574 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



HOW TO RAISE HOGS SUCCESSFULLY. 

 John F. Myerly, Deep River, Iowa, before Poweshiek County Institute. 



The necessity of housing swine by artificial methods comes principally 

 from two causes: First, the natural protection furnished by the forest 

 has generally been removed; and, second, the hog is becoming more of 

 a creature of civilization, which is taking from him the necessity of 

 rustling for his feed, which is likewise lessening his aiblity to withstand 

 an excess of rain, snow, cold and even sunshine. It is a fact that hogs 

 which are not housed in some manner will not only make small growth 

 at high cost, but also are much more liable to diseases of all kinds. 



By housing I do not mean confinement, as exercise is always needed. 

 The two common forms of housing, which in slightly modified ways fit 

 nearly all conditions, are the large stationary house and the portable 

 house. 



In the large stationary house we get the most floor space under cover 

 at the least cost. A permanent building is generally built near other 

 stock buildings, thus bringing the feeding work all together. This 

 building can be so arranged with loft that all kinds of feed and bedding 

 can be conveniently located where needed. But the fact that the building 

 is stationary calls for a lot or yard in which the grass is soon killed. It 

 generally becomes rooted up and filled with hog wallows. A permanent 

 building calls for a strong structure and the use of much lumber, which 

 makes it difficult to disinfect thoroughly. It is almost impossible to make 

 one house, no matter how large, to accommodate hogs of all ages. The 

 most needed use for a well-built hog house comes at farrowing time. Now, 

 if the structure be a large one with stalls for each sow, the first one 

 which farrows may do all right, but if another follows soon this second 

 sow is generally disturbed by the squeals and noises arising from the 

 pen where the other pigs are. To me this fact is one of the greatest 

 drawbacks to the stationary house. How often we have heard men say: 

 "That sow got restless and killed all her pigs," when the cause for it was 

 a squeal from a pig in another pen near by. 



MAKING PORK QUICKLY. 



When my pigs are three weeks old I place a shallow trough near that 

 of the mother, put a little shipstuff and skim milk in it, give them a 

 little soaked corn near by and in a short time they will learn to come 

 and eat by themselves. At eight weeks old they will be able to feed 

 themselves and in this way will receive no check at weaning. From 

 this time on the pigs should be pushed as rapidly as possible, for the 

 sooner they will weigh 250 pounds the more profit there is in them. Hog 

 raising is seldom profitable unless you have plenty of good pasture. 



I do not feed them all the corn they will eat while on clover, for if 

 they eat too much they will not eat enough clover. Of course, clover will 



