The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-12-30
; Opinions on Swine Raising

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Among the questions sent out tc
packers by the Kansas State Board Of
Agriculture were the following, with
their answers:
Is the flesh, pound for pound, OF q
SOW one, two or three months in pig
really deteriorated thereby, and, II so
at about what period does the deprecia-
ton begin, and what does 1t amount
to?
Armour-Yes; the depreciation be-
gins at the earliest showing.
Swift-We consider the flesh of sows
two or three months in pig deterior-
ated.
Schwarzschild-We figure that the
flesh Of pregnant SOW will in thirty Oh
sixty days begin to deteriorate, but il
amounts to practically nothing.
Cudahy-After two or three months
In pig her flesh is very undesirable for
the packer.
Morris-Pregnant sows that are for
ward are condemned.
Hammond-The depreciation will
begin at about one month.
Do you regard it as wrong or fraudu-
lent for the producer to market by
weight, for slaughter, sows one or two
months in pig, or up to time when
their condition cannot definitely be told
and dockage allowance is not made
therefor?
Armour-In that case the feeder gets
something for nothing.
Swift-In buying sows that are one
or two months in pig, when no dock
age is allowed, packers naturally lose
on account of the heavy shrinkage.
Schwarzschild-We regard it as
wrong and fraudulent for the producer
to market by weight pregnant sows, as
in all instances, when in that condi-
ton, they will not take on any sound
flesh, and yield very poorly.
Cudahy-We are decidedly of the
opinion that it is wrong and fraudu-
lent.
Morris-Yes, we believe that forward
sows should not be marketed.
Hammond-Dockage should be made.
To about what age can boar be kept
before eastration, without loss in the
quality or market value of his flesh?
Armour-Not day after he finds out
that he is boar.
Schwarzschild-A boar should be cas-
trated before the age of puberty, which
is about four months. If not, his meat
will become stronger every month
thereafter.
Cudahy-We would have them cas-
trated at six to eight months of age.
Morris-Boars should be castrated
early, for after service and castration
they are stays.
Hammond-We think over three
weeks depreciates the value.
Are the hogs Of the present time SUI
perior to or Of better value for food
purposes, weight for weight, than those
handled in the earlier years Of your
business, and, if so, in what does such
superior quality mainly consist?
Armour-We think the quality has
improved materially.
Swift-There is a general improve
ment in the quality Of hogs being re-
ceived season after season, which
would indicate that the farmers are
giving more attention to breeding and
fattening.
Schwarzschild-We recognize grad
ual improvement in the raising of hogs
the last two years, both in quality and
yield.
Cudahy-We have observed no par
ticular change.
Morris-Yes, hogs are generally bred
better than in former years, and there
are many more thoroughbreds among
them.
Sinclair-of late years hogs are bet
ter finished than formerly, but have
tendency to become too fat
Is there any special or growing de-
mand for class of lean or so-called
bacon" hogs, and, If SO, Of what
breeds, weights, and characters are
those which you regard as most de-
Armour-At present there is no spe-
cial demand for that class Of hogs.
Swift-There is growing demand.
The Yorkshire or Chester White breeds
are preferable, If marketed at ITS
They do not take on fat as
fast as the Berkshire, Poland-China or
other breeds.
Cudahy-Yes, there is quite de-
mand for bacon" hogs.
Morris-There is always a demand
for "bacon" hogs, and those of a good
quality, weighing 100 to $50 pounds,
and lean, are desirable for that pur-
pose.
Hammond-No special demand.
&c 1rOWinO do