The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-01-11
Pork Prod etion In the
IntermountaiR Country
sy W. L. Carlyle, Dean and Director,
Idaho state University.

Many farmers believe that ~ is i'm
possible to raise hogs, and produce
pork In this intermountain country at
a profit. Some, and perhaps the ma
iority OF them believe that hogs can
not be grown and fattened at
q profit In any country where
corn cannot he abundantiy and
cheapy grown in fact, they are
not backward in expressing their con
viction that hogs cannot be grown and
fattened without corn. After some
years experience in hog growing and
fattening in this western country, we
are convinced that these men are
greatly mistaken, and we believe that
this section offers many advantages
for pork production that are not TO be
found in any other section Of the
United states
II may be said that there are five
prime factors that nave to do with
profitable pork production In any coun
try; these are, first, the ability, eN
pCricncc and taste of the farmer; sec
ond. the nature OF the climate; third.
the character of the soil, and its ca
pacity TO produce an abundance of
suitable feed products cheaply; fourth,
the prevalence Of disease, and fifth and
most important, the demand for pork
products or the availability OF good
market Let us consider briefly these
Ave factors, and apply them to our
conditions. and see how nearly we MI
the bin in this section. In the first in,
stance, we have as progressive "A lot OF
farmers as may he found in any sec.
ton of the country. II is true that
many, in fact, most OF them have not
that knowledge and skill in the bust
ness of rearing and feeding swine that
insures success, but this skill and
knowledge can be secured In very
short time with a little practical ex-
perience and careful study II can,
therefore be said that in So far as the
first factor is concerned that our con.
ditions are favorable.
As regards the climate, this section
cannot be excelled in any other part
of this continent for hog raising This
Is broad statement, but believe the
facts substantiate H. The weather is
uniformly dry, the seasons are moder
ate, the air pure and invigorating and
the sunshine abundant and strong.
There is only one serious objection to
our climate from the hogs standpoint
and that is our extreme variation Of
TEN pcrature in each twenty-four hours;
and this objection, while very serious
one, II not guarded against is very
In 10 l1N
ture q semitropical animal, he has a
light coat of very coarse hair al best.
and is consequently very susceptible
to cold or chlls Again. the hog has
no Precipitation or sweat glands in his
skin, and though he be semi.tropical
{ animal naturally, is very easily over
come with heat Most other animals,
including man, are providentially
equipped with means of cooling the
surface of their bodies through tho
evaporation of the perspiration which
eXudes from the open pores of their
skin whenever the temperature of the
body rises ahnormally. This mer.
i ciful provision of nature has
been denied the hog consequent.
ly when he Is exposed 20 the
burning hot sun during the middle Of
the day and his body becomes over
. heated he should be provided with
, some kind OF shelter or shade: and
with some means of supplying mOis.
3 ture for evaporation from the surface
I of his body, On the other hand, when
q the sun goes down and the chill air
from the mountains desCcnds into
the valleys in the evening, or during
the night, the hog having no AIDE.
/ quate covering of hair is very readily
chilled The result OF which is very
apt to be serious loss from pncu-
mOnia and other pulmonary troubles
particularly in the case OF young pigs
a and very lat animals. In summer. IL
In important. therefore. that hogs
should he furnished with some shell.
ter In the fields We provide small
"A''shapcd, cight-fOol square hog
houses. These are cheap, easily
moved from place 10 place and an.
swer every purpose, both for shelter
from the sun and from the cool night
air, providing, they are well VENT.
lated In addition To adequate shel
ter all pasture lots for hogs In sun.
mer should bc provided with a bath"
. in which the animals can 20 ut will
not so much TO clean their bodies az
to cool themselves. Hogs should not
be forced To make waliOw In some
= dirty, filthy. stasnant pool OF water
| in order 10 cool themselves. Provide
? each pasture LOT with small tank
eight by eight feet square and ten
inches deep, made OF plank Or con
I crete, set into the ground, and have
this supplied with fresh. clean water
once or twice week, which will not
hold "a exceed two or three barrels,
and TO this bath, each week you
D should add about two quarts OF some
good coal tar disinfectant. II will be
found an excellent precaution against
disease, and, particularly, those of a
, parasitical nature, and is the most ef
/ fectiVe method that ] know of, for
keeping the animals free from lice
, land yern,in with tbasa u,ipnr nv,