14 



The estimates of cost of producing- bacon hogs in summer average 

 $4.66, in winter $5.30, per hundred pounds. The result of an experiment 

 conducted by a correspondent may be of interest. He says: "I had 

 eleven pigs last year and kept an accurate account of what they cost 

 me. I fed them three bags of shorts and 47 bags of mixed grain (barley, 

 oats and peas, ground). I consider the mixture worth $1 per bag, or 

 $50 for the grain. To this add $1 for service of hog and $5 for feed 

 of mother, and the total cost is $56. I sold at six cents, and received 

 $132.00. There is no allowance made here for skim milk or labor, 

 as I could not make anything else out of the milk and the labor did not 

 amount to much, the pigs being a summer batch. The pigs were six 

 months and a week old, so I had a profit of $76." 



Grey. 



Returns would indicate that about 50 per cent, of the hogs are of 

 Yorkshire breeding, 25 per cent. Berkshire, 20 per cent. Tamworth, and 

 5 per cent, other breeding, mostly Chester Whites. The bacon type 

 is generally kept in view in breeding, and improvement is gradually 

 being made. In some cases where extreme length was formerly sought 

 after farmers are getting a shorter pig. A few farmers have become 

 careless, because drovers will not pay them a premium on selects. Boars 

 are usually registered. 



Farmers, as a rule, will be quite satisfied if they can keep up with 

 the production of hogs of former years. For several years past a great 

 many have been keeping as many pigs as they can handle. Where 

 there is a tendency to increase the output, the fear of overproduction 

 and consequent low prices induces caution. Many improvements are 

 being made in buildings for hogs, and larger numbers will in future 

 be fed during the winter. Nearly every farmer keeps a brood sow and 

 raises his own pigs. One correspondent says : "There is more money 

 in the business when a farmer raises his own pigs and grows his own 

 feed." For each farm the number of brood sows kept has averaged 

 about 1^ for each of the last three years. Considerable increase in losses 

 of young pigs occurred during the last season, still the litters at wean- 

 ing time have been a very good size, numbering about eight pigs each. 



Summer deliveries will probably be slightly below the last two years, 

 the reason being that high prices have tempted feeders to sell light 

 weight hogs during the spring. 



In making a reply to the question regarding the cost of producing: 

 bacon hogs, one writer says : "I have to say that I really do not know. 

 I do not think there is one in this locality who follows any systematic 

 course of weighing or measuring the leed. We simply go it blind." 

 The various estimates given average $4.70 for summer feeding, and 

 $5.24 for winter feeding. 



