PART THREE. 

 SWINE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The hog is universally known as the "Mortgage Lifter." 

 No other animal has contributed more toward the success of 

 farming in the United States. This country leads the world 

 in hog breeding and pork production. The money-making 

 ability of the hog is based on the following advantages of the 

 hog and of hog raising: 



1. Hogs are the most efficient converters of grain and 

 certain other feeds into meat. They make larger gains in weight 

 in proportion to feed consumed than other farm animals. 



2. They are most prolific, commonly farrowing from 6 to 

 10 pigs, and will raise two litters per year. 



3. Returns come quickly. The pigs may be marketed 

 within ten months after the sows are bred. The sow may be 

 bred when eight months old, farrowing her first litter at twelve 

 months of age. 



4. Of all meat-producing farm animals, the pig is best 

 adapted to diversified and intensified farming where a large 

 income is desired from a small acreage. 



5. The hog. has a higher dressing percentage than any 

 other animal, and a larger proportion of the live weight is edible 

 than of any other animal. 



6. Pork is the most nutritious meat and has better curing 

 and keeping qualities than any other meat. 



7. No other animal equals the hog in its fat-storing ability, 

 and hog fat is the most valuable fat produced by domestic 

 animals. 



8. Hogs are the most efficient farm animals in converting 

 certain wastes and by-products into profits. This statement 

 applies to grain wasted by fattening cattle, utilization of garbage, 

 and utilization of dairy by-products such as skim milk. In some 

 wooded sections of the country, pigs convert acorns, other mast, 

 and roots into saleable form. 



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