Connecticut western news., 1899-11-23
MONEY IN HOGS.
The Profit Lies In Getting to Mar ket Promptly and Often.
 Method of Feeding.

The profits of hog killing, writes Charles Haines of Ohio, are in getting to market promptly and often. No breeder or feeder loses anything by constantly keeping his hogs in condi- ton ready for market. Care, judg- ment and skill pay approximately as well in raising porkers as thorough breds, but remember that life is too short to waste in feeding scrubs. The lower the price of pork the more i'm portant it is that the farmer have the best machine to work up corn at q profit. Pigs intended for pork should be crowded as rapidly as possible to be the most profitable. The advantage of growing improved stock does not lie merely in its better adaptation to the market wants and to the fact that it will respond more promptly and con tinuously to feed. The early age at which 1t natures is one of the sources of profit to Its owner. Early maturity is chiefly a question of feeding for generations with a view of making rapid and continuous growth, the early
 
 1t gradually increases by heredity. Breeding at an early age also probably has much to do with the creation of the quality. It is possible to push 1t so far that the results will be incon- sistent with full and healthy develop ment, but if this be avoided early ma turity is one of the most valuable attri- butes of the improved animal.
 As to the feeds and manner of feed ing, nearly every breeder has his own way about them. I have never been an advocate of cooked feeds for hogs, young or old. Humanity is accustomed to being fed in the main on cooked food, and because 1t is more palatable to man 1t has been assumed that 1t is more palatable and even more digesti- ble when fed to domestic animals. This Is by no means clear, however, and, In fact, the results of numerous experi- ments are all the other way with but few exceptions. More than a dozen diff ferent series of experiments have been undertaken to determine what effect cooking or steaming has upon the flesh and fat making power of various feeds, and in nearly every one of these the result showed that a given amount of feed would make a larger amount of gain uncooked than cooked, with pos sible exception in the case of potatoes, in which the proportion of albuminoids is very small and the starch very large. would say provide your hogs with good, wholesome feed, changing the feeds frequently. Do not feed corn alone, but with It give slops made from ground feed. In the winter when the weather is very cold feed liberally of corn at night and no slops unless they are fed warm, as the corn will help to retain the animal heat, the slops hay ing tendency to cool and chill the an- imal. In the morning, when they have the day and warmth of the sun of there be any sunshine) in which to ex- ercise and retain the animal heat, would feed slops and less corn. This manner of feeding will keep them cool. They will worry less, thrive better and give good results. Another thing, would rake up and burn to a charred condition all the corncobs, water the charcoal thus obtained and sprinkle 1t with salt and sulphur This I consider one of the best eff not the besO pre- ventives of hog cholera and other dis eases known among swine. In the win ter provide your hogs with shelter and warmth, in the summer with good shade.