The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-11-19
HOGS AND IRRIGATION
Possibilities of the Industry Pointed
Out In Government Report.

where forage and grain crops are the
chief crops are urged by the depart
ment to consider very carefully the
possibilities of raising hogs as a
means of converting crops into pro-
ducts which will bear transportation
| charges. An investigation of this
problem on the North Platte reclama-
ton project, in western Nebraska and
eastern Wyoming, has led to the con-
clusion that the swine industry can be
extended with great profit to the
community. Similar conditions 1t Is
believed prevail on a number of other
projects.
On the North Platte, it is stated in
report on this subject, there ap-
pears to be no reason why the annual
expectation of hogs should not be de-
veloped to point where the result
ing revenue will represent an import
ant part Of the farmers receipts from
their crops. The demonstration work
which has already been conducted
with view to extending and improv-
ing the swine industry will, therefore
be continued. In particular, attention
IS being bestowed upon arousing the
farmers to the necessity of commun-
lty action in controlling hog cholera.
There is also, 1t is said, room for i'm
provement in feeding and housing
methods. Better results would be OBJ
tanned II more grain were produced
and fed in connection with alfalfa
pasture.
In 1913 about SIS per cent of the
crop acreage on the North Platte pro-
ject was devoted to alfalfa and about
81 per cent to grain. AS in the case
OF many Of the other reclamation pro-
jects, the cost of transportation from
the North Platte region to the large
market centers is SO high that the
price paid to farmers for hay and
grain leaves only a small margin
of profit. In 1913 for example, the To-
cal price of alfalfa was from SO to SIS
ton, and for different grains from 40
cents to 70 cents per bushel. Expert
ments conducted at the experiment
farm that year showed that alfalfa
when pastured by hogs had value
equivalent to $35 ton and that when
corn was hogged off its value as
feed was from 80 cents to 81 a bush
ell. These figures made it obvious that
1T was, in general, more profitable for
the farmers on the project to convert
their alfalfa and corn into pork than
to attempt to dispose of them directly.
Local conditions also favor the de-
velopment of the swine industry. For
age crops and grains can be produced
cheaply and abundantly. Compare
lively little capital is needed to secure
start in the business, the returns
come promptly, and the swine popula-
ton increases rapidly. Under these
conditions the four chief factors of
success in hog raising are declared
to be:
~ The Standardization Of breeds
in the community.
(2) The adoption of satisfactory
methods Of breeding, feeding, housing
and marketing.
90 Adequate control of diseases.
"a Community cooperation.
In developing these requisites, the
department has worked in cO-opera-
ton with the University Of Nebraska
and the Nebraska State Live Stock
Sanitary Board. This cooperative
work has apparently borne good fruit,
for the number of hogs on the pro-
ject rose from $4,000 on November l,
1913, to 22,241 on November l, 1914,
an increase of approximately 60 per
cent. In addition, large number of
farmers have expressed their inten-
ton of entering the business, and
many Of those who now have herds are
planning to increase their size. There
are it is said, ample facilities for
producing all the feed that is nece-
sary for four or five times as many
hogs as are now being grown
About 10 per cent of the hogs on
the project are pure-bred and about |
80 per cent grades of fairly good |
type. BY far the greatest number are
and, under the cir
this breed is advocated |
for the project because the uniform |
adoption Of one particular breed will |
facilitate improvements and econo-
mics. Poland Chinas have also been |
found to do well but they are In the
great minority at present.
1t Is common practice to raise two |
itters year, and this proves salts
factory II adequate shelter is provid-
I'd. Otherwise. however. large losses