El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-05

sheep only 81 percent Thus 1t appears
that greater percentage of the pig is
available for food than of any other
domesticated creature.
The total live weight of cattle
slaughtered in this country largely ex-
ceeds the total live weight of swine
slaughtered. But the total of hog meat
including lard, exceeds the total of
beef by 1000, GOO, 0G0 pounds. This gives
a vivid notion of the superiority of the
pig as an economical meat producer. 1t
may be mentioned incidentally that we
consume in the United States more than
a billion pounds of lard annually, or
about 90 pounds for the average family
And, in addition, we export three-Quar-
ters of billion pounds of lard every
year.
Is Increasing in Value.
During the 10 years from 1890 to 1900
the average value of a pig in this coun-
try was $4.S1. From that time on it
rose very rapidly, though with fluctua-
lions, and in 1911 the American hog,
reaching its highest figure, was worth
1897. Since then it has dropped, and
at this writing the animal is quoted at
IS. Seven states of the union together
have nearly 25,00O,000 swine E.,
Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, the Dako-
tas, Nebraska and Kansas. Iowa has
more than twice as many pigs as any
other state, and produced last year
billion and a half pounds of pork and
pork products.
In the entire world there are 141, 3OO,-
600 known swine. This does not include
China and a few other countries, such
as Persia Afghanistan, and parts Of
Africa, where such figures are hard to
get If it be assumed that the total
number of pigs in the world is 100000
600, it will be seen that in the United
States we have Gas already stated
about one-third of all the hogs in eX-
istence. We own 65,41O,0OO. Germany
is second, with 1S,920,0O0 and Aus
tria-Hungary, with 12,675,000, stands
third. European Russia has 11,S71,OOO,
and France comes fifth, with 7,559,OOO.
Japan possesses 1,204,50O swine.
When the recent period. of idustrial
depression arrived, in 1907, farmers all
over the United States disposed Of their
pigs. They even sold their brood sows.
This in fact was the beginning of the
shortness of pork. But fortunately the
supply of hogs was readily renewable,
their rate of reproduction being so
rapid. 1t is different with the beef
animal. But another factor that has
entered Importantly into the hog prob
lem is the price of corn. Hitherto a
large fraction of our enormous annual
corn crop has come to market in the
shape of pork, bacon, hams and lard
This was highly economical in 1906,
when the farmer could get only 40 cents
a bushel for his corn, but this year he
can sell it for so cents or more, and
there is no money in feeding 1t to pigs.
In lie great hog raising states, how
ever, they are solving the problem by
switching the hogs diet from corn to
alfalfa That wonderful forage plant,
being rich in nitrogen, makes lean
meat. It is a growth food, and pigs
fed on it gain size with extraordinary
rapidity. They eat it green or dried
and ground to flour.
The government experts say that it
is a mistake to feed swine on corn
alone. The hog is an omnivOrous
beast, and in a state of nature
eats roots, nuts, grass, fruit and
even fish and snakes occasionally.
Two pounds Of corn per day is
plenty; for the balance of its supply
of grub" the animal should rely upon
pasture. When pasture is lacking, al
falfa, cowpea, or soy-bean hay should
be chopped up with a hay cutter, mixed
with the corn, and fed as thick Stop
If neither pasture nor hay is available.
the farmer should use corn, with wheat
shorts. bran or skinned milk.
This is not a matter Of interest mere
" to the farmer. It has to do import
antly with the cost Of living, about
which everybody is complaining now
adays. At the present time a per
cent of all the meat consumed in this
country is beef, 46 per cent is pork, and
per cent is mutton. Thus 1t appears /
that beef and pork are about equal IN |
respect to quantity eaten But from |
now on, as the years go by, the sup