Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-05-04
SUGGESTIONS ON
HOG RAISING ARE
GIVEN BY EXPERT
By G. M. McAlister

oregon, was on the NOTJn POrt-
land market this week with car
load Of hogs, which topped the
market. Mr.. Johnson is a pioneer
hog raiser and shipper, being one
OF the few hog men In Oregon
who stays in the game year in
and year out. He had the follow
ing to say about the hog game:
Il have been raising hogs for a
period Of twenty years. During
this twenty year period the quail
ity Of hogs in Oregon has taken
great strides due largely to the
use Of pure blood grades, and have
better finished product, which
brings me better price. 1t costs
little more to start with pure
bloods, but this extra initial cost
is returned many times over ulA
future operations.
Il might mention, with no de-
sire to boast, that my hogs have
also made a pretty showing In the
Pacific international Show. l won
Grand Champion prize on car
loads, pens of three and singles
for six years, and Grand Cham
pion Barrow for two years. Compe
tition@ in the show is growing
pretty keen, but It is interesting
work, and the exhibits that beat
me out must be goode ones.
During the years have been
producing hogs have made a
study OF feeding and care OF them.
To begin with take the best of
care OF the SOW before narrowing,
and SOW and litter after farrow-
ing. / have my breeding pens ar
ranged with a Creep" where the
small pigs can eat without being
disturbed by the older hogs. Short
ly after farrowing | make avail
able for the little pigs a mixture
of mill feed and skim milk, thin
enough so they can drink 1t. When
they are five or six weeks old ]
provide a ration of chopped wheat
or corn, and also let them run on
clover or alfalfa pasture. With
this way OF handling the pigs
practically weal themselves at
from six to eight weeks of age,
and the process is so gradual as
to not hinder their growth in any
way. When they are from seven
to eight weeks old begin to feed
them ground wheat and oats
mixed, one-third oats and two
thirds wheat, In self-feeders plac-
ed in alfalfa pasture. These feed
ers as well as pure water and
plenty of shade is provided for
them at all times. At the age Of
four months | change the feed to
either chopped wheat or corn,
and give them free access to salt
trough at all times, as well as to
q solution Of lime water and
twenty percent copperas, Once a
week during the summer months
! give them twenty percent mix
ture Of sulphur with wood ashes.
Some people feed soft coal, but
consider this d detriment. A prop
erly constructed self-feeder is the
most economical way of feeding
hogs for market. Handling hogs
In the above manner has permit
ted me to have them well finish
al R.x.a V.ly NJ af Af a
six months, when they will weigh
from 1870 to 225 pounds per head,
which is the weight most suitable
to the packer at this time. At the
age OF eight months my hogs
weigh from 240 to $50 pounds
II believe most farmers Will con
cede that hog production at this
time is profitable business. So
far as am concerned. have al
ways found the production Of hogs
10 be profitable and see no rea-
son why they should not be profit
abl efoarll
able for all time to come when
properly raised and cared for.
II keep q herd of pure blood
Poland Chinas Of medium type.
believe l can make this type of
hog ready for market in a short
er time, and have more desirable
finished product, than II ] used
any other breed or type. The med
ium Poland is prolific, my sows
farrowing from seven to thirteen
pigs, and / raise them all From
seven to nine pigs from one SOW
makes better pigs with fewer
runts than when the litters are
larger. consider the medium
type Of Poland the easiest matur-
ing OF any breed of hogs, with the
Berkshires running second.