MICHIGAN LIVE STOCK IN 1899 407 



SWINE IN MICHIGAN IN 1899. 



SECRETARY GEORGE H. McINTYRE. 



A. C. Bird J Secretary State Board of Agriculture: 



You ask me, what are the conditions surrounding the breeders and 

 feeders of swine in Michigan? Michigan is not generally classed among 

 the hog states. Hog feeding has with us always been more an adjunct 

 to our diversified system of farming than a specialty. The man with 

 a hundred hogs is the exception rather than the rule; still, it would be 

 an exception to find a farm without a few hogs. The average per farm 

 for the State I should think not far from 25. 



We have all the breeds represented, but have never been afflicted with 

 the craze for certain fancy strains, nor have our breeders of pure bred 

 stock been led into the risk of investing in stock at the boom prices that 

 have affected other states. That we have as good blood and as good 

 herds as are to be found, cannot be denied, and it only is necessary that 

 our breeders arouse themselves and meet breeders from other states in 

 the show ring and sale pavilion to demonstrate that Michigan is not 

 behind in the race for supremacy. 



The Michigan State Swine Breeders' Association, organized eleven 

 years ago, is doing much to bring about the desired result. It has been 

 the means of bringing breeders together for the exchange of ideas of 

 mutual interest, of awakening a desire to improve the conditions sur- 

 rounding the industry, and to foster a resolve to place ourselves in the 

 front rank, where we feel that we belong. At our last meeting the ques- 

 tion of public sales was generally discussed, and we believe that ere 

 long we shall find our breeders disposing of their surplus stock in this 

 manner. Another benefit of our Association meetings has been the 

 score card practice, or, perhaps, it were better to call it a school of in- 

 struction. In the hands of the expert judge the score card may not be 

 of much use, but to the novice we believe it to be of great benefit as on 

 educator. 



Until the last few years we have escaped cholera and plague in 

 our herds; but '98 saw quite an extensive loss from these diseases (s). 

 Baffling the best efforts of veterinary skill and improved sanitary meas- 

 ures, it run its course, in some instances destroying herds of pure bred 

 stock that had taken years of patient toil and liberal outlay of money to 

 establish, and in others, taking the only pig from the poor man's pen. 

 But at this date, August 20, no outbreak of the disease has occurred, and 

 we are hoping for the best later on. Great interest is felt in experi- 

 ments now being conducted, and we believe the time not far distant when 

 the loss from this source will be reduced to a minimum. 



We are just emerging from an era of depression and low prices, and 

 the man with hogs to sell at this date is in luck. The past few years 

 of business and financial depression had its effect on us as well as on 

 other industries, but the five cent hog is here and our star is in the 

 ascendancy. There is a peculiarity about swine breeding that differs from 

 breeding cattle, sheep or other stock. The swine breeder never gives up. 

 Let prices be high or prices be low, disease come, pigs die, or any of the 



