Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-10-17

SOlHo Two WOIlSuS W. we uOClCeO d
great many hogs were being marketed
that were suffering from disease and
we wrote to ali u friends to ascer-
tain If there was any disease in their
locality. From h q time to this we
have been receiving letters from all
sections tributary to this market in
forming us as to the general hog situa-
ton in the different localities. mainly
from all points scattered through
SCUM Dakota. southern minnesota,
northwestern lowe. and northeastern
Nebraska. Practically from all local
tiles we received reports that hogs and
pigs We're dying In. great numbers. In
most of their answers they stated that
the hogs were dying from cholera.
To this information we have been
paying the utmost attention n scrut-
inizing all the hogs coming to this
market, including numbers and num-
bers of loads which we mad been in
formed before shipment contained a
great many cholera hogs. When we
would order the carload of hogs
yarded separately and would take out
all hogs that looked to be in any way
affected with the disease. They would
be sent over to the packing house at
the owners risk, subject to postmortem
examination. and the owner and our-
selves naturally would xpect to re-
ceive certificates from the government
stating that these hogs were con.
demned on account OF cholera. But in
a great many instances, hogs that
seemed to be affected with the disease
most strongly to the naked eye when
alive. after being killed n the car
cass examined most carefully by three
or four different inspectors. would
show no trace Whatsoever of cholera.
In fact, they found that the meat was
perfectly wholesome and not affected
Il With AnV dfSoA an whQtSOavor
We therefore came to the conclusion
that there must be a prevailing cpl
demic all through this section Of the
country among the majority Of the
herds of hogs other than cholera. and
we write you stating some theories
that we think in a great measure will
solve and eradicate the disease in the
future.
A Difference in Method.
Undoubtedly n cannot help notic-
Ing the two different ways OF raising
foes generally practiced in America,
ESPECIALLY in the northwestern states,
lnd't the way Of handling them in the
Great hog raising> territory of other
countries. In fact, we might. head
them THE Old Way and 1.-THE New
Way
The hog buyers and farmers resid-
ng In this country could not help but
Eriticise men from the old countries,
Denmark, Norway. Sweden. Germany,
England. Ireland. and even Canada.
When they first arrive in this country
they follow the practice that is adopt
I'd generally in the old countries and
brood sows and many of us have
laughed and criticised them for keeping
Gows that are two, three or five years
Of 6 as mothers. and we often
thought 1t was a waste of money and
expense to keep these mothers when
i khaU y.yaWn worth oN ~ n nh ,nAoNx vryh~~
gifts will raise nearly as many pigs in
number as an old sow Also. a great
many of our acknowledged leaders In
the teaching of hog raising have ad-
vocated raising 200-pound hogs on the
butcher order as the most profitable
hog for the western farmer. In their
argument they have often advocated
the 200-pound hog as q market top
per" as undoubtedly from a packers
standpoint 1t is the mos paying hog,
and at the different markets generally
sells from Is cents to SO cents per 100
pounds higher than heavy weight hogs.
A great many of our professors have
even advocated raising The different
types of breeds which nave small
bones. especially the Tamworth and
to raise hogs that would bring the
highest premiums. At the different
markets or state fairs, and at all live
stock shows premiums have been paid
Tor the bacon grade of hog. In fact.
for the last tour or five years special
the light hog in preference to the
heavyweight hog. resulting in farmers
n breeders giving up the policy of
keeping their brood sows and raising
the bulk Of their crop from young
hogs and the bacon grade types. This
policy has been adopted generally by
The bulk OF the farmers in this terri
tory for the asst five years. In fact.
1t has been noticeable at all markets
that during the months of June, July
n August. thousandA and hundreds
OF thousands of young sows have been
old that do not weigh 200 pounds
apiece which undoubtedly left a litter
of pigs on the farm. Undoubtedly a.
great percentage of these young sows
have not reached the & OF IA months
from their birth and numbers OF them
are not even a year old. which fact
shows without peradvepture Of a doubt
that a great majority of the farmers
are raising herds Of hogs from
young sows that are not half
grown. 1t is a we'll known fact
until It Is 10 or IL months old and
and until al animal reaches its proper
age OF maturity 1t is impossible for 1t to
raise a healthy offspring. True, 1t is
Just as possible that Il young SOW may
raise q healthy litter Of pigs even at
~ To- CAsHS VI n.Ae IuOIltuS, OUT
to follow 1t up year after year. as UNI
douhtedly has been done in a great
many instances in America for the
last few years, there is no doubt in our
minds that the result Of three or four
years Of breeding young Nows OF inn
mature age must bring the following
results:
An animal that is weak in vitality,
weak In constitution. and although the
pig may be of proper size to bring a
few more cents on the market from a
killing standpoint, still you have an