Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-04
Disadvantages of Lou
Hog Market May be
Overcome by Care

The low prices received for hogs
during the past year have been discour-
aging to some of the hog-raisers of the
country. The hog should be a paying
animal He requires less labor, less
equipment, less capital, makes greater
gains on 100 pounds of concentrates
reproduces himself faster and in greater
| numbers, and returns the money 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 mortgages for his owner if the lat
ter will study and apply some of the
fundamental principles underlying the
business.
To begin with, the best can be made
of poor market by having the hogs
ready at the time when they are most
wanted by that market. This normally
occurs during 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 to the greatest degree? In
the first place. the hog wanted by the
mai ACI usually pSI"CCll 1so sAiho
225 pounds. Fortunately this is the
most economical weight at which to
dispose of the hog. Up to this point his
gains are made very cheaply. Beyond
800 pounds it is doubtful if under gen
eral conditions feeding can be made a
profitable business. The hog, If prop
erly fed, can readily be put upon the
market at 200 pounds in six or seven
months. Therefore have the pigs for
the September market dropped in the
latter part Of February or during
March. This will require that the
breeding of the sows begin about the
latter part of October or November
first, continuing, if necessary. during
the first week in December. The pigs
for the April market should be dropped
in early September. These pigs can
then be weaned before the November
breeding season starts. To have the
pigs dropped in September it will be
necessary to breed the sows during
May or early June. Under certain con-
ditions it may be possible 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 over
head charges. The cost of feed for
maintenance also wifi be increased.
Further, in connection with the re-
lation of markets to hog raising, it will
be noticed in going over the history of
of some of the leading markets for the
last ten years or so that there is a re-
covery of two to four years. 1t might
be well, therefore, to remember that
this is poor time to close out, as re-
action may be expected and the wise
farmer will be ready when it arrives.
Breeding, narrowing, Weaving.
On the average farm there should be
radical improvements in breeding and
the care of details during narrowing,
weaving etc. There are many COM
plants turnout the country either of
small filters or else great mortality in
pigs. BY keeping the production rec
ords of sows and selecting from those
that produce and raise large average
litters q breeder can raise to it's most
efficient point the size of his litters
This probably runs beween 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 cheaply, and even in the north it
can be provided in most cases at mod
crate cost. The farmer should always
be present at narrowing time, but
should not interfere with the sow unless
necessity calls for his assistance. The
raiser should always cultivate the con-
fidence of his animals by quiet and
humane handling; this care and atten-
ton in times of necessity will pay big
returns. The pigs upon arrival should
be rubbed dry with a gunny sack and
quietly removed to a place of safety.
For this purpose it is well to provide
a covered basket or hamper containing
gunny sacks. In cold, damp weather
it may be we'll to worm brick, wrap
1T in a gunny SACK and place it in the
basket to warm up the new arrivals.
If the sow is very long in narrowing,
it may be well after two or three hours
to place the little pigs carefully and
quiely where they can get some nour-
ishment and then replace them in the
basket until the mother is thru.
For twelve hours before narrowing
and for twenty-four hours afterwards
the SOW should have no feed. During
this period all the fresh, clean water
that she may desire should be access
sible. The water should have the chill
taken off. The first feed after farrow-
ing should be very light, preferably q
bran mash. The best Indicator of the
Of feed necessary for sow
and her pigs is her condition and the
condition Of the youngsters themselves.
The sow should receive enough to keep
her and her pigs in fair condition
(not bony), and yet she should not he
overfed. Overlooking Of the SOW often
causes scours in the pigs.
The pigs should be weaned at six or
eight weeks of age. BY this time they
should be eating readily and should be
continued for two or three weeks on
the same mixture that their mother was
receiving, after which the feed can De
changed gradually to a growing, fat
tening ration II the pigs are intended
for market. The addition Of little
sweet milk to their ration at weaving
time is especially helpful to young pigs.
Castrating should be done week or
ten days before weaving. & Spaying does
not pay.
Feeding.
The best information on the feeds
available in the farmers locality can
be readily and accurately given by the
state experiment station. Pigs make
the best use of concentrates. These can
be fed in a self-feeder and can be sup
plemented by various slaughter house,
<4I A