The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1901-12-19
PROFIT IN HOGS
Experience of Missouri Farmer in
Lifting Mortgages.

The hog has been very properly
called "the mortgage LITTER" have
been raising and feeding hogs for mar
ket from my bOyhood, with some de-
gree of success.
/ commenced on farm with a
mortgage on it fol- $500. / had other
stock, but paid close attention to my
hogs, believing by SO doing l would
sooner have clear title to my farm.
Ny object was soon accomplished.
Then l bought more valuable farm
and mortgaged it for $500. I stuck
close to my friend, ''the mortgage
LITTER" and in comparatively short
time. l cleared the record, and have
come to the relief of some that were
not on such intimate terms with my
ole friend as / have been.
To begin with, it is important to
have large, hardy, prolific sows and
enough of them to raise at one litter
car load when ready for mar
ket.
l find the Duroc- Jersey to fill the
bill exactly; but let every one have the
breed that will raise the most pigs of
the heaviest weight, in the shortest
time. Breed for early spring pigs,
and all within ten days or two weeks
if possible to a thrifty, well-develOped
boar (but never more than two day
to one boar, so as to have the pigs
strong, hearty and near the same age.
AS to crossing with another, / will
not speak; but it is important to have
them all the same color as well as the
same age and style, so they will be at
tractive to the buyer, and by SO doing
you will get 20 to 25 cents per 100
pounds more than if they lack uni
formity. Have each sow named or
numbered, and record the date they
are bred and be prepared to care for
each SOW and pigs to themselves before
she is due to farrOw, for little care
lessneSs or neglect on your part at this
time will cause you t. lose more than
you make on what happen to get
through all right. Tie SowS should
be in good order, but not fat.
Feed moderately until after the pigs
come and then increase the feed grad
ually until they are week old, when
the sows should be on full feed. 1t is
important to give the SOW some Stop
before she farrowS to insure a good
! flow of milk. / have known pigs to
get poor, and if the weather was cold
chill to death because the sow hadn't
sufficient milk, while if she had been
properly fed for week before they
would have been all right. Feed the
SOW literally on good slop and corn and
let her have access to the best pasture
possible, for litter of eight or ten
and sometimes eleven and twelve
hearty pigs makes great demand on
the SOW
For early spring pigs good growth
OF rye or wheat is excellent. When
the pigs are or weeks old they will
begin to eat corn and should have it
shelled for them. Have shallow
troughs and encourage tn m to drink
SlOp as soon as they will. Feed the
pigs well all the time, but during hot
weather | think best not TO feed too
much corn. Feed near the water and
shade when the weather is warm, but
for the benefit OF the coming corn or
other crop, feed on clover field,
where you can utilize the manure,
which is the richest of any made on
the farm. If pigs weigh 100 pounds
or more when you begin to fatten
them, think sixty days full feed
on corn on good clover pasture will
give greater gain to the amount of
corn fed than if fed longer.-S. Y.
Thornton, before Missouri Swine
Breeders Association.