The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1914-02-12
PROFESSOR SHAW
TALKS ON SWINE
Their Introduction In tho North.
west q Subject Of Great
Interest.
PORh BETTER THAN WHEAT
At Present Prices, But There is
Right and Wrong
Way. @


into the northwest:
''In the northwestern states the
ranchmcn are giving much atten-
ton to the introduction of swine.
This is true of all the northwest
ern states, particularly the west
ern Dakotas, Montana, Washing
ton and Oregon. This move is
certainly step i'm the right di-
rection. Pork at $500 per hun
drcd live Weights certainly better
than wheat at 20 cents per bush
ell. But there is a right and a
wrong way of going into pork
raising. Persons who are not ia
miliar with the business are pref
ty certain to take the wrong way.
At least they are quite as apt to
take The wrong methods as the
method that's judicious and right.
what is meant by the wrong
methods 1t means first, that
farmers are generally of the opin-
ion that they must purchase high
bred sows or sows that are purely
bred, and it means second, that
foundation stocks may be brought
in that will bring hog cholera
with them. The lack of informa-
ton on these two points is going
to cost the ranchmen dearly in all
the northwestern states.
| 'When choosing foundation
sows. il is not essential that they
shall be purely bred or even high
ly graded, unless the ranchman
is going to produce pure bred
swine for breeding. 1t does not
matter that the sows shall have
good conformation. Good confor-
nation means long body and
enough of length of limb to make
the SoWS active as graZiers during
the season of grazing. 1t does
not matter much what the blood
compOnents are, providing the
conformation is as stated above.
Mixed blood elements are advan-
tageous. rather than prejudiciaI,
flor the reason that the more mix
ed the blood elements on the side
of the dam, the more rapid will
be the Improvement when such
Idams are mated with pure bred
|sires Of any breed. This is a les
son that is to be feared not many
ranchmen have learned and it is
a lesson which they are slow to
learn. The idea is almost uni
versal that the breeder must be-
gin with high grade sows. AS a
rule he will succeed better with
low grade sows, because of the
less sows. This will insure the
production of relatively uarge lit
ters and of good bacon production
in the progeny.
t. 1t should be remembered that
with sows of mixed breeding i'm
provement comes chiefly from the
sire if purely bred. The more
mixed the breeding of the dam, the
more surely will the progeny re-
semble the sire. A markets are
at the present time, it will not
matter much what breed the sire
comes from, but it is pretty GER
tain that the markets of the flu
ture will give the preference a
sire of the bacon breeds, as the
Yorkshires or the Tanworth.
1T is peculiarly unfortunate
that hog cholera should be
brought into. the northwestern
states. 1t might have been kept
!, out of these. 1t was not there
originally but it has been brought
there. Hog cholera is already in
the Judith Basin. 1t is in other
portions of the northwest. 1t is
there because it has been brought
there. There was no necessity for
bringing it. Due precaution
would have kept it out, but evil
IDENTIFY due precaution was not
exercised or it would not have
been introduced. 1t will not avail
to FAY that the climate Of those
states is so pure tina. it will not
nurse hog cholera. It is no more
lpure than the climate of Great
/ Britain and yet hog cholera is
plentiful there. Hog cholera is a
Igerm disease. It will come into
|, |any country into which the germs
tlare carried. and it will flourish
i There howsoever. pure the climate
.imay be. ~
When swine, therefore, are
brought into any part of the
+ northwest. let those who bring
!. them make absolutely sure that
4 they do not come from cholera
& iniested region. Let them make
absolutely sure that they carry