The Bossier banner., 1892-09-15
FARMER AND PLANTER.
HOG MAKING.

Important Considerations In Making the
Meat supply.
With all classes of stock, in realizing
the largest per cent. of profit, it is very
important to secure the best possible
growth at the least possible cost. It is
a well-settled fact that in the feeding
of all animals no one material is COM
plete ration; that no one material will
fully supply all of the elements of nu-
triton in the right proportion to secure
the best gain at the least cost. If any
one material is depended upon an ex-
cess of some elements will be supplied
in order to secure a sufficient amount of
others, and in consequence the cost will
be increased. For this reason, in near
ly all cases, a combination of different
materials can be supplied that will
materially lower the cost. With
all classes of stock a differ
ent ration is needed during growth,
from that which will be best in finish
ing for market, when the item of cost
is considered. With all growing stock,
as long as good supply can be secured
readily, grass can be made the princi-
pal ration, but grain should be fed in
connection with it, if the best gain is
secured But in fattening, grain must
be made the principal ration, although
in majority OF cases it will not be best
or necessary to confine to grain alone
There is no question as to the value
of corn as food for stock. Both for
growth and in finishing for marketjt
can be used to good advantage, and
with the western farmers, at least, is
one of the cheapest grains that can be
used About the only mistake with it
is that in too many cases it is made an
exclusive ration when variety would
have secured better results at less cost.
Hogs are kept confined in close pen
and fed corn day after day when a
healthier, thriftier growth could be Sc
cured at a less cost, if they were given
the run OF a good pasture, and this is
often the case whether feeding for
growth or finishing for market With
growing pigs one of the best rations
that can be supplied is wheat middlings
made into slop with skim milk An
other good ration is ground oats and
corn in equal parts made into a slop in
the same way and fed. Bran, oats and
oil meal is also good ration, but any
of them are the better if, in addition,
the pigs have the run of good pasture.
During growth, while the pigs have the
run of the pasture, it is not best to feed
too much grain; but in finishing for
market, they should be given all that
they will eat up clean at each meal,
but in all cases supplying sufficient
variety to keep with good appetite,
will secure the best results.
When the hogs have been kept in
good thrifty condition during growth,
1t should not require long feed to
properly fatten for market, but it is
often the case that during growth, es-
pecially in summer, they are turned
out in the pastures and left to
shift for themselves until it is consid-
cred best to commence feeding to fat
ten. A different ration is needed to
fatten from what should be given dur
ing growth, but the change from the
one to the other should be made grad
.ual, rather than all at once, as a sudden
or radical change of food often pro-
With the western farmer at least
corn is relied upon the largely to fat
ten the hogs, and there is no
question that under what NAV be
considered average conditions, it |
is one of the very best materials |
that can be used. But to obtain the |
best results it is not best to put the |
hogs on a full feed at once. Commence |
with light ration first and gradually |
increase until they are given all they |
will eat up clean, taking care not TO |
overfeed. At no time is it economy TO /
give an animal more than it will eat, |
even though in a short time it will |
come back and eat clean. 1t is not SO
much the food that the animal eats, but
rather what it digests and assimilates.
that benefits it, and the stomach must
be In good condition if it digests the
food to the best advantage, and irreg-
ular feeding or overlooking upsets the
stomach to much less extent.
and prevents the animal from doing
its best Feed regular and give a
liberal ration, but do not overfeed. A
little care In this respect will not only
save feed but secure better results from
what is given. When it can be done
without intermission it is nearly always
best to feed three times day, but on
many farms this can not be dore reou-
larry to good advantage and the rule
Us to only feed twice. Have clean floors
for grain and keep them clean: have
troughs for slop and water and keep
them clean. Filth Injuries the health,
and an unhealthy hog will not make
the best gain at the lowest cost. After
once getting on full feed the process of
fattening should be pushed as much as
possible, and then when fat either
butcher or sell.--N. j. Shepard. in
Texas Farm and Ranch.
GllPE Enp LAnH