234 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the most important factors at farrowing time. ' ' 



Mr. McTavish appreciated tlie need of exercise for brood sows 

 and obliged them to take it by making them sleep in a barn across 

 a forty and come to the home place for feed. 



F. E. Luther of Grand Junction, Iowa, said that while he did not 

 raise hogs himself, he had opportunity to see many herds, and 

 learned that the more exercise a sow took the better for her and her 

 litter. He thought the breders of Nebraska had in the last five 

 years led those of Iowa on that matter. 



Mr. Munson reiterated some previous statements and added that 

 the main things in keeping a sow in condition were exercise and 

 sunshine. He has discarded oil meal for alfalfa, believing that it 

 kept the bowels in better condition. Sows on exclusive corn are 

 more apt to eat their pigs, as it produces a feverish condition 

 and an abnormal appetite. His sows are given a little com in 

 extremely cold weather. A close observation of the droppings 

 of an animal, he said, would give a better indication of its con- 

 dition than anything else. 



Aug. Sonneland thought that, rather than to adopt Mr. Mun- 

 son 's method of feeding, it would be better to move to Canada 

 and raise bacon hogs. 



Com gained a champion in W. L. Willey of Menlo, Iowa, who 

 said: "Corn will make a hog. The best hogs, I find, have been 

 raised on the yellow com of Iowa and the yeUow com of Ne- 

 braska. Whenever you take away the yellow com you take away 

 the vitals of the hog. Oil meal, shorts and milk are good, and 

 buttermilk is all right. The ultimate end of every hog is the 

 pork barrel. I have been successful in getting sixth or seventh 

 place at the state fair myself, but I wiU never lose sight of the 

 pork barrel. What will mature a hog quickets? Will it be shorts 

 and bran, or will it be com — and, yes, a little buttermilk?" 



H. F. Huffman of Washta, Iowa, said: "What would you 

 think if I said I was feeding nitrogenous foods altogether? The 

 first time I visited the farm of Uncle William Roberts I found him 

 feeding com to his pigs. I asked him if he fed corn all the time, 

 and said other breeders told me they fed oats and bran, etc. 'Do 

 you know why?' he asked. 'They say that so you will do it. 

 Then they will keep on feeding com and go into the show ring 

 and beat you. If you have clover pasture you cannot get com 

 enough. ' ' 



Mr. Luther again arose, saying. "This meeting was called to 

 discuss the methods of raising breeding stock. Breeding stock and 



