The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-07-12
Written BY Hugh Webster, Of Iowa Agricultural
Journalist Class, Ames College.


Some Profit
(N0te-The following article, writ
ten by Mr.. Hugh Webster Of the
agricultural journalism class at Ames
was awarded second place in compe
tition for medal offered by c. A
Shamel of Orange Judd Farmer for the
best written agricultural article.)
Last June We sold on the Chicago
market 46 head of hogs at profit OF
approximately $3.50, or $3.50 a head
These we're winter grown hogs, far.
rowed the middle Of September and
cared for under suitable conditions
until turned off as nine months old
shoats. They weighed on the average
290 pounds and brought the long price
Of 1886 per hundred. Our profits we're
nothing remarkable but coming from
winter grown stuff they are Of in
forest. On q neighboring farm there
was similar bunch of hogs being
raised. Though started under favor
able conditions they came out in
the spring as lean, stunted shoats
which required practically the re-
mainder of the summer to fatten for
market
We attributed our success to our
methods. We had good stock as a
foundation, the lineup being eight
first class Poland China sows and a
registered male These sows were bred
the first of June for fall litters. BY
the last of September all Of our eight
sows had narrowed. presenting hne
bunch of pigs to start operations on.
The sows received no special care dur
ing the summer, following the cattle
and roughing it. But by the first Of
September we had them all in and
were feeding them rich slop feeds of
shorts, buttermilk. and tankage, to-
gether with soaked oats. We fed the
oats in the morning, pail full at a
time and before stopping. The slop
was fed twice day, three-fourths OF
barrel at each feed. 1t was made OF
: one bushel basket of shorts, one-halt
pail Of tankage, one third barrel OF
buttermilk, and water. The milk came
from nearby creamery, costing us
cent per gallon. 1t proved to be a
great supplementary feed.
Now in regard to shelter, and we
consider this as an Important reason
for our raising a thrifty bunch of
hogs. We have a centralized hog
house. 1t is built in, side hill with
south exposure. 1t is 2Ox1O0 feet in
size and has two stories, the upper
story being used for feed, straw, etc.
Below are adjustable pens, with cen
trail aisle, stove and feed cooker. Here
during the entire winter we kept the
pigs, SLOWING them access to the
outdoors, but always having a place
Of shelter and warmth. The pigs from
the first were we'll bedded and thrived
well in these sunshiny pens. Square
bodied, we'll boned little fellows, 1t was
pleasure to see them grow
The first three weeks the pigs de-
pended largely on the sows for feed.
Then as they began to eat from the
troughs. we made creep where they
might eat at will. Here we fed them
thin buttermilk slop and little
shelled corn. We never gave them
more than they could eat. When six
weeks old we weaned them, having
previously castrated the male pigs.
BY three months the bunch of IS pigs
were eating barrel of slop each day,
together with half bushel of shelled
corn. They were weighing close to
SO pounds each and were a husky
bunch of pigs.
With the sows out of the way, the
pigs were given complete possession
of the hog house. 1t was always kept
warm and well bedded and when
December SHOWS were drifting against
the doors, they were in the house COM
Portable and growing. Our neighbor's
pigs were scattered out in individual
hog houses and though he tried to
keep them we'll bedded, the pigs were
scrawny and chilled, third Of them
dying off,
For the next three months the pigs
were fed two barrels of slop per day
and five ears OF corn apiece The
1op was made of one fourth OF sack OF
shorts to about 40 gallons Of butter.
milk. To this was added hot water.
thus making steaming feed. We did
our feeding at one end of the house
where were arranged permanent
troughs and a feeding floor. The corn
was fed after stopping. We did not
water the pigs, the slop taking it's
place After feeding, the doors were
opened and the pigs driven out to
exercise or lay in the sun on the south
Ide of the barn. We kept tankage IL.
. trough In easy access to the pigs
and nut a half pail full in each bar
eell of feed.
The pigs grew rapidly The slop
md tankage aided in growth while the