St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-06-20
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE HOG BREEDER.

~ 487 II EAIufc3 NhctuOuS, H6a azEts &
| This article is written to open dis
cussion and bring to the minds of hos
beeders in general the great advan
tages and practical probabilities of hos
raising of the future in Texas and il
the south. The great Thoroughbred
hog breeder in the past has not beer
the breeder of Texas or the breeders
of the sister states to Texas or the
south. In looking over the different
advertisements of our energetic hog
breeders of the south you will find
that the advertisement generally says
that the head of the herd is great
son of some great northern hog, and
that the brood sow is the daughter OF
a great dam and from a great sire OF
some northern herd. Now, my brother
breeders, it is true that in the past we
have been compelled to buy our foun.
j dation stock from some noted breed
ers in the north, and in most cases we
have bought from breeders both large
and small who have indiscriminately
shipped to Texas and the south-not
the grand top hogs of northern herds
but hogs, it is true, of good blood and
breeding and pedigrees we'll to the
hiking of any breeder, but as iniiyidu-
ais, as rule, they will not compare,
or will they score in points of breeding
to their sire or dam. I have Just re-
turned from the McLennan county hog
show of April 25, and in listening
to conversation of breeders from diff
| ferent sections, it merely shows that
our ideas are far below the standard
| price of obtaining frst-class individu-
ais at normal prices. Two breeders
were discussing the merits of a sow
and litter of eight pigs, the sow as an
individual was exceptionally fine and
cost great deal over one hundred and
fifty dollars, her litter of eight pigs,
all solid black, six white points, abso-
lutely perfect markings of both sow
and litter. at the remarkable age of
four week, took first prizes for best
boar pig under six months of age, and
with entries by competitors who had
pigs in competition against them at
three, four and FIVE months old, and
in their conversation they agreed to
offer the breeder of this litter of pigs
the sum of $40 apiece for the prize pigs
of this sows' litter. The sire of this
litter sold for 5000, and the presiding
Judge, who is over fifty years of age,
and has had Is years experience as
hog breeder, said this was undoubted-
ly thu finest litter of pigs he had ever
seen. Now, this speaks for itself, our
breeders, of course with great many
exceptions), as rule, will not pay
reasonable prices for fancy foundation
stock.
Did you ever think, Mr. Breeder,
that in raising and breeding hogs that
you had so per cent. the advantage of
the northern breeder and iii the course
of few years, instead of going to
northern markets, the breeders of the
north should come to the breeders of
the south for their foundation stock.
And why should this be? | will tell
you: Has itnot occurred to you that
the hog has been great sufferer from
cold climates, and that during the
winters of the north-the northern
breeders have to house their hogs
thoroughly to protect them fron, the
cold atmospheric effects of their
severe winters, and in so housing
them and keeping them penned up in
close quarters for weeks at time,
is it not practical and true that
the growth and development of
the hog during this period
of confinement, and the loss of good
green pastures keeps the hog of the
north from his full development for |
his age, where, as on the other hand, |
take Mr.. Hog in Texas or the south
first, it is not necessary for breeders of I
the south to house their hogs, but dur
ing the very time they are housed and
shut up in the north they are gambol- t
ing upon the green and fertile pastures
OF Texas and the south; and the hog
OF the south is never stunted by being
housed or confined to grain food DUR
ing the winter months, and it is a
fact undeniable by breeders ia general
that hog is never SO perfect in growth
or development as when he has a good
green pasture to make bone, muscle
and development Herewith, and in the
next few years if our northern breed
ers desire foundation stock and hogs
which have come and gained their ma
5urlty without the bad effects and
stunt of the cold climatic changes so
severe on them, they will have come
20 the breeders of the south. but be-
sore. this great and progressive revolu-
ION OF hog raising occurs by brother
of the south, you will have
o sharpen your appetites, unite the
strings of your sheepskin pocket books,
ind instead of buying the general ad-
7ertised pig, take trip, and be gem
raj in your purchases; and in those
purchases see that only the tops of
he herds are bought. Be satisfied
With no others. It is common thing
or northern breeders TO pay from $500
o $500 for perfect gilt or brood
ow, and when you do this you
will find that in a few years
With this grand and perfect eli
nate where the hog is never set z
'ack by cold winters and no pastures Z.
that you can furnish brother breed
r with more hog to the square inch
han has ever been knows before in
his country. But it will take men of :
bility and enterprise, not the man
Tho desires to buy $500 hop for s1u
log raising for the southern farmer, =
nd particularly the man who rents
rom the King Cotton landlord will bc &
he mortgage defamer, and instead of
is landlord and provision dealer taxi 2
lg all his cotton forwhat he has eaten Y
uring the time of its growth. he will, 2