470 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



mental both from the standpoint of size and prolificacy. It is safe to 

 say that over 75 per cent of all the sires and dams used in the state of 

 Iowa are under one year of age. It has been clearly proved by experi- 

 mental work that pigs from young sows are inferior in every way to those 

 from mature sows. The continued use of young sires and dams, especially 

 when associated with corn feeding, will cause marked deterioration in 

 any breed of swine. 



In selecting breeding swine, attention must be given to size, quality, 

 strength of bone, evenness of fleshing, and the use of more mature boars 

 and sows. All pigs intended for breeding purposes should be selected 

 from well developed mature sows. If the sires are mature animals, so 

 much the better. These pigs should be fed on rations calculated to pro- 

 duce bone and muscle, not fat alone. In this way we could materially 

 improve our swine herds without changing breeds. 



In conclusion I wish to once more emphasize the importance of utility 

 in all classes of stock. Beware of "faddism" in any of its various forms. 

 Demand masculinity in the sires and femininity in the dams. Also re- 

 member that the best results can only be obtained where careful selec- 

 tion is combined with intelligent mating and the proper feeding and man- 

 agement of the animals. 



* Extracts from Professor Kennedy's address before the February, 1912, 

 meeting of the Interstate Breeders' Association at Sioux City, Iowa. 



BEST METHOD OF FATTENING HOGS. 



EY J. H. WILLIAIMS. 



D» you all realize that this is the most important industry in Iowa? 

 One-seventh of all hogs packed in the United States are raised and fatted 

 in Iowa. The hogs of Iowa pay more freight, pay more taxes, build more 

 homes, buy more land, bank more cash than any other industry. Then 

 it is very proper to discuss this question as often as possible. 



Having thirty years' experience, with only one year's crops of pigs lost 

 by cholera, my methods are, perhaps, worthy of passing notice. 



Fi:st, to have good hogs to feed you must have good pigs from full 

 grown, mature hogs, both male and female. I am not a breeder of fine 

 stock, in the general acceptance of the term, and just raise hogs for the 

 fat hog market. I don't think there is any method that, will win with the 

 Berk but will be equally good for the Poland China, Chester White or 

 Red hog. I have raised all of them separately and collectively, and many 

 different crosses, and always with the same success, according to feed 

 used. But whatever breed you choose, get the best male hog every time — 

 not always the most costly, but healthy, strong and vigorous, good bone 

 and rangy. 



The feeding before and after pigs are farrowed is the most important 

 thing in the whole hog proposition. Raise and feed all the pumpkins 

 you can and feed them in connection with a little corn; two or three 



