Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1924-11-21
Losses in Hogs
Due to Improper
Shipping Care


to the valley for feeding purposes
Nearly all this loss is due to Improper
care of the hogs on the ears. Apparent
ly the shippers do not give thought to
the feed, water or rest of these hogs
from the loading time until their ar
rival in Monte -Nistn. or other points
and even after arrival, it is seldom
that they are watcred and frequently
the only feed given is potatoes dumped
ON the floor of the car in all the ma.
nnrc and filth.
Hogs are ON the ears from two to
four days. ana frequently ON arrival
are held on the ears until sold. mnl;
Ing II period of from three to six days
during this time they are closely con
fined on wet. filthy ear floors. with
out water or feed other than potatoes
"a condition that reduces their vital.
iiy. and subjects them to many forms
of disease.
Now that the hogs have left the
hands of the shipper and reached the
hands of the feeder. the feeder must
realize what he is up against. lie has
II bunch of hogs whose whole system
has been thrown out of condition:
bowels, lungs and ncrVous systems
have been subjected to II severe strain
and the hogs must he handled in n
very careful manner. The usual pro-
] IL "a N. n1 . h., i,,
tclliccncr of all of us These hogs,
shipped under the above conditions
are unloadcd from the ears onto trucks.
hauled To the farm. the veterinarian Is
asked to yaccinntc them they are turn.
cd into field of peas ON full feed and
forgotten: The results are expected to
he good: the usual results are disas.
trous. Many develop pneumonia, and
promptly die. A large percentage de
,clop bowel trouble accompanied with
a persistent diarrhcn, and n large mum
her Of these die. The remainder. after
Il thrcc-wcck doubtful period. do well.
average loss on hogs handled in this
fashion is = lrr cent.
Many Of us remember last years ex-
Isricncc. when Mr.. James lost so many
hogs; and when Jim Batson had such
bad luck. These ARE only two Incl
dents of the many eases Of loss from
such symptoms. Are we to learn moth
Ing from such experiences: Appar.
emily not. for this year. hogs are he.
ing shipIsd into the valley under the
same Identical conditiVs that We're
directly responsible for last years
losses, and We cnn look for the same
results.
We veterinarians feel kccnly our
duty To the livestock industry OF the
valley la which We live. We feel that
We would not IL doing our duty IL we
fail To call attention To the conditions
described above, aud We beg To offer
II few suggestions which will prove
helpful II carried out. No one likes
II Isrs"n who only finds fault. but
when n person points on, fault and
coined. therefore We offer the follow.
Ing suggestions:
Proper care In shipment. The law
calls for the railroad company To fur
nish cnrs for the shipment Of feeder
hogs. which ears shall Ia cleaned. and
diSinf.ci"d and properly bcddcd.
Next comes the care en route: and
here again III. law l. specific: the
law cnlis for the proI-r food. water.
Si'nc" aud opportunity Ia rest. The
rniiwny regulations cnli for wnicr Mt
least every 10 hours. and two bushels
of grain Ia "ncb rnr every - hours.
We admit II II almost impossible 10
Keep wnicr In n trough over cumhrcs
hin. hut the hogs cnn hc wntcrcd nt
III" leading points mud cnn IT, wni"rcd
"n rnui. nt lcast every - hours. II
there l. -pr'-inkcr accompanying the
shipment.
on arrival. n sinnii feed Of lax.
niiv- hatur" should Ia given. ". would
suggest hrnn-.l"p alfalfa and n few
clean Isptni"rs, aud nsHin, III" troughs
cnn ir flushed md filled with elem
water. After lsins nnlondcJ from the
ears. even with III" carr taken NJ nbo,r
described. III" hogs should receive nd.
iiii"'ni care on the farm. The law
calls for mn eighteen day quarantine.
We would nd,i-" ,hni The hogs receive
prois'r shelter Bni mn abundance of
ri"an drinking iwnirr. good bedding
and light. laxative food. In other
words. r--i. shelter. nnj light feed for
at icn-t n few days Ia allow the hog.
TO recover from the trip, then vncci.
hhlc. tMttt they fesrlNn sMch cntn.