Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-10-18
SWINE RAISING PROFITS.
The Farmer Should Redouble His Eff
forts in Raising Them.

The loss to swine raisers during tn,
nast fifteen months through the raw
ages of hog cholera will never be def
nitely known. Millions of hogs have
died and in many localities Who'll,
herds have been completely swept
away. Considering the total number
of swine reported as in existence .
wear ago, ii is altogether probable that
mortality within the specie has ex
ceeded any previous years record
The scarcity and comparatively higl
price of feed, the universal shortage
of pastures brought about by the al
most complete loss of practically all
of last years seeding. together with
the depression which cholera always
brings. has discouraged many men
who ordinarily are rated as pork-pro
duccrs. and sudden losses of valuable
property tend to embitter the MOI;
optimistic men 1t has been said
that adversely is the stern test Of
personal resource. courage anal tue
craftsmanship. 1t is truly regretablc
that so many good farmers are being
put TO this test. 1t marks the heroes
as well as the cutters, and the :ai",t
who quits hog raising in DISCUS. or
deliberates too long before restocking
and beginning anew. exhibits i Sh1m
faith in the wealth producing virtue
Of the American hog There is =
prime incentive. aside from the known
scarcity OF breeding hogs why the
farmer should redouble his eff
forts in recouping his depleted herd
or purchase better breeding stock
Prime beeves are worth in Chicago
at this writing 50 per hundredwcight
There is no immediate prospect thai
beef will be cheaper When beef is
high there is invariably an increased
demand for pork products. and all
signs point to continued and active
demand for pork at prices which in
sure a profit to the producer. The re-
port OF the losses by cholera for the
year ending April |. 1912. as shown
by the Department OF Agriculture in
dictates that nearly 6.OO0,OO hogs died
from this disease. 1t is impossible
even with these figures available, To
approximate the actual loss to the
farmers. Large numbers of these am
mails were breeding stock, and the loss
OF the breeding herd is of far greater
moment than the loss of a like number
of fat hogs or feeders. Last fall the
cholera epidemic was at its worst,
and for the past six months has stead
lily diminished The serum treatment
and early marketing had much to do
in checking the disease. and those who
are in position to enlarge their
breeding operations with a reasonable
decree OF safety have large induce
meuts to do so The heavy market
ing OF herds has sent thousands OF
brood sows to the killers. with the re
suit that the pig crop has been much
reduced Where the serum stimuli
taneons treatment can be applied a. a
preventive. many hog men are start
ing anew in the same quarters IN
which the disease was recently pres
ert. While this is not desirable. the
risk is minimized by attending closely
to treating the young pigs before they
reach the age of four weeks. The
cheapest insurance that has ever been
offered the farmer is the serum treat
ment for hogs. The cost averages
around 90 cents per head. Most hog
producing States are manufacturing
the serum and supplying il at cost,
but last fall the demand was such that
il was quite impossible for any OF the
ldDoTdtoTics W supply iuOiC lildiI ~
small portion OF the applicants. A.
An illustration OF the wide sweep oi
the disease last fall. one days mail
brought request to the Illinois Board
of Live Stock Commissioners for
1900 doses of hog cholera serum.
About o0O0 was the laboratory's ca
paciiy. II will be recalled that last
fall and during the early winter
months the markets were flooded with
pigs and light hogs. Where the serum
treatment is administered in time IL
Is fully 90 per cent effective. My per
sonA experience demonstrated that
when administered by careful opera
tors Ia pigs from two to four months
old, il is close to 100 per cent eff
cicnt. Recalling past experiences in
getting into breeding hogs when ev-
erv one else is doing so. should indi-
cate the ACCESSIBILITY Of acting prompt
". A demand for breeding stock has
sprung M which points to an unprece-
dcntcd demand in the near future, and
the early purchase will meet with the
least competition in buying. Farmers
with the appreciation of the hog
which cxperierce has brought him
will renew his allegiance. as he knows
that pork production even though y
be seriously curtailed by occasional
~. - 81, stu remairS the most
rvoetable branch OF stock husbandrv
IN the corn belt III T. NJ. in Live
Stock and Dairy Journal.