The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-10-30
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE SWINE INDUSTRY.

Paper read by L. A Davis before the Ken
lucky Swine Breeders association, at Shelby
ville, KY, August "a, 1897.
The swine industry, occupying the
Important place that it does in our do
nestle economy, as well as in the great
markets of the world, naturally sug-
gests to anyone engaged in the enter
prise the question; "How can l make
the most of him?" And now, realizing
this to be subject on which there ex-
lists great divergence of opinion,
shall endeavor to be brief, basing my
remarks on personal experience and
obervation during the past 40 years.
Let me say in the beginning that
the first thing necessary to success in
swine breeding and feeding, as in any
other undertaking, Is to make up your
mind to succeed. This done. you are
now ready to decide the next question::
with what breed shall begin?"-a
question which everyone must decide
for himself. Aim to select some breed
that is docile and kind. prolific in off
spring, good suckers and careful moth
ers, keeping in mind the fact that
what the farmer and stock raiser of to-
day demand is hog that is market
able at any age-one that has good.
strong constitution, such as will en-
able it to Withstand the ordinary trials
and vicissitudes OF a hogs life.
Having decided what breed you pre-
fer, the next question is: Where shall
l get them?" If you are good Judge.
visit the heard and make your own Sc
lection. II this is not convenient, or
If you are not a competent Judge, write
to some reputable breeder who has had
experience in raising the kind of hog
you wish to produce; tell him as near
ly as you can what you want and for
what purpose you are going to breed,
and ten chances to one he will suit you
better than had you yourself made the
selection. Do not let few dollars in
the price throw you off; buy moth
ing but the best. prefer pigs from
mature sows and dams. as they
are usually stronger and de-
velop into better hogs. If they are
shipped to you, make no delay in get
ting them out of the crate; turn them
into grass lot with plenty of clean
water to drink, and feed lightly for a
few days. Let this be some laxative
food, since being somewhat cramped
from shipping, the digestive organs
are apt to be impaired. If the weather
is disagreeable, be sure you supply
comfortable sleeping quarters. Hav-
ing now the foundation on which to
build a herd, do not make that COM
mon mistake of putting too many to-
gether. The chances for disease are
tenfold greater in herd of 200
than in herd of so. Have
separate grass lot with plenty of wa
ter for the boar, and always be kind
and gentle with him. Supply him
with q variety of well-balanced food,
such as will produce good bone and
muscle; provide bed in winter and q
shade in summer; never let him know
there Is any place to roam other than
in his own lot, and he will give you no
trouble. The sows should have q
larger range of pasture, and for brood
sows, very little grain. When the
time you wish to breed approaches.
place them in lot adjoining the one
occupied by the boar; turn them
in with him one at a time,
and usually one service is suffi-
cient to guarantee a fine litter of
pigs. Make record of the time each
SOW was bred, add to this date 1l2
days and you have the day on which
you may expect pigs to come. Now a
few words regarding the care of the
SOW during pregnancy: The mistake
most often made is in feeding too much
corn. thereby producing an oyer-abund-
ance of fat Give them variety of
Zone and muscle-producing food, be-
ing careful, however, not to 90 to the
other extreme and keep them too lean.
On the score of economy and health, /
have become a strong believer in roots
for winter feeding. though l should by
no means neglect wheat bran, since it
aids materially in securing good de-
velopment of bone and muscle in the
offspring. Then as the time ap-
proaches for the pigs to come, be sure
you are prepared to receive and give
them proper care and attention on
their arrival. Prepare comfortable
quarters, and have each sow to herself;
place her there about a week before
time to farrow, that she may become
accustomed to the surroundings. Pay
strict attention at time of narrowing.
but unless your services are really
needed, do not modest her for at least
IL or "A hours. Feed but little the first
few days. giving nothing that would
create fever. but allowing her to have
plenty OF pure water and to Craze at
will The sows should remain sepa-
rate ten or twelve days, after which
time the pigs will know their mothers
and may then be allowed to run to-
Rether. Teach the pigs to eat as soon
as possible; make pen which the sows
m ~ r. x~-L: IL. A.