The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1916-02-10

hog raisers Of fhe country. The
hog should be a paying animal
| lie requires less labor, less equip
ment, less capital, makes greater
gains on 100 pounds Of eoncen-
trafes, reprodnces himself faster
and IN greater numbers, and re-
turns the money faster than any
other farm animal The fact re-
mains, however, that the prices
paid for hogs are low and dis
couraging Ia spite Of the prices
the animal that possesses the
above advantages can still lift
mortgages for his owner if the
latter will study and apply some
OF the fundamental principles un-
DERIVING the business
To begin with, the best can be
made Of a poor market by having
the hogs ready at the time when
they are most wanted by the mar
ket This normally occurs dur
ing the spring and again during
early fall The September and
October market is usually the
highest. How can the farmer
take advantage Of these facts in
the greatest degreef IN the first
place, the hog wanted by the
market usually runs between IT'S
and 225 pounds. Fortunately this
is the most economical weight al
which 10 dispose OF the hogs. Up
10 this point his gains are made
very cheaply Beyond 300 pounds
II is doubtful if under general
conditions feeding can be made
a profitable business The hog,
if properly fed, can readily be
put upon the market al 200
pounds IN six or seven months
Therefor, have the pigs for the
September market dropped IN the
latter part Of February or during
March. The pigs for the April
market should be dropped IN ear
Is September. These pigs can
then be weaned before the No
vember breeding season starts.
Under certain conditions il may
be impossible 10 bring hogs 70 the
200 pound mark in six months
however, a great effort should be
made 70 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 maintainance
also viii be increased.
Further. in connection with the |
relation Of markets TO hog rails
ing, il viii be noticed in going |
over the history of some Of the /
leading markets of the last 10
years or so that there is a rccov-
FRY every , 10 4 years. II viii be
we'll, therefore, 10 remember that
his is a poor time 10 close out. as
! reaction may be expected and
he wise farmer will be ready
when il arrives.
On the average farm there
should be radical improvement Ia
breeding and the care Of details
Turing narrowing, weaving. etc.
There are many complaints
the country either of
mall littcrs or else great NOR
atty of pigs. BY keeping the /
records of s0ws and
from those that raise
arge average litters a breeder
an raise 10 its most efficient
,oinf the size of his filters. This
runs between seven and I
light to the litter. The hog raiser
an prevent losses, other than
hose caused by disease, by pro-
iding proper shelter for the sow
{ narrowing time In the South II
his shelter can be constructed
cry cheaply, and even in the
forth it can be provided in most I
asses at a moderate cost The !
armer should always be present
{ narrowing time, but should not
aterfere with the SOW unless ne
essity calls for his assistance.
he raiser should always culti- 4
ate the confidence Of his animals h
y quiet an humane handling :
his care and attention in times of
cccSSity viii pay big returns. +
he pigs upon arrival should be Il
abbed dry with a gunny sack n
nd quietly removed to a place of $
sfety. For this purpose it is well
, provide a covered basket or i
amper containing gunny sacks.
! cold, damp weather ii may be 4
ell to warm brick. wrap it in n
ennny sack, and place II in the a
aslxct to warm the new arrivals.
the sow is very long in farrow- Z
~, il may be well after two or
lree hours to place the little pigs
and quietly where they /
al get nourishment and then re-
lace them in the basket until the .