Swine Growers' Association. 325 



has been brought in. A very small amount of the infection being 

 spread on the ground, by a mild case, the disease does not de- 

 velop rapidly; on the other hand, if it is a very acute type the 

 disease develops rapidly. 



Q. How long will the germs live in a lot where there is no 

 disinfection? 



A. Several months, sometimes. Sunshine, however, is a 

 good germ killer. 



ECONOMICAL PORK PRODUCTION. 



(C. A. Wilson, Instructor in Animal Husbandry and in Charge of Swine Investigations.University 



of Missouri.) 



The solution of our problems in pork production will involve 

 whole systems of farm management, but we shall only consider 

 in this short article a possible solution through the use of forage 

 crops. Data collected from short feeding trials by experiment 

 stations heretofore would seem to indicate, in the light of present 

 high priced feeds, that the production of pork is quite an unprofit- 

 able vocation. A general resume for instance, of experimental data 

 shows that it requires from four to six pounds of grain to produce 

 a pound gain, which at the present high prices of foodstuffs would 

 make the cost of production from $4.00 to $6.00 per hundred 

 weight increase. 



The general conclusion has been that it requires to produce 

 one pound of gain with steers 7.4 pounds of digestible organic 

 matter in the ration; with sheep, 7.2 pounds; with poultry, 5.1 

 pounds, and with hogs, 3.3 pounds. If we can produce, then the 

 pound gain, in the case of pork with 3.3 pounds of as cheap di- 

 gestible organic matter as that with which the cattleman produces 

 his pound gain, with 7.4 pounds digestible organic matter, there 

 will be no question as to the economy in pork production. 



As startling as it may seem, when hogs sell for from five to 

 seven cents a pound live weight, the farmer cannot afford to sell 

 his corn for seventy cents a bushel. Under proper systems of 

 management we may obtain seventy cents per bushel and even 

 more for the corn that is fed. We shall have to learn that hogs 

 are more adapted than we had supposed in times past for consum- 

 ing roughages and forages, and then supply them. The undo- 

 mesticated hog is not limited to the use of grain as his ration, but 

 makes use of the succulent roots, herbs, and plants that are within 



