The Colfax chronicle., 1903-05-23
FARMER AND PLANTER.
HOG NATURE AND ITS NEEDS.
Matters to he Considered In the
Raising Of an Important For.
tf0n of Our Meat supply.

The hog can hardly he classed as an
attractive animal IN name, nature or
appearance, but it has put more
struggling farmers and stockmen on
their financial feet than any otEer
domestic animal raised in our coun-
try.
The nature and well-being OF the
hog are less understood, and consid-
cred. too, than is the case with other
stock. resulting from the mistaken
idea that the hog can endure all kinds
of treatment and yet thrive. Very
few of the millions annually raised
are spoiled with kindness, but much
the greater proportion have too much
of the 'root, hog, or die" treatment.
The greatest foes TO the well-being
of the hog in the more northern por-
tions of our country are cold ana
dampness. The hog and human fami-
lies are quite similar in at least one
respect, which is their need of
warmth and q dry, comfortable bed
when at rest. The hog, coming orig
inalIy from a hot climate, is still as
unprotected by his scant, bristly Gov
ering as ever. In fact, the bristies
have been bred off instead of en-,
there now being but little between
his skin and the weather on a we'll
bred hog.
The few hogs previously referred to
that are too carefully coddled and
cared for are apt to be found among
breeding stock. The brood sow and
boar should above all others be re-
quired to take plenty of outdoor ex-
ercise, to insure hardness and vital
ity. so essential for transmission to
the progeny. To secure such fitness
of physical condition it is not neces-
sary to expose them to storms and
compel them to root up acres OF
ground to secure their living, but 1t
is quite necessary that they spend a
considerable portion of each day
''rustling" for a part of their food In
stead of becoming fat and fiabby in
closely-confining. ill-smelling pens.
| Like man, the hearty hog cares hit
tie for cold and stormy weather while
he is in motion, feeding and exercis-
ing, but his bed must be dry and pro-
tected from drafts and cold, or the
effects will be rheumatism, chiils,
fever and general unthriftiness, il
not serious disease itself.
Many swine breeders and feeders
are aware that it is possible to grow
young, well-bred, healthy pigs to
live weight of two hundred and fifty
to three hundred pounds at an age OF
six or seven months by intensive feed,
ing. the best of care and close con-
| finement; but if the growth-forcing is
continued much longer, there is re
action and liability to disease that
will interfere with the profit. Even
by this method of feeding for early
| maturity the chances for success are
much surer when the sucking pigs
/ and breeding sows have been allowed
unlimited exercise, thereby laying in
reserve stock of bone and nerve
force, to help carry them through the
strain of heavy feeding and close con
Gnement later on.
| During the cold winters and hot
summers of the northern and middle
sections of our country the hog re
quircs protection from both extremes
| to obtain the best results. The prac
tice of piling up 20 obtain warmth
| where numbers run together is re
sponsible for much injury and dis
ease by the ovefhcating resulting
There is often quite as much loss oc
casioned by lack of protection from
summer heat as from winter cold TIT
hog in a state of nature will CAM
near a water course or bog hole dur
ing the heated season, where, whel
occasion requires, he will cool ant
cleanse himself, and at the same tim
provide himself with a fly screen o
mud.
The writer has found that a hol
run containing such natural OF arti
fetal wallows of pure water and un
contaminated mud makes a very para
disc for hogs during hot summe
days, and increases the thrift, growtl
and profits materially. Especially ar
the breeding sows that are to far
row during the heated season bene
flied by clean, fresh wallows. Man.
valuable animals and their litters ar
lost every year before and at farrow
ing time that might easily be save
if cool, clean wallows were within
their reach.
The importance of feeding an
breeding of swine is not to be under
estimated, but their housing and com
fort are of even greater Importance
since the expense for the first goe
for naught unless their physical com
fort is also provided for.-B. F. v
Thompson, in Farm and Fireside.