Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-02-11
FARM NOTES
HoG-RAIsING HINTS.
Disadvantages of Low Market May
BE Overcome by Timely Breeding.
(From a Bulletin of the u. S. De-
partment of Agriculture.

partment of Agricultural
The low prices received for hogs
during the past year have been dis
couraging to some of the big hog
raisers of the country. The hog should
be paying animal. He requires less
labor, less equipment, less capital,
makes greater gains on 100 pounds
oil concentrates, rcproduces 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 Encouraging. In spite of
these prices the animal that possess
.cs the above advantages can still lift
mortgages for his owner if the latter
will study and apply some of the fun
damental principles underlying the
business.
To begin with, the best can be
made of apoor 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 markets are
usually The highest. How can the
farmer take advantage of thccs facts
to the greatest degree? In the first
place, The hog wanted by the market
usually runs between 175 and 225
pounds Fortunately, this is the most
economical weight at which to dis
pose of the hog. Up to this point his
gains are made very chcaply. Beyond
300 pounds it is doubtful if under
general conditions feeding can be
made profitable business The hog.
If properly fed, can readily be put
upon the market at 20 pounds in six
or seven months. Therefore, have
the pigs for the September market
dropped i'll the lated part of February
or during March. This will require
that the breeding of the sows begin
about the latter port of October, or
November first, continuing, if neces-
sary, during the first week i'm De-
cember. The pigs for the April mar
ket should be dropped in carly Sep
tember These pigs can then be wean-
ed before the November breeding be-
gins. To have the pigs dropped in
September it will be necessary to
breed the sows during May or early
June. Under certain conditions it
may be impossible to brings hogs TO
the 2OO-pound mark at six months;
however, great effort should be
made to attain this goal, as time
means money, and the longer hogs arc
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, it
VIII be noticed i'll going over the his
tory of some of the leading markets
Tor the last ten years or so that there
Is Il recovery every to years. 1t
might be well, therefore, to remcm-
Der that this is poor time to close
out, as reaction may be expected,
and the wise farmer will be ready
when it arrives
breeding, narrowing, Weaving.
On the average farm there should
be radical Improvement in breeding
and the care of details during farrow-
ing, weaving, etc. There are many
complaints throughout the country
either Of small Filters or else great
mortality in pigs. BY keeping the
production records of sows and Sc
letting from those that produce and
false large average filters a breeder
can raise to its most efficient point
the size of his Filters. This probably
runs between seven and eight to the
litter. The hog raiser can prevent
losses, other than those caused bv dis
ease, by providing proper shelter for
the sow ut narrowing time. In the
south this shelter can be constructed
very cheaply, and even in the north
1t can be provided in most cases ut a
moderate cost. The Trainer should al
ways be present ut narrowing time,
but should not interfere with the SOW
Unless necessity calls for his assist
ancc. The raiser should always Gull
tiYate the confidence of his animals
by quiet and humane handling; this
care and attention in times of neces-
siiy will pay big returns. The pigs
upon arrival should be rubbed dry
with Il gunny sack and quietly re-
moved to place of saftey. For this
purpose it is we'll to provide a COW
cred basket or hamper containing
gunny acks. In cold damp weather
1t may be we'll to warm brick, wrap
1t IN guhny sacl: and place it inthe
BASKET TO warm up the new arrivals.
If the SOW is long in narrowing, it
may be well after two or three hours
to place the little pigs carefully and
quietly where they can get some nour-
lshmcnt and then replace them in the
basket. until the mother is through.
SEVEN NIOnEp,r ,yn>rn.n-