The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1916-06-24
FATTEN|NC HOGS
IN LOUISIANA

With the rapidly increasing number
Of good hogs being raised In Louisiana
aud better appreciation OF the iHssgi-
hIlities for profitable pork production,
there IL being evolved general plan
for both the growing and fattening of
hogs which meets the needs peculiar
To l.0isiaua conditions,
The old method Of letting the hogs
run wild on the open range, ekfng ont
preeartous existence for the most
part. and fattenlng on acofns, beech
mast. etc. has been very largely aban.
doned aud a system of cultivated crops
ls planned In such way as 10 provide
grazing all through the growing period
aud an abundance Of fattenIng material
available when needed Soine have
attempted 90 follow the plan Ut penning
the hogs and carryiugA their food 10
them This method may result In very
early maturity and large gains, but the
cost of both food and labor is too great
for profitable returns
The plan recommended by tbs State
Experiment Station. and which is being
quite generally adopted. Is to grace the
growing pigs on oats aud clovers dur,
Ing the winter and aprlng changing to
Bermuda grass as the summer nd
yanees. During this time only small
amount Of grain Ia given, the idea
being TO carry the pigs along as cheap
iy as possible, while AT the same time
making a fair rate of growth
The fattenIng period starts with early
corn and peas, which ARE ready 10
Craze about July rs, Both the fall and
spring lltters are turned into the fields,
the young pigs picking up most Of the
grain which The larger hogs would
otherwise waste. This cfop will carry
the pigs until about September |, shen
the Roy heans or peanuts are ready for
grazing. As before, the smaller pigs
will pick up the scattering grain and
make rapid gains. As both soy beans
and peanuts are low In carbohydrates
and very rich In protein, corn IN fed IN
connection 10 balance the ration. The
pigs craze this crop until about Me-
vember 1, when sweet potatoes are
ready. The fall pigs. those born the
presious fall. will now be- nearly ready
for market, and may be penned and
finished on corn and cotton-seed meal.
or may be- allowed 10 grace on the pc
tatoas with the younger hogs. The
largest gains per acre are always made
with sweet potatoes, but the resulting
fat In soft and oily. To Offset this, as
sell az 10 secure better returns from
the sweet potatoes, one pound each OF
corn and cottnnseesl meal per head Ia
fed daily After grazing the potatoes
for about ak weeks. the pigs Will
usually be nearly ready for market,
and are usually penned and finished
with corn and ootton.seed meal II any
potatoes are left In the field, they are
gathered by hrood Hows and young pigs.
II will be noted that the hogs are
made to gather practically nil Of their
food. This not ohly saves great deal
Of labor, but by actual experience,
proves to be an economical practice,
the hogs making from onethlfd 10 one
fourth greater gains per acre when
allowed so Craze the crops than they
would make were they confined and
the food brought 10 them. This differ.
enee II due 10 the fact that they eat q
large amount of the stems and leaves
OF the peas. soy beans and peanuts,
which are rich In protein, Ia say
nothing 81 the grain and the eowpeas,
E l.. Jordan. La, State University