The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-11-19

occur in the fall litters during cold
weather. Fall pigs can be wintered
at comparatively low cost, but they
should be narrowed sufficiently early
to make good growth before cold
weather. The following year they
can be economically fattened ON grain
and alfalfa pasture and marketed soon
after midsummer Spring pigs can OBJ
tain most OF their growth from al
falfa pasture with 2 to per cent
ration of grain increased In the ,all.
In this way they can be finished for
market before Christmas.
An acre Of alfalfa furnishes ample
grazing for twelve 1OO-pound shoats,
but with proper methods more can be
carried. The best results are obtain
ed from dividing the pasture into two
parts, using each alternately. Ex-
Cessive pasturage rhould he avoided
at all times. 1t is best TO pro vide
more alfalfa than the hogs car feed
down closely and to clip the pasture
when the general alfalfa crop is cut.
When grain ration OF 3 pounds q
day for each 100 pounds Of live weight
Is fed, the most advantageous returns
from an acre of alfalfa are apparent
ly secured. With ordinary prices for
grain to 3 per cent ration can be
made profitable.
Corn Is the principal grain used to
supplement alfalfa pasture and hay
While the average yield in 1914 on the
project was only 15h bushels per acre
a large number of farmers secured a
yield OF 40 bushels and a few OF more
than SO bushels. Those farmers who
tried hogging down the corn in 1914
report very satisfactory results. This
method Is an inexpensive way Of har--
vesting the corn, and it also adds
considerable quantity of fertilizer to
the soil. In the report recently pub
lished by the Department of Agricul-
ture Of the demonstration work on the
project, this method is strongly recon-
mended for general adoption. The use
Qr self feeders is also recommended
and 1t is stated that twice as MANY
were In use on the project in 1914 as
In 1918.
Denver is the chief market for the
lat hogs raised on the project, about
two-thirds of which are shipped by
the farmers themselves and one-third
sold to local buyers Cooperative
shipping, 1t Is said, might be profit
ably practiced to greater extent than
1t now is.
The chief problem, however, con-
fronting hog raisers on the project
Is the control Of disease The natural
conditions are such, it is said that the
health OF the animals should be good
and their quarters easily maintained
IN a sanitary condition On the other
hand, the universal use Of irrigation
water furnishes ready channel for
disseminating disease and the only
way of overcoming this danger is by
means of community cooperation.
Hog cholera appeared on the project
IN 1913 and was widespread early in
1914. The campaign against the dis
ease was directed a. toward the Sc
curing and enforcing of a quarantine
order; (2) to securing prompt reports
OF all outbreaks in order to treat the
hogs in the infected hedrs; and (3)
to improving sanitary condition. Hogs
which showed visible symptoms of
sickness were either killed or placed
IN quarantine pen in order to pre-
vent them from spreading infection.
The other hogs in the exposed herds
were treated with anti-hog-cholera
serum. Altogether, In the six months
from July to December 81, 1914, 1887
hogs were treated with the serum. the
average, therefore. for each hog that
died after treatment S hogs were saw
ed. An outbreak Of cholera in a herd |
which is not treated frequently re-
suits in loss of as many as 80 per
cent Of the hogs. The total cost Of |
the treatment for the six months was |
estimated at $2,400 and the saving at |
$25, 900.
While 1t evidently pays, therefore to |
fight hog cholera with serum. It ia
still more profitable OF take proper
precautions to see that it does not
appear. Treatment with the serum
alone provides immunity for from 80 |
to ~ days only, and unless proper
sanitary measures are taken, reinfec-
ton is almost certain to follow, The
treatment in which both
virus and serum are injected is open
TO the objection that in incompetent
hands 1t may spread the disease. This
treatment should therefore be admin
stered only by experienced persons.
since a diseased herd Is a menace to
all the neighbors, the control of hog
;holera Is distinctly community mat
Ter and neighborhood organizations
are recommended as an efficient way
u dealing with the problem. In fact
the swine industry as a whole, It is
said, should be regarded as a commun-
ty affair. There are many ways in
which 1t will be profitable to all con-
,erned for the farmers on a project to
work together