Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-05-04
WHY I BREED POLAND CHINAs.
BY p. II. Bruce, Thompson, Mo.

Tue Beuulh0 plSaSulO ~ bA'OD N'' "N''
why we handle an especial breed is
largely matter of taste or prefer
ence. Having tried all breeds kept
on Missouri farms except the Berk-
shire and the Mulefoot, l finally con-
cluded that the Black Polands equal
or excel in all these essential points:
Beauty, immunity from disease and
rapid growth on the smallest
amount of feed. Polands are as good
rustlers as one could ask for, are the
most nearly uniform in size and
type and prolific enough for the best
results. The sows are good mothers
and good suckers. Sold on the mar
ket Poland Chinas bring top prices.
III selecting a boar 1 choose one
with short head; big, round jowls,
short, thick neck; broad, deep, Shout
ders; a good, round, oval back;
straight, full belly; deep and well
sprung ribs; a square, thick, deep
ham; legs short and tapering to the
ground with heavy bone, and a
long, deep and round body. Sows
must have the same general require
ments. Both sire and dam must have
plenty Of vigor and be able of trans
hitting vigor, uniform size and con-
formation to their offspring. 1 look
for breeders that will make near the
half ton mark if fully grown and
fattened, and they must come from
filters of 10 to IA pigs. Boar and
sows must be easy to handle and the
sows must be gentle and good suck
lers. We market a cross SOW at the
first opportunity.
1 want a SOW to have about 10
pigs and raise them all. l find there
really is more profit in filters of this
size than in the more prolific and the
pigs are of nearly exact size and big
ger, therefore will get to market
quicker. There are no runts nor
scrubs and the Poland pigs will gain
more on less feed in the same time
than any other breed.
1 always aim to get two filters
from each SOW year and breed for
the sows to farrow the first half OF
March and the first half of Septem-
Der. To have best results we always
put each SOW by herself a week or
10 days before the farrows. 1 feed
them just little corn and some slop
made out of ground oats primarily,
just before narrowing, and for "a to
sc hours afterwards give only clear,
pure, warm water. Then the oats
slop is fed and gradually, after a day
or two, a little corn is added. In
about two weeks I give them a slop
made of pure shipstuff, two. parts
and oil meal, one part, with some
corn so they will learn to crack the
corn as quickly as possible, continu.
ing until the pigs are about 80 days
old. Then I quit stopping them anG
put them on tankage and corn, in
creasing as they demand for the very
best gains. OF course have then
on the very best bluegrass, whit,
clover, red clover or rye pastureth,
ranch affords. BY the time they ar,
, six months old they will average from
zoo pounds to 225 pounds and at
y months, 24O pounds to 275 pounds
! 1 then hustle them to market wher
! they invariably bring top of thef
class. I always aim to market il
April and September OF first half O
october when the market is usual
= highest.
g l had four sows to farrow 40 pigs
y two had 10 apiece; one ~ and tn
i other IL. They lost four out of tn
!. number, three sows having II lef
d and one IL. These pigs gained rapid
g and were sold when about Z month
/ old, weighing 239 pounds, with n
d special attention. They brought tn
n top of the market. They were Marc
e pigs, and after 70 days old only hs
s corn with bluegrass, timothy an
n white clover pasture to run on. "
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