The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-04-15

lnOmaS L. cooper vi the NOiLu DdhO
Ia Experimental station on the sub
ject: Boys and Girls as Pork Produc
ers. The Times-Record reproduces thu
article this evening in full. The arti
Gle by Mr.. Cooper is as follows:
The second annual pork production
contest which has just been success
fully completed in North Dakota, has
shown the influence of farm boys anC
girls in affecting the swine produc
ton of the state.
Within a period of three years the
shipments Of hogs from North Da
kota to the live stock markets have
multiplied five times. 1t is doubtful
whether any other state in the union
can present such record in an equal
period of time. Not only did the pro
duction of pork increase but all
classes of live stock were grown and
marketed to a much greater extent
than in previous years. This increase
has been due to number of factors,
economic and otherwise. Much may
be attributed, however, to the work of
the county field agents and the de-
velopment of demonstrations and con-
tests that would definitely prove or
disprove the place of live stock on
North Dakota farms.
Among the most interesting lines
of work taken up was the pork pro-
duction contest, which originated
through the fact that few farmers in
the state appreciate the possibilities
Of profitable pork production. The
feeling was general that North Dr.
kota farmers could not compete with
farmers farther south. Complaint was
common that pigs did not grow WELL
that the weather was too cold; that
the winters prevented good gains, and
that it was cheaper to buy than to
raise pork.
This meant that the North Dakota
farmer did not believe in the produc-
ton of pork, and that he did believe
that grain production was much
more profitable; while the facts are
that North Dakota is we'll adapted to
swine production and that with pro-
per methods of feeding, pasturing
and care the state can produce pork
in competition with the methods that
are used in the cornbelt.
The boys and girls of the state were
called upon to demonstrate that pork
could be economically produced and
at a profit in every section Of the
state. They were further asked to do
this ON the practical basis of a SOW
and her litter. 1t seemed reasonable
that if one could produce pork &c.
onomically and make a profit from
one SOW and her litter he might also
make a profit from five or more soWs
and their litter by using the same
methods.
The first contest was begun in 1913.
Awards were made upon the economy
of feed, rapidity of gain and weight
per litter. The emphasis was thus
laid upon the possible profit in dollars
and cents that could be obtained. Any
farm boy or girl in the state between
the ages of 10 and IS was eligible
This contest was continued in 1914
under practically the same conditions
The contestants We're required to en-
ter sows previously to narrowing anc
to feed and care for the litter unit
the close of the contest. They were
entitled to enter any breed or age o.
SOW that they saw fit, and were per
mitted to feed any ration that seem
ed to them most desirable. Weekly
reports of the feed used were render
ed, and all feeds were charged at TIT
average farm price which has prevail
ed for the past five years.
In order to place the contest upol
a practical basis, so far as possible
house, Stops were charged at the rat
Of 80 cents per cwt., a price whicl
practically prohibited their use
Skim milk was charged at Is cents pc
cwt., and all mill feeds at ordinar,
market prices Annual pasture wa
charged at low price, 8 cents pc
day per head, this price being sui
6cient to give a good return on OF
binary pasture, such as would b.
used in the state. Corn which wa
bogged-off was charged at practical
ly the cost Of production, SO per acre
The price for the hogging-off of corr
and pasture was made low for tn
purpose of indicating the possibilit
of this method of making cheap pork
From time to time circulars wer
sent to the contestants, giving infol
nation as to the best methods of por
production, and advising as to tn
practices which have proved success.
FIJI. in the state Incidentally If is c