FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 709 



THE LOCATION OF THE HOG HOUSE. 



The prospective site for the liog house should be carefully studied. 

 Some of the more important considerations to be emphasized are: 



1. Ecdnomy of labor and time in unanagemcnt: To save time and 

 energy feed, water, and bedding should be near at hand. Locate so the 

 house will fit in with the general scheme for doing farm chores. Un- 

 necessary steps are profitably dispensed with. 



2. Sufficient drainage: Rolling ground is unquestionably best for 

 drainage, while low, level land is usually damp and unfit for swine. 

 Sandy soils furnish a desirable base because water drains readily from 

 them. Heavy clay or gumbo water-holding soils are to be avoided. Drain 

 tile may often be used to advantage. 



3. Sunny exposure: Select an open, well-sunned space because the 

 direct sunlight must reach all portions of the house. Avoid the heavy 

 shade of trees and other buildings. 



4. Southern slope: The southern slope is preferable because of its 

 warmth, which means much to the successful raising of suckling pigs. 

 Warmth, dryness, and natural air drainage, all conducive to the best 

 results with pigs are promoted by the southern slope. 



5. Protective ivindhreaTcs : The extreme cold winds in Iowa come 

 from the northwest. The most efficient site therefore should be to the 

 southeast of a good, substantial windbreak of hills, trees, buildings, 

 fences, or their happy combination. 



6. Ncfirness to pasture and summer shade: Convenient pasture and 

 shade are both indispensable for economical pork production. 



7. Suitable elevation: The high situation is apt to be bleak, cold, 

 and difficult of approach; the low, damp and unhealthy. The happy 

 medium of elevation is indispensable for the good of both man and 

 beast. 



8. Prevention of odors reaching dwelling: Inasmuch as somewhat un- 

 pleasant odors may possibly be carried to the farm dwelling, the piggery 

 should be a reasonable distance therefrom, and preferably not in the 

 direction from whence the prevailing winds come. 



9. Lessened risk from disefisc infection: Locations in close proximity 

 to public highways, railroads, and open waterways, unless free from 

 possible infection, are to be avoided. The neighbor's herd may carry 

 infection; and that source of danger should be considered. A reasonably 

 complete isolation of the swine herd is advantageous. 



THE TWO TYPES OF HOG HOUSES. 



Piggeries are of two general types, the large centralized community, 

 or stationary, and the small, individual, or movable. 



The centralized house generally contains a number of pens which may 

 or may not have removable partitions. It is a comparatively large, 

 elaborate, and durable structure. Undoubtedly there is much of merit 

 In the centralized system of swine housing and management. Extensive 

 investigations which cover the construction of this type of house have 

 been and are now in progress at the Iowa Agricultural Experiment 

 station; the results will be published later. 



