The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-01-25
PORK PRODUCTION IN
NTERMOUNTAIN COUNTRY
BY W. L. CARLYLE

Many farmers believe that it is inn
possible to raise hogs, and produce
pork in this Intermountain country at
profit. Some, and perhaps the ma
jority of them, believe that hogs can
not be grown and fattened at a profit
in any country where corn cannot be
abundantly and cheaply grown; in fact
they are not backward in expressing
their conviction that hogs cannot be
grown and fattened without corn. AZ
ter some years experience in hog
growing and fattening in this western
country, We are convinced that these
men are greatly mistaken, and we be-
lieve that this section offers many ad-
vantages for pork production that are
not to be found in any other section
of the United States.
1t may be said that there are five
prime factors that have to do with
profitable pork production in any coun-
try; these are first, the ability, ex-
perience and taste Of the farmer;
second the nature of the climate; third
the character of the soil, and it's cap
acity to produce an abundance of suit
able feed products cheaply; fourth, the
prevalence Of disease, and fifth and
most important, the demand for pork
products or the availability of a good
market. Let us consider briefly these
five factors, and apply them to our
conditions, and see how nearly we
fill the bill in this, section. In the
first instance. we have as progressive
a lot OF farmers as may be found in
any section of the country. It is true
that many, in fact, most of them have
not that knowledge and skill in the
business Of rearing and feeding swine
that insures success, but this skill and
knowledge can be secured in a very
short time with a little practical ex-
perience and careful study.~ 1t can,
therefore, be said that in so far as
the first factor is concerned that our
conditions are favorable.
e 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 it. 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 stand
point and that is our extreme varia-
lions of temperature in each twenty
four hours; and this objection, while
a very serious one, if not guarded
against, Is very readily overcome. The
hog is by nature semi-tropical ami
NAL, he has light coat of very coarse
hair at best, and is. consequently very
susceptible to cold or chills. Again,
the hog has no perspiration or sweat
glands in his skin, and though he be
semi-tropical animal naturally, is very
easily overcome with heat. Most 9TH
er animals. including man, are provid-
entially equipped with means Of cool
ing the surface of their bsdies through
the evaporation of the 4 perspiration
which exudes from the open pores of
their skin whenever the temperature !
q the body raises abnormally. This
merciful provision of nature has been
denied the hog, consequently, when he
Is exposed TO the burning hot sun
during the middle Of the day, and his
body becomes overheated, he should
be provided with some kind of shell
ter or shade; and with some means
of supplying moisture for evaporation
from the surface OF his body. On the
other hand, when the sun goes down, !
and the chill air from the mountains
descends into the valleys in the even
ing, or during thenight, the hog hav-
ing no adequate covering of hair is t
very readily chilled. The result of /
which is very apt to be asserious loss
frap pneumonia and other pulmonary
troubles, particularly in the case OF
young pigs and very fat animals. In
summer It is important therefore that
hogs should be furnished with some
shelter in the fields. We provide small
"A"-shnred. eightfoot square hog
houses. These are cheap, easily NOV
ed from place to place and answer
every purpose, beth for shelter from
the sun and from the cool night air.
providing they are we'll ventilated. In
addition to adequate shelter all pas
A<e< lots for hogs in summer should
g provided with bath in which
ehe animals can go at will, not so
'nrch to clean their bodies as to cool
themselves. Hogs should not be fore
I'd to make wallow in some dirty,
filthy, stagnant pool Of water in order
IL cool themselves. Provide each pas
,ure lot with a small tank eight by
eight feet square and ten inches deep,
made Of plank or concrete, set into
he ground and have this supplied with