Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-11-09
PORK IN MAINE.
Opportunities in the Swine Industry
for Farmers.

Many farmers do not realize the oppor-
tunities the swine industry offers, especi-
ally when carried or IN connection with
the dairy, says the editor of the Septem-
Der Bulletin OF the Maine department Of
ssiIcai.me. We believe There Is pfoht la
this business for the average Maine
farmer, when it is conducted in the right
manner. 1t is true that grain Is higher
this year than 1t has been for the past few
years and that pork is not bringing quite
as much. Still we are of the opinion that
that farmers interest will be best served
who still continues the business OF pork
raising. The man no has business and
sticks to it succeeds better than the man
who goes in and out of the business on
the changes of the market.
A very small capital is needed for this
industry, and quick returns are received.
The pig will increase in weight more per
any other farm animal. -Four pounds of
food will make pound OF live pig, while
1t requires ten poundsi.for one of steer.
Many products OF the farm may be as
profitabiy fed to the pig as to any other
animal, and the raising OF pigs is one Of
the most profitable methods of utilizing
skim milk.
Also, the manure from the pig is the
most valuable OF farm fertilizers. The
barn dressing that can be made from the
pig will contribute further to the fertility
of the farm by increasing the value OF
the manure of other ANIMALS when al
lowed to work upon it, and by converting
waste material, such rs straw, weeos,
muck, ETC., into valuable plant foo
One of the essentials for success in
swine raising is suitable quarters. These
should be dry aud warm, well iighted and
we'll ventilated, and kept as clean as
possible where the pig eats and sleeps.
That breed should be selected W hich meets
the demand of the best markets, and
careful selection should be practiced only
the best brood sows being retained.
The ration should contain bone and
muscle making material and not be
composed entirely of heating and fat
tening foods. Corn and oats ground in
equal parts, mixed with wheat bran,
make good food. Skim milk with a
little corn meal mixed in it, in connection
with pasture grasses, is an excellent food
1t is now generally conceded that the
pasturing of hogs is essential for the best
success. The brood SOW, especially, re-
quires plenty of exercise OH mixed pas
turage, such as grasses and clovers.
Plenty of green food in summer is condu-
Give to the health OF the animal, and
cheapens the cost Of pork production.
Coal ashes or charcoal should be freely
furnished, especially ii the hogs are con-
fined to pen or yard, and plenty of salt
should be given. Some of our farmers
have found rape valuable food for swine
In relation 10 the pasturing OF swine,
A. A. Southwick, of Massachusetts, who
has had an experience of thirty five years
in growing swine for the New England
markets, in recent number OF the NetC
England Homestead, states: "All l re-
quiTe for a carload Of salable hogs Is three
acres of hay and one acre of rape. The
rape should be sown alongside of the hay
ard may be put in either in the fall or
early spring, aud good English grass will
do for tie three acres OF hay. Tue rape
field is divided into two equal parts, and
the hog allowed to run ON one half for
ten days aud then removed to the other
half, to allow the rape to get new start.
They have access to the three acres of
grass at all times. La case the hogs are
unable to keep the grass eaten off, it is
we'll to set the moving machine in the
top notch and run over the field, clipping
off the grass to keep it short and fresh.
Clover is per heps the best cen feed for
hogs. but in this locality it is difficult to
get good crop started, and l find that
they will do well on most any good, sweet
grass. 1t is not necessary to feed any corn
or grain whatever, unless you want a
fancy product"
Another important factor In pork pro-
duction is early maturity. 1t has been
clearly shown by a large number of
| experiments that the first six months
growth of the pig is the most profita ble.
Gains in live stock are most economically
made early in the life OF the animal, and
the cost per pound for making them
increases with increased age. The pig
should be marketed at from six to eight
months old, thus converting the crops
into cash in short period of time.