Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-07-10
PRESS BULLETIN NO. IA
The Bacon HoE--A Good
Animal to Raise
Here

Owing to the fact that corn is not
grown in Northeastern Minnesota as
safely and abundantly as barley and
peas it has been considered more
profitable to raise a bacon breed of
hogs rather than the lard breeds. For
this reason a bacon breed The Large
Improved Yorkshire) has been raised
exclusively on the Experiment Farm,
It is this breed that is raised so
extensively and proftably in Canada
grown here in abundance, clover,
roots, barley, peas and the by product
OF the dairy, skim milk.
The method of raising pigs on the
Experiment Farm is to have the sows
farrow in March and April. A good
clover pasture is provided and the
young pigs are turned on this when
weaned at from six weeks to two
months old In connection with the
clover pasture they are fed skim milk
and little shorts Il ID. to pigs per
day. Sept. 1 barley and peas are
added to the ration, For two months
they are fed as much as they will eat,
which generally brings them into
prime condition for bacon. Their
average dressed weight Nov. is from
1870 to $50 lbs. The average price for
this kind of meat on the local market
the past three years has been 8 1-2
cents a lb. The cost of producing it,
including the feed of he brood sows
during the winter, has been 4 IL cents
per h., making a net profit of 81. 90
per hundred. This profit may be
considered good in hog raising in any
section, even where corn is grown
abnndantly.
It is possible in this section of the
state by the use of clover pasture and
skim milk, and by having the pigs
come early in the spring and disposing
of ! them as soon as they can be
fattened after the pasture season in
the fall, to raise pigs as profitable as
anywhere IN the state. The increased
demand for choice bacon makes this
,, subject Of raising bacon pigs in con-
nection with dairying in this section
of Minnesota a matter worthy of con-
sideration.
During the past three years 8 pigs
have been raised per sow on the
Experiment Farm. This IS a large
; average, but is characteristic Of the
! Yorkshire breed to produce large
litters and Of strong constitution.
| The brood sows on the Experiment
Farm are wintered on second croI
cloy er, boiled roots, skim milk and a
very small allowance of grain (1-s
1b per. head day.. They are com:
I ;ifortably housed, with access to yard
during the day, exercise being very
necessary. They are bred irr
December to farrow in March, and
only one litter year. Fall pigs dom
pay. Only brood sows should be
carried through the winter, and wher
sow has proved to be a good mother
she should be kept as long as she Is
productive, which is generally from
4 to years.
The chief point to remember il
raising pigs in this section Of the state
is that about the only feed that profit
can be realized from is clover pasture
and skim milk. The expensive grain!
will only finish the product that ha'
been gown on the inexpensive pasture
and by-product of the dairy. There
fore aim to have the pigs come il
early spring, and have a good pasture
ready for them when they are ready
for pasture.
The bulletins that have appeared
previous to this and a few to follow
concluding the 1907 report, will b'
put in pamphlet form, and any on
desiring this publication may secur
the same upon application.
Send your name and address on ;
postal card to the Northeast Expert
ment Farm, Grand Rapids, Mlnn.
and it will be put on file for all futur
publications.
Very respectfully
A. j. MCGUIRE,
vorin%ou1onf