GENERAL PROBLEMS IN SWINE HUSBANDRY 617 



the North winter gains are usually more expensive, especially with young 

 pigs. This is because in winter no pasture can be provided to furnish 

 cheap feed; and furthermore, due both to the lack of pasture and the 

 cold weather, fall pigs are apt to be less thrifty than spring pigs on good 

 pasture. (1037) 



However, when fall pigs are properly fed and housed, they make 

 economical gains, even in the northern states. For example, in 2 trials 

 by Ferrin and McCarty at the Minnesota Station 27 3 lots of fall pigs fed 

 well-balanced rations in winter gained on the average 1.38 Ibs. a head 

 daily and required 404 Ibs. concentrates for 100 Ibs. gain. Three lots 

 of spring pigs fed the same rations during spring and summer in dry 

 lots, without pasture, gained 1.43 Ibs. a head daily and required on the 

 average 389 Ibs. concentrates for 100 Ibs. gain. Due to the fact that 

 grain is usually somewhat lower in price in fall and winter than in 

 summer, the feed cost of 100 Ibs. gain was less for the fall pigs. Only 

 when excellent rations are fed and when the pigs have suitable quarters 

 can such good results be secured with fall pigs in the extreme northern 

 states. Of course, if the spring pigs had been fed on pasture, as should 

 always be the rule in economical pork production, their gains would 

 have been considerably cheaper than those of the fall pigs. 



Fall pigs will usually bring a higher price when marketed than spring 

 pigs, for they should reach the market in spring when the supply is 

 limited. (925) Under proper management this should largely offset the 

 additional cost of the gains they make. 



931. Shelter. Even in the northern part of the corn belt where the 

 winters are severe, inexpensive shelter is all that is necessary for swine. 

 The requisites for healthful winter shelter are freedom from dampness, 

 good ventilation without drafts on the animals, sunlight, reasonable 

 warmth, and a moderate amount of dry bedding. The quarters should 

 be located on well-drained ground and should be so arranged that they 

 may be easily and thoroly cleaned and disinfected. 



Swine may be housed in a central hog house with a number of pens 

 or in small movable ' ' cabins, ' ' or colony houses. Many use a combination 

 of the two systems, for in the northern states the central house is well 

 suited for winter shelter and spring farrowing, while the portable houses 

 are particularly useful for housing pigs on pasture. Colony houses 

 may also be used for winter shelter, and will be fairly warm if corn 

 stalks, horse manure, or other litter is banked against the sides of the 

 houses. A strong sack may be hung in the doorway to keep out the 

 cold and yet allow the hogs to go back and forth. 



Even in the northern states brood sows wintered in cheap colony 

 houses do not require much more feed than those housed in a central 

 house, especially if the houses are well protected. In trials during 4 

 winters by Morrison and Bohstedt at the Wisconsin Station 28 pregnant 

 gilts were wintered in shed-roof colony houses made of a single thickness 



"Information to the authors. ^Unpublished data. 



