The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-11-11
Farmers Can Overcome High
Priced Corn By Advantage
Of Other Feeds Must Pro-
duce Pigs AT Less Cost

10y ~ - tlhhheIgt ASSISTANT LIVE
stock Specialist, Division of Extension)
In Tennessee the production Of swine
constitutes a valuable industry. More
than IS per cent Of the farmers raise
hogs. These farmers keep an average
Of ten hogs per farm Tennessee hogs
were valued at S7,000000 pre-war
prices. Since the increase in the mar
ket price of hogs and a general ac-
celebration OF the business during the
war, 1t is thought that $15,000000 Is a
conservative estimate of the value
OF aG average crop Of hogs on the
farms In Tennessee. Therefore few
: farm items mean more towards Great
ing a prosperous condition in Tennes-
see than a normal crop Of hogs.
There Is now q distinct shortage OF
hogs IN the United States This short
age is not less than is per cent, while
In some states the reduction Is fully
one-half In certain sections the sit
uation liz even more acute, in that ELI
tire communities In Tennessee are
without any hogs for market purposes.
Tennessee has about one-third Of a
crop Of brood sows and probably GO
per cent of normal crop Of hogs.
Big Shortage Of Hogs.
A very recent survey made by the
United States Department. of Agricul-
ture shows that on September /, there
were 58,594,000 stock hogs on the
farms of this country against 62,073,-
600 on the same date year ago A
shortage Of six and one-half million
hogs will In all probability influence
the market considerably and may be
an important factor in determining the
price Of corn.
While cur acreage of corn is less
than usual, 1t ia the common belief
that the country will harvest an enor-
nous corn crop. There has been a
REIMBURSEMENT going on for some time
between the price of hogs and the
the price of corn. This adjustment
generally settles down TO where II and
IL bushels Of corn will equal 100
pounds of live pork. OF course there
will be variations, but this relationship
over period Of years Is very certain.
The hog business offers the surest
money on the farm, but the farmer
must stay by 1t 1856 days in the year.
To do otherwise increases the hazard
ness Of the business.
Must Raise Pigs cheapIy.
The hog raisers Of Tennessee would
know why we are not producing more
hogs. First, we fail to raise pigs
cheaply. The first 100 pounds may
determine our profits, as well as the
last 80 pounds. II we were as careful
In the raising Of pigs economically as
we are in the finishing of hogs at Il
profit we would secure better returns.
Second, pigs must be raised on legume
and corn, or meat meal and corn ration
and not on a strictly corn ration. Six
pounds of corn alone may produce one
pound of pork, while four pounds Of
corn may produce one pound Of pork
with clover or alfalfa Third, forage
will most always result In saving of
not less than 10 to Is per cent of the
corn. This combination will produce
economically the first 100 pounds
and the last one hundred pounds will
reduce the cost from ITO to 1-16 per
cent The greatest returns in hog
feeding are secured when grain and
forage are fed, forage at the rate Of
2 to 3 per cent Of the live weight.
Economy in Feeding.
Fourth, 1t should be remembered, too,
that combination Of grain feeds or a
combination Of forage or grazing crops
produce more economical gains than a
single feed Ut a single grazing crop.
Fifth. immature corn in field often
causes sore teeth and causes hogs to
lose instead Of gain. When hogs are
turned Into a large field without the
use of temporary cross-fenses or the
cutting down Of corn as the hogs uss
1t, the loss In harvesting corn may run
as high as is per cent. Pigs may be
used 10 consume the waste, but pigs
will not grow out 10 the best ration
ON a corn ration. The hogglng down
OF corn with brood sows is equally un-
wise and rarely ever economical.
Watch the Markets.
n should be remembered that from
March to October hogs bring the best
prices, the highest point usually being
reached In September Sows should
be bred 30 that pigs may be farrOwed
In March and April or September and
October. The most economical gains
are made on hogs up to 175 till 300
pounds In Tennessee. Successful hog
raising under new conditions requires
considerable thought and mana cement
Tennessee farmers should keep In
mind these facts:
l. 1t costs more to produce corn In
the South than In the corn belt. Corn
will always be higher here until we in
crease our Yields
2. 1t costs more to produce pork In
the South than in the North where
corn is the ratiOn.N
8. That our success In the hog busl-
ness depends upon the utilization Of
cheaper feeds which our climate Is 50
well suited to produce The farmers
who raise and finish hogs on a corn
ration complain of the business being
unavailable