American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-02-17
HOG s HINTS.
Disadvantages of Low Market May be
Overcome by Timely Breeding.

- w ChA0 vi Ni0 TVS
of the country. The hog should be a
paying animal. He requires less Ia
Dor, less equipment, less capital, he
makes greater gains on 100 pouns of
concentrates, ~reproduces himself fast
err and in greater numbers and returns
themoney faster than any other farm
animal. The fact remains. however,
that prices paid for hogs are low and
discouraging. In spite of these
prices the animal that possesses the
above advantages can still lift mort
cages for his owner II the latter will
study and apply some OF the funda~
mental principles underlying the bust
ness.
To begin with, the best "a be made
of a poor market by having the hogs
ready at the time when they are o
wanted by that market This nor
mally cur during the spring and
again during early fall. The Septem-
Der and October markets are usually
the highest. How can the farmer take
advantage of thesefacts to the great
est degree? In the first place, the
hog wanted by the market usually
runs between It's and 225 pounds.
Fortunately this Is the most economi-
cal weight at which to dispose of the
hog. Up to this point his gains are
made very cheaply. Beyond 800 lbs.
it is doubtful If under general condi-
tons feeding a be made a profitable
business. The hog, if porperly fed,
can readily be put upon the market at
200 pounds in six or seven months.
Therefore have the pigs for the Sep
TENDER market dropped in the latter
part of February Or during March.
This will equire that the breeding of
the sows begins about the latter part
of October or November first, con-
tinuing If necessary, during the first
week in December. The pigs for the
April market should be dropped I'm
early September. These pigs can hen
be weaned before the November
breeding season starts. To have the
pigs dropped in Septembe rit will be
necessary to breed the sows during
May or early June. Under certain
conditions it may be impossible to
bring hogs to the 200 pound mark at
six months, however, a great effort
should be made to attain this goal, as
time means money, and the longer
hogs are held the greater will be the
labor and overhead charges. The cost
of feed for maintenance also will be
increased.
Further, in connection with the re-
lation of markets TO hog raising, 1t
will be noticed in going over the his
tory of some of the leading markets
for the last ten years or so that there
is a recovery every two to four years.
1t might be we'll, therefore, to remem-
Der that this is a pool time to close out
as a reaction nay be expected and the
wise farmer will be ready when it ar
rives.
Breeding, narrowing, WEAVING
On the average farm there should
be radical improvement in breeding
and the care of details during farow-
ing, weaving, etc. There are many
complaints throughout the country
either of small litters or else a great
mortality in pigs. By keeping the pro-
duction records of sows and selecting
from those that produce and raise
large average filters, a breeder can
raise to its most efficient point the
size Of his litters. This probably runs
between seven and eight to the litter.
The hog raiser can prevent losses,
other than those caused by disease by
providing proper shelter for the SOW
at narrowing time. In the South this
shelter can be constructed very cheap
ly and even in the North 1t can be
provided in most cases at a moderate
cost. The farmer should always be
PRESENT at narrowing time, but should
not interfere with the SOW unless nee
essity calls for his assistance. The
raiser should always cultivate the con-
fidence of his animals by quiet and
humane handling; this care and at
tention in times of necessity will pay
big returns. The pigs upon arrival
Il lSfIOul I've luDDtu VIZ "Aeh a 6N'iS
sack and quietly removed TO a place
of safety. For this purpose it is well
to provide a covered basket or ham
per containing gunny sacks. In cold
damp weather it may be well 10 warn
J Ia brick, wrap It in a gunny sack and
: place it in the basket to warm up thu
. new arrivals. II the SOW Is very lont
in narrowing, it may be well after two
or three hours to place the little pigi
carefully and quietly where they cal
get some ~nourishment and h re
place them in the basket until The
mother is through.
For IL hours before narrowing al
for "a hours afterwards the SOW
should have no feed. During this per
iod all the fresh clean water that sh'