SWINE PRODUCTION 



The Economy of Pork Production. No other farm animal produces meat 

 more economically than the hog. Pork and pork products are important food 

 articles and hog raising has steadily increased with the country's rapidly 

 growing population. The economy of the hog in converting feed into edible 

 flesh is deserving of consideration by every farmer as well as by everyone 

 concerned in the consumption of food. The well-filled pork barrel and supply 

 of lard, ham and bacon greatly reduce the cost of living. These products are 

 also available to all classes of people at prices that compare favorably with 

 other kinds of meat. 



The hog is a great feeder and not particular in his appetite. He is, there- 

 fore, highly adapted to converting household garbage, unmarketable vege- 

 tables, fruit, grain, grass and numerous forage plants, dairy by-products and 

 even marketable grain into meat and cash. Approximately fifty percent less 

 feed is required by the hog to make a pound of gain than is required by the 

 steer. The hog also dresses 75 to 80 percent of his live weight as compared 

 .with 55 to 65 percent in the case of the steer. Henry and Morrison in "Feeds 

 and Feeding" have summarized data from over 500 feeding trials and show the 

 economy of gains made by pigs ranging from 15 to 350 Ibs. in live weight. In 

 considering the feed eaten, 6 Ibs. of skim milk or 12 Ibs. of whey are rated 

 as equal to 1 Ib. of grain. 



Gestation Period, Frequency and Size of Litters for Brood Sows. The 



average normal period of gestation for the brood sow is 112 days. The period 

 may range from 100 to 108 days for young sows and 112 to 115 days for old 

 ones. Under favorable conditions the sow may be made to raise two litters 

 a year. In such instances the spring litter must be early and weaned at not 

 less than three months of age or else the sow must be bred on the third to 

 seventh day after farrowing. In the latter case the pigs should be weaned in 

 sufficient time to allow the sow to regain strength and properly nourish the 

 unborn pigs of the second litter. Late fall pigs, where winters are rather 

 severe, never do as well as spring pigs and the earlier the second litter can 

 be produced the better. Only where the conditions are suitable for an abun- 

 dance of feed and giving the pigs suitable care is it advisable to try to s raise 

 more than the one litter a season. 



Litters vary in size according to the age, care and condition of the sow 

 and the prolificacy of the family from which she comes. The vigor and 

 potency of the boar is also believed to be a factor in determining the size of 

 litters. Poorly developed boars and those that are overworked during the 

 breeding season, should not be used. Brood sows four to five years old pro- 

 duce larger litters than gilts bred at the age of eight months. Old sows that 

 become heavy and clumsy do not raise as large a percentage of their litters, 



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