The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-03-18

but more pigs should be raised In a
year from each SOW
II does not pay to try to raise hogs
on grain alone In fact, the profit In
pig raising. especially In the South,
depends directly on the amount OF pas.
ture OF some kind used to enable the
pig TO make its gain In weight. OF the
southern forage crops peanuts. soy
beans, rape and cowBeas are especially
valuable Now. these are not avail
able all through the year. therefore we
use a series OF crops. For example.
have some winter oats on which the
sows can turned as soon az the pigs
are a week or two old When these
are gone put the pigs on good Ber
muda and lespedeza pasture Have a
crop Of soy beans or oowpeas coming
and turn the pigs on this after wean.
ing, keeping the sows on the Ber.
muda When these are gone put the
pigs In a peanut patch. and finish fat
tening them on rape
The pigs should be- weaned at ten or
twelve weeks OF age and should then
weigh about 80 pounds They should
have learned TO eat a little grain by
going to the sow's trough. Then be
gin TO feed them. Give them every
day grain equal TO per cent of their
weight A pig weighing 80 pounds
should have Sc pounds OF grain: ten
pigs Of this weight. six pounds. etc
Divide this into two feeds. morning
and evening This amount OF grain
will make them grow nicely on good
pasture As they grow, increase the
amount OF grain. When they weigh
about l25 pounds give them per cent
of their weight In grain and when
they weigh about $50 pounds each give
them per cent and finish them on.
I slaughtering In the winter on a cool
day. Pigs properly fed should weigh
200 pounds az nine months old. Do not
feed cottonseed meal 10 hogs.
II Is not necessary to spend a lot OF
money 10 carry out such a plan. OF
course, the Bermuda pasture where
the sows are turned should have a
good fence. The crops on which thu
pigs are grazed can be fenced with
homemade hurdles OF lumber or woven
wire, which may be moved as desired,
and the pigs will stay In Il while the
pasture is good Ten pigs can be
kept on half an acre OF one OF the
crops mentioned above from four to
eight weeks. depending on their sire.
3. A poor pig is not worth raising or
feeding Your pigs should be sired
by a good pure.bred Duroc Jersey,
Berkshire or Poland China boar After
you have decided which Of the three
you want. stick to the same breed and
in little while you viii have pigs
which are very much alike, a model
for others. and an advertisement for
your community. II you can afford IT,
start with good grade sows II not
natives (razorbacks) will do. White
pigs should not be used in the South
as they sunburn badly
Expensive houses are not neces
sary TOT hogs In the South. Give tbs
SOW a dry place TO farrow. pen well
bedded and sheltered from cold winds
and storms. and both she and the pigs
will do well Little pigN that gel
chilled or wet soon after birth often
die or grow into "runts." II there Il
no suitable place around the farm fol
the SOW. make a lean.to with poles
about 10 by 70 feet. six feet high In
front and four feet high behind. facing
II to the south. and thatch II with
straw. cheap hay. or even cornstalks
and the litter will be well housed
Make the thatch roof higher in the
middle than at the sides and smooth
Il down so that rain viii run on
Two sows should raise Eve Pig
each. giving the farmer ten pigs Il
slaughter These pigs should weigh
when slaughtered. 200 pounds each
making 1000 pounds Of live weight
This costs about 3is cents per pounC
20 make In the South under the system
described above. which Is an origina
cost OF $40, Killing will cost not owe
&C. The loss In dressing 10 about 81
per cent Of the live weight. or 60I
pounds c. ten pigs. so that l.40l
pounds OF dressed pork Is on hand aft
er slaughtering. II you can get loca
ice plant TO chill and cure the mea
for you. the manager should charg'
not over four cents per pound. whicl
, 10 $50 Then the meat loses weigh
I In curing amounting to about one cen
I per pound. or si4 The total cost o
the meat Is about as follows:
/ Raising 1000 pounds. at 81 cents
, per pound .................".s Y
J Killing .........s.....s
Curing 1.40O pounds. at cents
} per pound .................... s.
? shrinkage on i.400 pounds. at l
/ cent per pound ................ 1
? Total yl4