128 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



be found in different localities. Pure bred animals are by no means es- 

 sential. The average farmer should first become able to handle grades 

 properly before attempting to do much with pure breeds. In the selec- 

 tion of sires and dams those possessing the greatest length and depth 

 of side should be first choice, other things being equal. By following a 

 system of careful selection in grading up, in the course of two or three 

 generations there should be secured animals answering all the require- 

 ments of the trade. If a man have the money and experience necessary, 

 doubtless he would do better to invest at once in pure-bred sires and 

 dams, since there is always greater certainty in dealing with these. 



FOOD SUPPLY AND FEEDING. 



The question of breed is undoubtedly an important one, in that, in 

 whatever line of animal husbandry we are engaged, w^e must have that 

 special type of animal which is best adapted to the object in view, if we 

 look for profit. The highest excellence in breeding counts for little if 

 not supported by a proper supply of suitable food. Much has been 

 said and written inclining to the belief that the modern bacon hog is 

 chiefly the product of a certain course of breeding. We cannot but doubt 

 this when we find that there is often as wide difference between animals 

 of the same breed, as to type, as between representatives of distinct 

 breeds. A pig from a certain litter may be taken, and by feeding him 

 early in life upon bone and muscle-forming foods, letting him at the 

 same time have plenty of exercise, he may be turned off at seven or eight 

 months as an Al bacon hog. Another of the same litter might be kept 

 for the same time, but in close confinement and fed from start to finish 

 upon fat-forming foods, with the result that he would be a "lardy" hog, 

 entirely too fat for the bacon trade. Breed, feed and exercise are almost 

 equally important factors in producing the right kind of pig. 



CHEAPNESS OF FEEDING. 



On the average, where hogs are fed on grain alone, about four and a 

 half pounds of mixed meal is required to produce a pound of increase. 

 This, at ordinary current prices, would mean a cost of production of 

 from 31/2 to 4% cents per pound. ' On the average, we do not receive 

 more than four cents per pound, live weight, for our hogs, so that there 

 would be little or no profit in raising them on this basis. But in man- 

 golds, sugar beets and turnips for fall and winter use, and clover for 

 summer feeding, we have foods w^hich should enable us to reduce this 

 estimate of cost from one-third to one-half. In most sections of this 

 State any of these can be grown with a fair measure of success. In 

 many counties clover does remarkably well. 



When the young pigs are first started to feed independently, they are 

 usually fed on a mixture of wheat bran and shorts, the proportion of 

 bran increasing with the age of the pigs. At the age of three months 

 we have had very satisfactory results from the use of a mixture of peas, 

 oats, bran and shorts. During the early life of the pig, corn should be 

 carefully withheld, as its tendency is to develop fat rather than fiesh. 

 From tiie earliest period until the finishing a liberal amount of exer- 

 cise is absolutely necessary, but especially during the first half of the 

 animal's life, when the great object is the building up of a vigorous, bony 

 and muscular framework. While not absolutely indispensable, dairy 



