LECTURE LXXII. 



FATTENING HOGS FOR MARKET. 



The age at which hogs should be fattened will depend 

 more or less upon the market demands and the locality. In 

 .some countries and in different sections of the same country 

 we find that there are differences in the market demands. 

 As a general rule in this country the fat or lard hog has 

 been the most popular. When such is the case it is better 

 to market hogs at the weight of from 300 to 400 pounds. 

 These seem to meet with the most popular favor of the buy- 

 ers. In other sections of the country and in other markets 

 where the bacon type of hog is preferred over the fat or lard 

 hog, they must be marketed at an earlier age. The best 

 weight for the bacon hog is between 160 and 220 pounds. 

 They do not require to be nearly as fat as the fat or lard 

 hog; still, on the other hand, a bacon hog is by no means 

 a thin animal. They should have a covering of about one 

 inch of fat over the back. They should be deep sided and 

 Jong sided, and must be firm in quality. Where the bacon 

 hog is desired, as a general rule it will be found most profit- 

 able to have the hogs fattened and finished for market at 

 about five and one-half or six months of age. Where the fat 

 or lard hog is desired, the most profitable age to market the 

 same in order to meet the requirements of the market would 

 "be about eight to ten months. Hogs of this age should weigh 

 in the neighborhood of 300 to 350 pounds. As a general rule, 

 Tiowever, it may be stated that the greatest and most econom- 

 ical gains, especially the most economical gains, are made on 

 the younger animals. This is one point in favor of the bacon 

 "hog. 



The season of the year at which the fattening should 

 "be done will depend upon various conditions. In some in- 

 stances, in fact in a great many cases, hogs are fattened 

 during the fall and early winter months. In other instances 

 they are fattened during the spring and early summer 

 months. Generally speaking, the most economical gains can 



