The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-01-09
HOG RAISING IN FLORIDA

The following bulletin sent out by
The Agricultural Experiment Station 81
the University Of Florida. Gainesville,
from the pen OF \. P. Spencer. con-
tains some valuable information and
We take pleasure in reproducing same:
The average valuation of the Flor
ida hog is $50: while. for the entire
United States. the average valuation
Of a hog is 1914. The value Of the
hogs in Florida approximates TWO and
a quarter million dollars. These facts
suggest possibilities for Improvement
in the raising OF hogs in Florida. II
has been said that hogs have been the
mortgage-lifters on the farms Of the
Western United States. but il has been
only well-bred and properly fed hogs
that have done this work The native
hog grows too slowly. requires TOO
many days 10 mature, and eats too
much feed for each pound OF pork il
produces. The percentage Of dressed
meat TO live weight i about s.:
whereas with improved breeds. when
well fed and carefully handled. this
percentage reaches so. The average
litter of native pigs is small. and the
native sow rarely. il ever. produces
more than one litter a year
The Increased value of land. labor.
and seeds demand that the quality OF
Florida hogs shall be improved. other
wise the future Florida hog will be
produced a a vanishing profit. Flor
ida can produce a great variety of
forage crops during all seasons of the
year. as we'll as corn for fattening. and
expensive hog houses are also unnece-
ssary. Nearly all the improved breeds
of hogs are represented in various sec
tions of Florida: and any of these
when crossed with the native pigs will
make a wonderful Improvement in the
! first cross. a still greater in the sec
ond cross. while the third cross will
reach a point of excellence that will
make it difficult to distinguish from
the pure breed, providing that good
feeding has accompanied the breeding
up process. Furthermore. Floride hogs
can now be protected against hog
cholera.
Any farmer who attempts to improve
his hogs without a systematic plan for
providing cheap feeds is going to be
disappointed. Better blood. and better
blood alone, will not give the desired
results without good feed. The hog
does we'll on green forage crops \
variety of crops in each season is de-
sirable. \ single crop may fail. and
from the standpoint of thrift and
growth of the hogs. The following
crops are available and are recon-
mended:
Winter CrOps-Rape. Japanese cane,
/ barley, velvet beans.
Spring Crops-NIillet, sorghum. oats.
barley.
Summer Crops-Sorghum. cowpeas,
corn, Mexican clover. Bermuda grass.
/ Fall Crops-Peanuts. sweet potatoes.
velvet beans. rape. Japanese cane.
| To promote rapid growth with the
above named feeds a small allowance
! of equal parts of corn and middlings
! is desirable in addition. About one
/ pound daily for each 100 pounds of live
weight has proven satisfactory for
growing hogs. Very young pigs. and
brood sows sucking pigs. need about
two pounds for each 100 pounds of live
weight. excepting during the season
when peanuts are available. Regular
feeding twice a day. together with
| liberal supply of fresh water. are also
important.
! The native hogs cross we'll with the
Berkshire. Poland China, Duroc Jer-
sey. or other improved breeds. Several
! hog raisers in Florida are already
using pure bred males on their native
sows and getting good, thrifty. strong
| filters, that mature early. In general.
| it is better TO secure the pure-bred
stock in Florida if possible. list of
the breeders can be obtained by writ
| ing to the director of the experiment
station, Gainesville. Fla. The breed 10
use for grading up is largely matter
! of personal choice, although the aver
age hog raiser in the state will profit
best by using those breeds that have
already proven satisfactory in his To-
cality or county. With good care,
proper feeding, improved blood. there
is no reason why the average hogs Of
Florida should not weigh at least 125
pounds a. or months Of age