Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-07
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
~ DR.. ANDREW M. SOULE

time saves nine" more necessary,
and the man who fortifies himself
by becoming acquainted as well as
he can with all the factors, in
ment and operation of a hog ranch
will reap the largest dividends,
Aside from the choice of a location
and the assemblage of worth while
type of equipment and the proper
layout and planting of the farm,
time must be given to the selec-
ton of a breed and the choice of
the individuals through the agency
of which the herd is to be built
up These are fundamental matters
which must not be allowed to es-
cape the consideration or attention
fessors Gridley and. Tabor have
made some valuable suggestions
along this line that should certain
ly be helpful to all who may be in
terested in this subject.
Many Georgia farmers evidently
believe they should secure their
foundation stock and then equip
wrong.
Whether a farmer has decided
to produce grade hogs for the
market or 'purebreds for breeding
purposes. the equipment should be
on the farm before the foundation
stock is secured. The equipment for
producing market hogs need not be
as elaborate or as expensive as
that for purebreds, but it should
be complete enough to comforta-
bly, care for the hogs and at the
same time reduce the needed labor
to a minimum. Many south Geor-
gia farmers are succeeding with
boards in a fence corner or a bush
in the swamp, but their losses, es-
pecially of young pigs often run
high. Where the lots are rarely
cleaned, are poorly drained and the
feeding done in. dust and mud, the
hogs will not thrive as we'll as
where they have good quarters.
Under most conditions, the in
dividual hog houses and fencing
will be all that is needed, but quite
often additional equipment, as con-
crete wallows, breeding crates and
feeding floors, can be added to ad-
vantage.
The individual houses should be
constructed to provide dry and
we'll ventilated quarters and allow
plenty of sunshine when necessary.
Every precaution should be taken
to construct the building as sani-
tary as possible. Filth and dirt are
hotbeds and breeding grounds for
disease germs and parasites and are
tons of the hog house depend large
~ upon the manner in which it
is drained, ventilated, and lighted,
and the health and thrift of the
animals upon the sanitary condi-
tons of their quarters. The damp,
poorly ventilated and dark hog
house can never be called sanitary
no matter how diligent and con-
scientious the breeder may be in
his effort of faithful cleaning and
disinfecting. Dampness is detriment-
al: particularly during the cold
should be placed on well-drained
to protect from heavy rains.
An abundance of fresh air is
needed by the hogs. 1t can be OBJ
tanned in individual houses through
care should be taken to install
them in manner to prevent
draughts striking the pigs. Pigs
only a few days old can stand rath-
err low temperatures if no draughts
are blowing on them. The windows
should be hinged at the bottom so
they will swing inward and thus
lap bags are used by some farm
ers as covering for windows.
This material has the disadvantage
of excluding considerable sunlight
although it does allow an inter-
change of air and prevents draughts.
The better managed hog farms are
equipped with concrete wallows.
These are much more sanitary than
mud holes. stagnant pools and
swamps and are therefore, to be
preferred. They have an addition
al advantage in that lice may be
eradicated from the stock by us
ing any of the coal tar disinfect-
ants or crude oil in the water of
the wallow.
Feeding floors are not an alb
solute necessity in the permanent
hog plant though they are very
useful. This is particularly true in
and muddy during the rainy sea
sons. Concrete or plank may he
used for feeding floors. Concrete
gives the best satisfaction as it
makes a floor tight enough to pre-
vent the fed wasting through
cracks as Is the case with the
plank floor. It is also more dura-
BILE. Whatever the construction, the
floors should be placed so that ali
the feeding is done on them. out
and away from the beds. SoWs with
young pigs should never be fed in
their beds or on the same floor
near them.
The breeding crate is also need
ed in case it is desired to breed
small gifts or sows to a heavy,
mature boar, or large sows to a
small boar. The crate not only