SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII. 647 



to bring them back than after lettering them get too far away from the 

 right track. 



The feeder who keeps his eyes wide open will at once see the first 

 signs of hogs getting out of condition. 



One of the most insidious foes to good health in hogs is constipation. 

 It is the beginning point of a great many other serious ailments that 

 affect hogs. It is easier to prevent disease than it is to cure it. It is 

 safer to prevent than to be compelled to cure. By preventing disease the 

 hog can gain continuously but after disease attacks the hog it loses and 

 the profit in hog raising is lost with it. 



It is not the feed which is eaten but it is that which is digested 

 properly and assimilated by the animal that brings about good results. 

 The hog that is clogged up soon becomes surfeited with feed and loses 

 his appetite or desire for eating. To make a success of feeding, hogs 

 must have appetites and anxiety to eat. Therefore it is vital that they 

 be kept in condition for demanding feed. But do not over-feed; it is 

 better that they should be a little underfed than over supplied with feed. 

 Each ration given should always be eaten up clean, and the trough should 

 be thoroughly cleansed after each meal. Never throw fresh feed into the 

 trough if it contains any of the old or sour feed left in it. In this way 

 you will keep the appetite toned up and a good appetite causes a good 

 flow of saliva and naturally assists good digestion. 



A voracious appetite which is natural accompanies indigestion, as the 

 food does but little good. The hog remains hungry after he has filled up 

 on all that he can eat. 



The origin of the improvement in swine must have been from good 

 feeding followed up by proper selection. Therefore feed has been largely 

 instrumental in the improvement of the breeds of hogs as we find them 

 today, as well as the origin and formation of the breeds. 



The best breed and finest individuals by a system of poor feeding 

 in a few generations can be forced back to the scrub. I repeat therefore 

 that feeding is of prime importance in bringing success in the hog busi- 

 ness. 



A man must do some thinking for himself as well as reading the 

 methods and plans of others. He must use his reasoning powers in adapt- 

 ing or adopting his own methods of feeding. He will be called upon to 

 Investigate the values of different feeds so that he can produce the largest 

 amount of gain at the least cost in order to secure the greatest profits 

 from the business. It will also be necessary for him to be able to make 

 the best combinations of feeds on his farm, and at times he may be able 

 to add to them profitably by the purchase of other addtional foods. These 

 things will require careful thought, calculation and conclusions. 



The gain of a hog comes from that which it eats, providing its diges- 

 tive organs are in proper cendition to transfer the feed through its 

 chemical changes into flesh, so that there may be as little waste from the 

 food eaten as possible. This can only be brought about by healthy hogs. 

 If you start in with healthy hogs the skill and science of the feeder 

 must do the rest. Its importance is therefore self-evident. 



