pre-eminent; but among the farmers of
central Illinois nothing rivals the Po-
land China for all conditions and pur-
poses. 1t is also claimed that the white
hogs, notably the Chesters, are not so
well adapted to "roughing it" as the
darker, and such is my experience.
Crossing the Poland-China or Berkshire
upon good native sows begets a good,
hardy grade and profitable as well. For
the nowadays popular "crowding pro-
cess" this Poland-China grade seems the
favorite, the pure blood and that of the
Berkshires being reckoned valuable like
wise in this respect. Many claim equal
excellence in the Duroc-Jersey for this
purpose, being besides more hardy and
vigorous feeder, eating and thriving on
coarse food-grass, roots, clover, apples,
ETC., and coming to the corn crib with a
healthy body and strong in bone and
sinew and muscle.
Having determined upon your breed,
use care and judgment in selection of
breeders and mode of breeding. While
careful selection is important in breediag
all domestic animals, it is especially so
with swine In selecting breeders the
greatest care ought to be observed in re-
gard to form, constitutional vigor, quiet
ness of disposition and predisposition to
disease. The whole secret in the breed
ing of so-called "cholera proof hogs lies
in the careful selection and breeding.
For the sow. select one of quiet and
kindly disposition, a good feeder and
grazier, great length of body, broad
over loins, short in legs, having twelve
good teats and especially of good consti-
tuition and perfectly healthy.
In the management of the general herd
the first and greatest mistake, says the
authority quoted, is in feeding the hogs
exclusively on corn, and stufing them to
'In I'll,
animal, cannot be healthily thrifty when
fed exclusively for fat, to the detriment
of bone and muscle, and this is what
diet of corn gives.
For feed, in summer, see that they
have plenty of grass or clover-the last
especially; one acre of clover, one year
set, will do for seven full grown hogs.
They will also eat well of clover hay, and
should always have little before them
to pick from in winter. For dry feed,
feed roots and vegetables and small
grain, and but little corn until fattening
for the butcher, when more corn may be
fed. Along with roots, potatoes, not with
sprouts on, turnips, rutabagas and beets
are fed, while parsnips are equally
relished. Turnips, raw or cooked, are a
splendid lean meat feed; five bushels,
cooked, and half bushel of rye, mixed,
make good feed for fifteen grown hogs;
potatoes and beets are also best cooked.
Pumpkins, too, fed raw, are excellent as
well as cheap food for swine Oats, bar
ley and rye, in small quantities, unless
ground or steamed, are good feed among
small grains.
Finally, see that the hogs have an
abundance Of good drinking water sum-
mer and winter,