The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-10-28
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE EEAT PROBLEM.
Prize Essay on Hog Raising in the
Southern Ruralist, by &. v.
Hinshaw, of Climax, N. @.

are the best / have ever raised, and
are one of the most popular in all parts
of the south.
Berkshires are of English origin, and
were first brought to this country about
1880. They may be put in good condi-
ton for killing before they are six
months old, but will continue 10 gain
i'm weight until they are two years or
more of age. They are good "rustlers,"
and will make large part of their liy-
ing in the pasture, but respond quickly
to fattening food. They lose less in
dressing than do most others. The sows
are very prolific and good mothers, ex-
cellent nurses, producing good hams,
shoulders and bacon. One Of the most
prominent breeders Of several kinds OF
swine says he prefers the meat of the
Berkshire for his own family use. Their
upright ear, quick eye, firm nerve and
activity keep them away from danger.
They are excellent to follow cattle,
it being almost impossible for them to
be hurt by the horns of the cattle. II
closely confined and we'll fed they grow
rapidly and fatten easily.
Select a COW from a large, even lit
ter, and / prefer having her one year
old when her first litter is dropped. The
SOW is now given liberal treatment and
furnished as great a variety Of food as
your sources will admit of, such as
thick Stops made of bran or shorts, in
addition to small allowance of corn,
with clover and rye pasture. They
should have plenty of exercise every
day, with clean water to drink. and
cool themselves in. Ten days before
she is to farrow, if circumstances have
prevented you from keeping your brood
sows separated from the balance OF
your herd during the entire time oil
pregnancy, quietly separate her from
the herd and give her good, comforta-
BILE, private quarters, with moderate
amount of dry straw for bedding, In
a shed with warm southern exposure.
Now feed with a view to keeping her
system loose and open, thus avoiding
q feverish and restless condition in
narrowing, reducing the quantity grad
ually a short time before narrowing
You will find but very little risk when
the proper precautions have been taken
to secure the above conditions before
hand. AS a rule, it seldom pays to
disturb them while narrowing, unless
the weather is very cold, when ii is
best to cover the mother with a blanket
and remove the pigs as fast as deliv-
cred to the fire, and keep them there
until they are dry, then return them
quietly to the SOW. They seldom need
any further care or attention, save
what the mother gives them. Give the
SOW little thin slop with some char
coal and q little spoonful of soda in
1t. Her feed should be increased daily
until at the end of one week she has
all she will eat with avidity, and .
run to grass, rye or clover. The pigs
must have their little, sharp tusks
broken off with some nippers when they
are two or three days old, SO they will
not bite their mother and cause hel
to kill them or not let them nurse
When they are three weeks old fix q
trough where the SOW can't get to it
and feed the pigs little sweet milk
thickened with middlings- Don't feef
them too much, for 1t will cause scours
Among the points to be avoided II
choosing a male are long head, necl
and legs, as such form indicates al
animal which will require amount o
| feed to produce pound OF meat, ant
one which can not be finished on fol-
market until he has reached considera
bic age. Walking partially on the deew'
claws shows weakness of frame, an(
an animal which will break down be
| fore he reaches heavy weight. AL
ways get the best you can find; the!
are the cheapest in the long run. Thu
southern states lost hundreds Of dol
lars every year by raising scrub hogs
You want the hog with an appetite
for almost everything and with abilit,
| to turn all kins of food to account. Be
sides that, the hog can manage to liv'
under conditions of the most abjec
misery, uncleanness and neglect Fo
centuries he has been regarded ant
treated as a sort of scavenger and a.
an animal occupying the lowest plac
in agricultural economy. Now, how
ever, things are changing for the bet
ter. and this despised farm laborer i
likely to be better bred, better fed ant
better managed. Another recent chang
in public opinion on the question o
swine and pork is shown in the mar
ket demand for lighter and leane
animal than was formerly in vogue
The cry for lean meat is growing loud
err. To my ears it sounds like de
mand for better favored and NOR
wholesome portk, and it will no doub
result in a very largely increased con
sumption of this excellent meat-fo
pork is really good meat when not to-
fat.
Sow peas and pasture your hogs Oh
them. and you will improve your lam
and save lot of corn. Don't buy you
meat when you can raise hogs so cheaT
Raje is particularly meritorious as
food for swine, from early In June un
til heavy frost comes in the fall Onl
a small allowance of grain need b
fed in connection with it to make splen
did gains. 1t may be pastured by pig
when the plants are six to eight inche
- IL 1f% n