Morris tribune., 1911-11-17
Economical
Pork Production.
BY c. r. Barns, Minnesota
University Farm.

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Some of the shrewdest and most
successful hog raisers set little value
on breed, a great deal upon type. and
O great deal more upon individuality.
1t is probably true, however, In most
cases, that breed has so Influenced
both type and individuality that. but
for the introduction Of improved
breeds, the pork producers of today
would be getting much smaller re-
turns from their hogs, no matter how
carefully they might endeavor to Sc
lect the animals for pasture and pen.
Breed is the foundation upon which
successful pork production is built;
type and individuality are the but
treSSes.
Economy in pork production neces-
states selection of type in the hogs
adapted to the kind of feed on which
they are expected to be fattened. I'm
questionabiy the greatest economy is
found in pasture feeding, wherever
suficiency of succulent grasses can
be supplied, particularly of clover.
Pigs in clover" has come to be
term synonymous with profitable hog
raising. But if the pasture, during the
earlier months of the pigs life, is to
furnish the larger part of the ration,
rather long bodied type should be
chosen, as best adapted to utilize the
feed-"one," as says F. F. Marshall,
that will build frame ON which we
can put the fat later on"
II, on the other hand, corn is to be
the principal feed, we should select a
shorter bodied, quicker maturing hog
one that will be ready for market,
probably, at the weight of $50 pounds.
It appears to be an established fact,
by the way, that the continual feeding
of corn has tendency to reduce the
bone and shorten the body, thereby
bringing the hog to quicker maturity.
The largest profits, however, probably
come from the longer bodied, clover
fed hog, with it's ample sides of bacon
Cost and selling price are the two
factors which determine the size of
the pork producers gains. The, first
Is, If course, good deal more within
last. 1t covers the first cost of pigs
and the cost of feeding First cost is
so largely determined by the size of
the litter that the selection of brood
sows of strain known to be prolific,
with litters of eight or more at time,
of "a hlU ho
feed and care of SOW producing such
a litter costs no more than that of a
SOW which farroWs only three or four
pigs at time. About as essential as
the quality OF being "a good breeder"
is that Of being "a good mother" Hav-
ing secured such SOW, she should be
cared for as Il choice possession, and
from her litter should be selected, for
further breeding purposes, the pigs
which reproduce her individuality.
AS to the other item of cost, that Of
feeding, the best and most economical
adjustment OF the ration to the vary
ing conditions of size and season is
30 exhaustively treated in easily ac-
cessible bulletins that it need not be
here discussed. Extension Bulletin
No. Z, of the Minnesota Agricultural
College, is especially commended to
the pork producer 1t may now be
said, however, that large economies
are effected, after the season for pas
turing on clover is ended, by pastur-
1ng on field peas or winter rye. and
even more by turning the pigs first
into patch of sweet corn and later
Into one of field corn. There is no
better way Of finishing off hogs than
in standing corn.
The pork producers share in the
control of that other great factor, the
selling price, would seem, under pres
ent conditions, to be of the smallest
limited to watching the market re-
ports and endeavoring to have his
hogs finished" at the time when, as
shown by the average of number of
seasons, the chance of getting a good
price is the best But cooperation
among farmers, in shipping and sell
ing, with an eye on more than one
market ff more than one exists), may
help some. And when the cooper
ative idea shall reach such a develop
ment that the pork producers and beef
producers of a district may possess
their own packing plant, SO that their
meat may reach the worlds markets in
barrels and crates instead of ION the
hoof," the selling price, too, will b.
theirs, in good measure, to adjust