Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-08-01
STARTING WITH HOGS
Get Pigs From Some Reputable
Swine Dealer.
Shade and Fresh Water In Summer
and Warm Shed With Dry Bedding
In Winter Are Essential
Keep the Boar Separated.

CBy DIR. SAMUEL J. sUMMERSD
Let US see what may be done with
the hog. You prepare a lot or pen
and purchase a pair of pigs. In the
selection your choice of the we'll.
known breeds, Chester White, Jersey
Red, Poland China. Berkshire, Essex,
Yorkshire. Tamworth, etc, and having
decided which you like best, do not
hesitate to spend enough to get good
pigs from some reputable breeder.
These pigs should not be too nearly
related, that is, il is better not to have
them of the same litter or parentage,
but we will discuss this phase of the
question later. Select the female with
good length, strong back, slightly
arched, four good strong legs and feet
large enough to support body well,
that is, the pigs should stand up well
on toes when fat. She should have
broad hams and shoulders with plenty
OF depth and side lines almost perfect
ly even. Head must be broad with
eyes well apart, with kind expression
but must show life and energy. Avoid
the lazy hog as you would the lazy
man. The size of ears must be gov
erned principally by the breed, though
large hog will likely have a good
size ear. Nose comparatively short,
but not too short for good feeding
and grazing. She should have not
less than ten good teats, IL are pref
cradle, or even more provided they
are well spaced, not crowded. Back
should be broad, corresponding with
hams and shoulders. In other words,
the female should be roomy and yet
have quality. The male should be
shorter and more compactly built. but
with strong bone, square on legs and
toes, square made and somewhat
masculine about head, with great size
when fully developed. Coat of both
should be smooth and preferably thin
in this climate
Having secured these pigs, we
should feed to develop them for best
results. Shade and good fresh water
in summer and a warm shed with
good dry bedding and fresh water
in winter are essential. We should
have corn, oats, wheat middlings and
| meat meal for best results. A good
formula is so per cent. corn or corn
meal, ten per cent. meat meal and ten
per cent. oats or middlings. Feed in
thick slop just what pigs will eat
up-clean twice a day. II oats are
1cn6 hn nhnH ChAttI1 hn fad
Then we should have during the win
ter oats, rye, or rape for them to
Craze on. / prefer a combination of
rye and rape, or you may cut and
feed them. These with pigs running
in field on peas, peanuts and sweet
potatoes, are IDEAL though, of course,
when there is enough in the fields
they need very little from the barn.
Keep the male separated from the
female after three or four months old.
Neither soould be allowed to get too
fat, but should be given enough ex.
ercise to develop them strong and
hardy. When about twelve months old
female is ready to breed, though are
often bred much younger. This,
however, is a mistake, as it dwarfs
the growth, and after careful expert
ments am convinced that the nursing
qualities are not so good. Some breed
ers differ on this point, and there are
exceptions to the rule After being
bred the sow should be given a good
range with plenty of exercise. It is
better not to have sows too fleshy
when bred, but in good, strong, Wig,
orous flesh. She should be well cared
for during term and in good flesh at