Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-11-23
FARM AND GARDEN
Feeding Of Hogs During Fall
and Early Winter.
SWINE ARE VERY PROFITABLE

Too Much Dependence Put on Grain 4.
the Production OF Pork, and Not
Enough Thought OF Grass aud other
SuccuIeut Products.
Hogs are the profitable stock of he
farm, and a farmer who has plenty OF
them should not croak much about hard
times. If his corn crop is short, there is
wide margin between the price OF
wheat and that OF pork, and he will find
it paying investment to replenish his
stocks of wheat. There is, as rule, too
much dependence put on grain in the
production OF pork, and not enough
thought OF grass and other succulent
products. When grass and other foods
that disappear with winters approach
are to be utilized as porkmakers it is to
the interest of the farmer to latten his
hogs as quickly as possible in the tall or
early winter. Grass pork Is the cheap
est that we grow, and when rounded out
with grain, the healthiest as we'll.
My practice is TO bring the spring pigs
to new corn in fine shape, as good as it
is possible to make them on grass with
good ration of middlings twice a day.
As soon rs new corn is ready | begin to
feed, slowly at first, gradually working
up TO full ration. This year | gave them
the run of a rye field for sixty day prior
/ to commencing corn-leeding. Now that
| they have had corn for a few weeks they
are nearly ready for full feed OF it. But
the full feed will not be very large
quantity, because with other food that
| they have in great abundance they do
not need it. There are still considerable
quantities of rye in the field, also young
volunteer rye as well rs an abundance of
young clover, that has made a wonder
ful growth since the rye matured. Along
with all this green food they have twice
day as many pumpkins as they will
eat up clean. ! am at a loss to know
| how | could improve these opportunities
| for healthy growth and cheap pork.
/ These hogs ! do not expect to keep
! longer than November |. Glover, rye
and pumpkins will be plenty while the
hogs remain. Had been slow to start
them the fattenng period would have
| been extended about one month longer
and at a much greater cost.
These hogs are March and April far
rowings had they been a month later |
would OF necessity nave been driven to
early winter feeding, but in no case
would have attempted to carry them
through the midwinter months. If |
carry any stock in hogs through the win
ter it will be the fail farroWlngs, as they
do not require SO much shelter nor so
much grain TO keep mp the heat of the
system, nor so much food to make u
pound of gain. Mdwinter feeding is
decidedly Objectionable on account OF
the additional expense OF shelter, waste
OF food to keep up the animal heat and
the unpleasant labor in caring for them.
The important point in feeding hogs
is to get them to market as quickly as
possible. The day is gone by when
there is profit in feeding for a special
market, if they must be carried on a
maintenance ration for time to reach
this special market. 1t used to be Gus
tomary to feed spring pigs for the Feb
rnary market, but the folly of such
course is apparent when We consider
that they can much more cheaply be
made to reach market at the same
weights as formerly made, not later than
November |. The spring pig should be
in such condition when new corn is
ready for him that six weeks corn-feed-
ing will prepare him for market in the
most desirable form. But do not at
tempt to feed thus long on corn alone,
nor is it desirable to confine them to
small lots, for they will feed better if al
lowed what exercise they will take.
When cold weather sets in and they will
not exercise, they consume about one
fifth less feed, with natural conse-
quence of limited or no grain at all.
The general belief is that hogs will eat
more in cold weather, but the fact is
that they eat less and require more to
make pound OF gain.-John M. Jami
son in American Agriculturist.