The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-12-20

50O SS WS@ G@@ S0@ @SS w
months old, was narrowed 0 ,tober 5,
and allowed the range of the farm,
thereby afording them plenty of exer,
else and q variety of food. I consider
exercise essential to the production Of
strong, vigorous animals, and it also
strengthens their limbs, enabling them
to sustain a great weight later on.
These pigs were fed slOp made OF ship
stuff and sweet skimmIlk until they
were weaned, at which time | began
feeding a small quantity OF soaked
wheat, but that not proving satisfac
tory, / tried wheat ground fue with a
small quantity of oats, soaked IL co "a
hours and then NIX ID with sour skim
milk. At no time did I use e milk
direct from the COW.
AS the pigs we're not weighed, / AN
not give exact figures during the feed
ing period. They were not confined in
a yard or feed lot until winter, but at
all times had a clean, warm house with
floor, and plenty of dry bedding to
sleep in. Owing to a loss OF n in this
lot, [ substituted, about May 1, another
one of the same litter that had received
no particular feed Or attention, and
had not been intended for a show ami
NAL. She had, however, a we'll de
veloped frame, en1 was prepared &c,
and did, take on flesh rapidly. at
time OF shipping for Chicago, SeOtem
Der 90, she Was the largest, and proved
to be one Of the best show animals ever
raised in the West, winning first In
her class besides besides being con
cerned in various other priz~s
Four pigs from this one litter were
VIII ners of five Columbian prlz9s The
litter of five averaged 528 pounds each.
During the winter th=se pigs were
gwen just enough corn to keep up ami
NAL heat; and about March 1 it's use
was discontinued altogether, as think
too much corn detrimental to stock in-
tend d for either show Or breeding
purposes
After being whipped about in the
Worlds FAIR grounds and the chow
ring from September IL to October Is.
the pigs were returned home, and the
same rations continued rs before, but
decreased gradually, and a larger pro
portion of bran used. A great many
breeders thought my hogs too fat, and
that they would not breed; but as
their breeding qualities we're not burnt
out by a strong corn diet | did not ap
prehend any trouble in that respect
Auout November 1 [ began to mate
them, the largest and heaviest being
mAted only once and producing an
Extra hne litter, raising them all.
Cnese pIgs, like their dam, proved to
be show animals. The other SOW was
mated the second time, and che also
produced an especially fine litter.
These so We were Doth winners In claee
As we'll as in the herd at the Worlds
FAIR, which goes to prove that animals
proper y fed and cared for cau be pre-
pared for the shO = ring without 10
jury. | have a few animals OF thls
drst litter IN my herd at the present
time, and they are raising excellent
ig4. After building up the frames Ct
the show ANIMALS, che last ninety days
[ added to the oare and wheat ration
an Ingredient tina was somewhat more
fstGenIDg, and increased the q l4ntity
gradually up to the time Of g .arting to
the fairs
The spring litter was narrowed April
%. to be shown as under SIX months,
their dam being given the same sort Of
care as those mentioned above, excep'
ina there was now plenty Of good
alfalfa pasture and shipstuf all the
tine, but not much corn. After four
weeks old. the pigs we're shut by them
selves and fed a mixture OF shipstuff
and sweet ok mmllk, all they would
eat up clean They were not given
any corn, but had plenty of exercise
and alfalfa pasture At the age of five
months, after attending one fair and
before starting for the Columbian their
average weight was over 300 pounds
each. These pigs we're quite success
full in the snow ring abroad as well as
in Kansas, and we're excellent breeo
ers, In the q ting OF these pigs, a small
quantity Of f4X5eed meal was fed to
assist in giving a gloss to their coats,
but no sugar or molas ses was used at
any TINA.