Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-01-28
Possibilities N
PORK PRODUCTION

The following article is from the. pen
of the agricultural editor OF the State
Agricultural college:
The possibilities in pork production
have been demonstrated by the boys and
girls Of North Dakota. In the pork pro-
duction contest, entered into by $50 boys
and girls, pork was produced at a profit.
One boy made q profit Of $91.06 on a lit
ter Of pigs1in 203s days, while a girl made
q profit of $91.0S on; a litter in, 21S days.
The average age of all the pigs was PIG
days and the average weight 1877 IA
pounds. The average weight OF the pigs
Iii the "a filters that stood highest was
213 pounds.
Most of the contestants fed the feeds
produced or the farm including corn. bar.
ley, oats, rye, screenings, skim milk and
pasture Three per cent used largely
shorts. Corn and barley were used about
equally. Seventeen per cent used oats
principally. Sixty.seven per cent used
skim milk and "a per cent used pasture.
The values put or the feeds were as fol-
lows: corn 49c per- bushel: pats sec; bar
ley 45c; rye SIC; bran and shorts SIS. 90;
screenings s1O.O 90; skim milk CSC per 100
pounds grass pasture .$3.49 per acre and
annual pasture 1854. No charge was
made for house Stops.
Two hundred and .eigl.ty,nine entered
!lhe contest, while "a qualified for the fin
ais on November Goth. 1t is interesting
to note that of the number entered the
Poland China led with 100; Duroc Jersey
So; Chester White AZ; Yorkshire -; Berk.
shire a., Mulefoot 1; cross breds %, and
mixed g. The average cost per pounds
of pork was 1888 cents with the Poland
China; $50 for the Duroc Jerseys; 3.72
for Yorkshires, 3.4 Chester Whites. and
&c with the cross BREEDS. At the close Of
the contest the Poland Chinas averaged
.213. days in age. and, 1913 pounds IN weight
the Duroc Jerseys .227 days and 1856 1-2
pounds in weight; the iYorkshires 219
days and 1872 pounds; the Chester Whites
210 days; and 1870 pounds; the cross
breds, 81 7days and 1888 pounds.
This brings out the. fact that the sea.
son. is long enough to produce hogs OF
q marketable size before COD weather
and that the feeds grown In the state
can be fed to pigs, with profit : that when
they are thus fediand charged at market
prices. n good profit y returned when they
are fed to hogs farrowed in the spripg
and sold at the beginning of cold wealth.
or. 4
Thomas Cooper, in planning the con-
test. laid down the following conditions:
Any boy or girl, ten to eighteen years
of age. could enter a SOW to be narrowed
not later than June 15th-contest to close
November 20th-the award to be on the
basis of the amount, OF pork produced
from the litter " Well as on the economy
and time Of production. The Better Farm
ing Division or field agents had charge
OF the contest, visiting the contestants
and advising them as well Al keeping
close track of the manner in which the
hogs were fed3andsscared Tor. The: contes.
.tants were required to send in a monthly
report Of the feed fed.
The prizes offered included $4,000 Ia
cash, donated. by the St. Paul Union
Stock Yards Company. Swift & Company,
st. Paul, and by commission men at the
st. Paul Stock Yards. Several pure bred
hogs were also offered as prizes by breed.
ers. Garfield Of Lake Park furnished two
forkshires. S9Dn3 3fs.
The average. profit OF the "a litters that
stood highest was SCI. Ol. while the aver
g cost Of feed was $4S.17. These are
results that are within the reach If any
farmer and certainly emphasizes the inn
portance OF the hog on the farm.