EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART VI. 229 



This is the first appropriation the swine breeders of Iowa ever asl5;ed 

 the legislature to make, and I really believe that by the proper enforce- 

 ment of a rigid inspection and requiring exhibitors to make affidavit as 

 to the health of their herds at home, it may save the taxpayers of Iowa 

 twice the amount of the appropriation the first year. It cannot be ex- 

 pected that no disease will exist, but it will with proper precautions be 

 reduced to a minimum, which was impossible before. 



"We are now entering upon another season, and it is only natural 

 that we should anticipate upon what it has in store for us. The pig crop 

 throughout the state is just reasonably good. Probably it is well that 

 it is no better, owing to the backward condition of the grain crops, especi- 

 ally corn. The price of hogs has miantained a high level during the past 

 year and from present indications will continue high. The outlook for a 

 good grade the coming season depends very much on the corn crop. With 

 the present high range of prices a reasonably good corn crop will make 

 the prospects for a big trade very certain. The swine men of Iowa are 

 worthy of all the prosperity that comes to them. They are one of the 

 factors that have made the state as great as it is. By their industry 

 they have acquired the power of progress. As president of our organiza- 

 tion I have no new policies to recommend. I would suggest that as indi- 

 viduals we give the subject of tuberculosis our careful consideration and 

 attention, keeping a very close lookout for it in our herds and breeding 

 no animals that give any symptoms of it. This is not a note of alarm, 

 but merely one of warning. There is no occasion for making a big 

 fuss over this matter, such as was made a few years ago in the cattle 

 business when whole herds were sacrificed to a test that was afterwards 

 found to be inaccurate. But we as swine raisers owe it to ourselves and 

 to the meat consuming public to know whether we are producing animals 

 afflicted with this disease. As compared with other animals, and the 

 number of hogs produced, the hog is comparatively free from it. By pay- 

 ing a little more attention to sanitary conditions and tanking suspicious 

 animals, it is possible to reduce it to a point where it would not be a 

 menace. As the use of the woven wire fence increased and the range for 

 our hogs is enlarged, with the consequent healthy exercise and pure air, 

 it will be much easier to cope with this as well as other diseases. For 

 the number produced, I think that Iowa now has less diseased hogs than 

 any other commonwealth. By continuing to labor for the progress and 

 improvement of the swine industry of our state, we will fulfill the mis- 

 sion for which our association was organized. 



Following the president's address eanie the first paper on the 

 regular program, that of ]Mr. Harvey Johnson of Logan, Iowa, 

 whose theme was : 



PIGGY'S TROUBLES. 



To the old breeder, this subject seems like an oft told tale, for we 

 have seen it written about and heard it talked about until it does seem 

 threadbare, indeed; and we have long since ceased to expect anything new 

 about it. 



