The Mena weekly star., 1917-12-20
CONSERVATION OF
 HOGS IMPERATIVE
Worlds Supply of Pork Is Estimated To Be Thirty-tive Per
 Cent Short.

By Dr. V w. Knowles. Extension Di.
 vision, University of Arkansas. State
 Veterinarian, Bureau of Animal In
 dustry and U. s. Department of Az
 riculture, Cooperating.
 Arkansas lost 154,O ,O00 hogs in 1916 from hog cholera, and the losses this year will be even greater un- less our people take every preeaution to protect their animals With the worlds supply of pork approximately 35 per cent short, the situation is seri- ous and everything must be done, not only to prevent these losses, which are burden the farmers themselves have to bear, but to conserve the meat supplies of the nation.
 Since the hog supplies approximate ly onehalf of all meats consumed in the United States. conservation of hogs now on hand and greatly increas- ed production become of the highest importance. Increased production can be effected not only by breeding more sows, but by using registered boars, thus producing offspring that will be larger in size and better feeders. If every farmer will retain in his herd every good gilt to be bred this fall and next spring the meat supply will be greatly increased during the next year, and the farmer will have done much toward the winning of the war.
 Hog cholera causes more than 90 per cent of all losses in hogs in the United States; therefore, conservation O. our rea- supply means the control of hog cholera In the South, where the temperatures are more or less uni form, severe outbreaks of hog cholera may occur at any season of the year, but usually 1t is most virulent and reaches its greatest height during the fall and early winter.
 Hog cholera occurs in herd only through the introduction of the spe- cific germ that causes it. Hogs affect ed with cholera discharge the germ from their bodies through the urine, | the feces, and the secretions of the nose and eyes Therefore, the ma nure, bedding, litter of all sorts. and the dirt in pens where sick hogs are kept contain the germs of the disease. | These germs may enter the system of the we'll hog by means of food or drink, and probably also through wounds in the skin
 The extensive shipment of hogs by rail has resulted in the germ of chol- era being deposited in public stock. yards and railroad cars. It has also been deposited on farms m practically every community in Arkansas, where it will remain virulent for d year or longer It is believed that any agency which may become carrier of ma nure. bedding. litter or dirt from in- fected cars, stock yards or farms to well herds, or the introduction of dis eased hogs therein may be the means of injecting the wei nerd
 If cholera appears in a community it may be promptly and effectively | controlled by the serum treatment. This is treatment which has been developed in the United States De partment of Agriculture and is recom- mended by all the states in the Union. Arkansas is fortunate in having the State Serum Plant at Little Rock which furnishes serum at cost to the residents of tho state.
 Farmers des. ing information rela- tive to the control of hog cholera are
 
 invited to consult the county agent in his county, with the Extension Divf- sion Of the University of Arkansas. Dr R. M. Cow, State Veterinarian. Little Rock, or Dr. v. w Knowles, Tn. spector in Charge of Hog Cholera Work, Old Statehouse. Little Rock, Ark