Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-02

I.awes a GILBERT. the celebrated Eng
lsh investigators. have shown con-
clusively that the fattening OK con-
sumes IL TO Is pounds OF dry sub
stance per pound OF gain as com
pared 10 to s pounds for hogs
Thus two OF more pounds OF pork
can be made on the food required for
one mound OF beef Though the sheep
Is considered one OF the most profita-
BILE and economical animals TO main
tain on the farm. the hog makes
pound OF gain on one-tniird to one
half less dry food The hog also
yields a high per cent OF dressed
meat; from "A 20 So per cent. With
cattle the per cent OF useful cuts runs
down as low as As. though in some
cases IL may go as high as 10; and
with sheep. depending on the age and
condition. from 40 TO 90 per cent The
hog Is an economical animal to main
tain. as well as an excellent scaven-
ger, though care should be taken in
maintaining hogs on Stops TO see that
the containers and the pens are prop
erly dfsinfected. for there is little
doubt that many OF the outbreaks Of
hog cholera are due TO q negle0 OF ,
these matters
SMALL CAPITAL AND EQUIPMENT
REQUIRED.
There is another reason why hog
ranching might be engaged In TO ad-
vantage. namely: the cheapness OF the
equipment needed to carry on the
business on q large. scale. The pur-
chase OF a few good brood sows and
pure-bred boar OF one of the recog-
nized breeds does not call for a very
large outlay Of cash. which IL often
an important matter with the small
farmer. The shelters or buildings
needed for hogs can be cheaply and
easily constructed In fact. suitable
pens for the brood sows may be made
at home OF pine boards and 2x4-inch
scantlinE. These may be built on
skids and should have a good plank
floor. The floor shovld slope so as
90 drain well. and the house need not
be more than feet high at the back
and feet IN front IL may not be
more than or feet square. The
mig rail should be s inches above the
floor AMI project out into the pen IL
inches TO prevent the SOW from lying
on the young ones and killing them
at farrowfng time. The roof may be
shingled. OF IL may be made OF rough
boards with battens One side Of the
pen may be left open or a door con-
struetsd 50 the sunlishts and air can
enter freely. or for that matter, a
swinging door can be made 50 that
the pigs can get in and out at Will
A pen OF this character can be drawn
from place 20 place with a horse. and
a dozen OF them can be erected at =
cost OF few dollars. OF course mucn
more elaborate and expensive struc-
lures may be built IL desired. but
they win not be any more satisfac-
tory.
QUICK RETURNS ON INVESTMENT.
For the small farmer. the hog is the
animal par excellence 90 grow, a. 49,
natures in from ten TO twelve months.
and has q ready cash value on the
market Furthermore. hogs can he
raised cheaper than any other class OF
stock. for under the modified system
OF practice outlined below. hogs may
be made 70 weigh $50 20 200 pounds
fn ten TO twelve months on a mini
mum ration Of grain, say FIVE TO ten
bushels OF corn. This compared with
the exclusive corn fattening generally
practiced. would revolutionize the
whole business FROM a financial stand
point The south does not grow corn
on anything like the scale followed in
the west. but II has been clearly dem
onstrated that substitutes OF equal
value to corn can be utilized in the
south at a minimum Of cost so that
the compromising influences Of nature
have placed the southern farmer on a
plane where he can compete success
fully with the western hog raiser.
INROADS OF CHOLERA.
The hog has long been recognized as
q mortgage litter. but his good quail
ties are often ignored because OF the
inroads which the dreaded disease,
cholera. makes all too frequently in the
herd There is no "cure-all' for chol-
era but II the hog were more generally
priced and given that attention which
he merits. there would be less trouble
from cholera Diseased hogs should
be isolated and when they die. de-
Etroyed by burning. A large per cent
OF the hogs raised are allowed 10 range
at WILL and should one die. the carcass
s. left just where II fell. and buzzards
and other birds scatter the germs here
and there. Many OF the hogs that die
contaminate the streams. and animals
farther down contract the disease In
this way. The man who hopes to
make money out OF hogs must look
after the sanitary condition OF his ami
mails. disinfect them properly, see that
the pens are well cleaned and cared
for. and that wholesome food IS pro-
vided- Attention to these details will
generally be found effectual in protect
ing the herd.
ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESSFUL HOG
RAISING.
This brings US to a consideration Of
some OF the essentials for successful
hog raising. Among the first things
needed Is a cheap supply of grain.
Where this Is lacking the would-be hog
raiser has concluded that the business
can not be followed successfully. 1t
has only occurred 20 us during recent
years that many desirable substitutes
for corn and other grains might be
found II is now so well established
that grazing crops. in which the leg
umes predominate. can be utilized for
the maturing OF hogs that the grain
problem has been solved in a highly
practical and satisfactory manner.
Another great drawback which was
thought 20 be a serious obstacle for
many years was the lack Of skim milk.
But Il Is quite possible 20 grow good.
thrifty pigs and make them thrive from
the beginning at a moderate cost on
grazing crops After all. this is not so
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