Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-09
AGRICUL TURAL DEPARTMENT
addre The
VII '. prompt nttsnton Th.
PORK POSSIBILITIES

! A SOW is good investment. This
is true even in these strenuous times
of high prices of food concentrates
The quotations on these feeds arc con-
trolled to considerable extent by the
price at which meat animals SELL Hence
concentrates usually command a high
figure when hogs ON the hoof at large
packing centers sell at more than Is
cents per pound. However, record
prices for swine as we'll as feed con-
ccntratcs have been n great incentive
TO farmers to cash in" all the hogs
available. That many sows have been
included is evident from the fact that
tho Bureau of Crop Estimates reports
approximately per cent fewer sows
on farms in the United States than a
year ago. Further, this is the first
year that the supply has not increased
since 1919.
AT this time the marketing OF SOW
that can be or has been bred is fairly
comparable to killing the goose that
laid the golden egg" Although the
fecun1ity OF swine is we'll appreciated
by farmers, at times sows arc sacri-
feed when little forcthought would
cause them to be retained Breeding
sows multiply five or six times as rap
idly as other meat animals. They
have an average litter Of five or six
pigs and may be bred twice year
cords more with current farm practice.
The filters increase in size. on the
average. until Sows are five or six years
old. However. a large proportion of
the sows are sold after producing one
or two filters and before they have
reached the period of greatest useful
ness. occasionally SowS are insult
able for breeding because of their
clumsiness. high" condition. inactivity
or barrenncss. and ihese. of course go
to market when Of proper weight but
the total sows of this class is a mere
baEatclle.
In these days when labor is high
and also scarce on many farms. the
hog may afford "a way out" Hogs
utilize refuse and waste grains. dam
aged grains and garbage; garnering
grain behind cattle or shattered grain
In harvest fields: and utilizing slaugh-
terhouse by-products and dairy by
products. They are also largely self
feeders. The modern farm cafeteria"
gives pig chance to make hog
of himself more quickly than he can
by the handled route. and it has the
added merit OF being the cheapest
way of producing pork. A SOW. when
she is not developing a litter or nurs-
Ing pigs. can, in SUNNI time. be placed
In a pasture and given very little
grain. In winter. possibly the cheap
est maintenance ration is combina-
ton of grain and hay, such as corn.
wheat. rye. or barley. and alfalfa. Glow
er, cowpeas or soy bean hay. The grain
should be limited to one or two pounds
per hundred pounds live weight per
day. Sows should be given all the hay
they will clean up. Sows which show
exceptionally rundown condition from
sucking their pigs should be separated
from the herd and fed grain until they
regain breeding condition. Where pas
lures are very luxuriant 1t is possible
to carry breeding sows on pastures
alone. but the most palatable hay will
not keep sows in good breeding condi-
ton if fed alone.
1t is important that all sows be
used 10 increase the food supply, and
no SOW should he carried over the sum-
MGR INBRED Fall filters. under com
mon sense management, are profitable
and every breeda BILE SOW and gilt should
be bred to bring fall litters. This will
be great help in producing a greater
meat supply. Breeding sows are at
n premium and the demand for Young
stock is unprecedented. The hog-buy.
ers state in their reports that they are