The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-09
RAISE HOGS FOR PROFIT.
How Southern Farmers May Get a
Start in Pig Raising.

(Prepared in the Bureau of Animal
Industry.)
Inc Irishman calls his pig "the
gintleman that pays the rint." In
the corn belt of the United States
mortgage lifters' was a nickname
given hogs almost as soon as settle
ments began. In the South no less
true than in the Middle West hogs can
De made source of meat supply TO-.
the home and Of income as we'll. Years
Of study and demonstration by State
and Federal agricultural authorities
have shown beyond all doubt that
hogs may be raised in the South with
results fully as profitable as else
where.
Four things are necessary II the
Southern farmer wishes to get a start.
l. A place to raise and fatten
pigs.
2. A pig worth raising and fat
tening.
8. Feed on which to raise and fat.
ten them.
4. The necessary funds.
Let us consider these points in re-
verse order.
1. This article is written for the
man whose principal concern is to
supply food for his family. For such
man one or two sows will be enough
Good grade sows can be bought for
$40 or SIS each; razorbacks can be
bought for less and will produce good
pigs II bred to good purebred boar.
If there is no purebred boar in the
neighborhood whose services can be
obtained, enough men should club to-
gether to represent the ownership of
20 to rs sows and buy a good boar,
paying pro rata for the board, depend
ing on the number o. sows owned by
each. Bears can be bought for from
$40 to $25 for weaned pigs and from
$50 to 500 for yearling and 2-year-old
hogs. If 20 men owning 20 sows
bought a yearling boar for $50, each
man would pay $3.50 toward the
price Of the boar. Put the boar in
The hands of one Of the members of
the club and let each other member
agree to pay him one pig at wean-
ing time for the care of the boar for
one year. for attending to the breed
ing. etc. When sows come in heat,
they can be loaded on a wagon and
carried to the farm where the boar is
kept for service.
2. Sows farrow almost exactly
16 weeks after they are bred. When
the sows farrows try to be near a,
hand. Do not worry her with at
tentten, but be there IL she needs It.
Watch that the buzzards do not carry
of the little pigs or injure the SOW
Give her warm thin s!op as soon as
she begins to move around. Then
leave her alone for while. That
evening give her a slop with a little
bran or corn meal in it. Feed lightly
for few days and increase her feed
gradually until the sow is getting
about pounds Of grain each day for
each 100 pounds Of her weight This
WILL be within week or 10 days after
she has farrowed. She should be fed
morning and evening. Kitchen scraps
and slops will be good for her and
will reduce the grain needed some
what. These slops must not contain
any soap or glass.
AS corn is the most available grain
in most sections Of the South, it will
have to be relied on for feeding both
the sows and pigs. With the graz.
ing crops which are suggested for
hogs a fairly well-balanced ration
will be obtained.
When you are about ready to wean
the pigs reduce the sow's feed so
she will have only about pounds Of
Grain each day for each 100 pounds
of her weight. Keep her on a Ber-
muda pasture and let her have this
ration until she is in good condition.
Keep sows in good flesh. but not excess
sively fat.
SOws can be made to produce two
litters each year. When this is de-
sired they should he bred at the first
period Of heat after the pigs are wean-
ed. Sows bred twice each year will
not produce SO many pigs in each lit
ter as when bred only once year. but
more pigs should be raised in a year
from each SOW.
1t does not pay to try to raise hogs
ON grain alone. In fact. the profit in
pig raising, especially in the South,