Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-06
Hogs and Corn.

Early this month the choicest hogs
touched the low figures OF SO 65 10 the
chicago markets per hundred pounds of
I'VE weight. This Is only about one.half
the price That prevailed when the other
extreme was reached These low prices
ara extremely Encouraging To western
feeders, as wall they may be especially so
by contrast. Few other farm products
swing SO widely between extremes as
swine. The readiness with which hogs
can be increased in number. and the
temptation 70 load up with them in pref
erenee to marketing corn, is ready ex-
piana.i1n Of the present tendency of the
swine market. The POINT, hoe ever, that
concerns Us now is the free prophecy of
western exchanges that the market will
rally now that cold days are strengthen
ing. 1t is believed that the lack of sur
Plus Of hogs in the hands of holders and
Vhe Limitation of the ravages of hog
lhq'era in cold weather will determine an
upward movement The preference for
leedfng corn at home will of course
auord one of The strongest reasons for
winter feeding young hogs.
la the meanwhile the drop in price of
n'gs has most seriously discouraged the
tirners OF New England who were turn
'hS anew their attention to swine. All
throush the season pigs and young shotas
nave hsen dragging in our markets
fFoe&oiy not for long while have as
many pigs teen gown in this section of
che country
Ihe relative price Of hogs and corn will
Dear a moments scrutiny Beyond the
Mississippi river III The great corn g. ow-
Tug states where the surplus of corn fer
sale Is at its maximum there are many
points "hera its net value on farms is
not over Il to Is cents per bushcl. If as
assumed hy the feeders in these sections
= ohshel If corn in the hands of good
eders will make 10 pounds of live pork, |
hen the est iii corn for the 10 pounds |
You'd ba but B. II Is cents or a cent and |
quarter t. cent and a half IA pound |
The fact is, however, that the average
FEEDER handles large here of swine and |
curing the coii season Will not receive 10 |
pounds for bushel of corn The cost of |
feeding has to be taken into account ami |
ne death rata in the herd calculated |
upon II IS probable that with corn at |
10 cents hushel PORK costs over two |
cents pound for raising. Counting
1hipping they Will cost little lass than
three Gents IOui.d in fho Chicago mar
~et. AT this Kate the far western feeder
s better off to market his corn through
swine than TO sell it direct
On tits side If the Mississippi river
corn rates are such AZ 10 discourage pork
making whore corn is 20 nts tushel
Assuming that ell losses reckoned it will
require the equivalent IF l9 pounds OF
corn to make - pound of pork that goes
10 market, che corn cost of swine would
re So 90 aside from the labor and mar
keting AS the average porker is worth
ess than 80 cents in Chicago no en-
;ouragemenr S left to feed cora to swine
The farmer of New England who feeds
only a few in Il lot and makes a pound Of
zig on four pounds of mixed meals that
now cost him only SIG ton would make
his PORK 3.2 cents yer poaud live
weight. II this ejaculation no account is
made Of labor, for here manur9 is con-
s,dcrSd ample compensation for attend
ince. On a shrinlsge of Is per cnt In
iressirg round pork costs less than four
cents pound, while its market price is
above if. I5 was down to
six the first of November, when j: de-
,iined to 5 cents in our LEGAL markets
thus 1t appears that the prevailing rates
# swine have Grly followed the decline
n the price OF grain. 1t is true that rela.
lively the pr of pork is not .o favorable
IS when it brought seven MS, but when
,SlliDg at ihat rate it returned nue net
profit. Mirror and Farmer.