22 Pork Production 



prices are lowest during these months. Furthermore, 

 during September the supply is generally the lowest of 

 the year and the prices highest. Although there are 

 exceptions to these average conditions, the prices for 

 hogs usually fall from September on until the middle of 

 the winter. From year to year, the producer of early 

 pigs will be in a position to profit by a better market. 

 (See Chapter XVI.) A third advantage often urged for 

 the early pigs is that they seem to do better, grow faster, 

 be more healthy and better able to stand the extreme 

 heat of early summer. Experience generally supports these 

 claims. 



On the other hand, it must be remembered that finish- 

 ing pigs for the September or October market in the corn- 

 belt necessitates the use of old corn which must be carried 

 over, or, if bought, purchased at a relatively high price. 

 Also, the practice of hogging-down corn which is growing 

 in favor could not be followed to the same extent as with 

 pigs that do not go to market until later. Pigs intended 

 for following cattle during the winter should come early 

 and be well grown and active. Late pigs are usually 

 too small to be satisfactory for this purpose. 



The breeder of pedigreed hogs ordinarily finds it to his 

 advantage to breed early pigs. In addition to the gratifi- 

 cation and advertising value of having pigs which are 

 large for the season, they can be disposed of as prospective 

 breeders more promptly and satisfactorily. The buyer 

 generally favors early purchases, and is particular about 

 size and growthiness. The early pig will commonly sell 

 before November first, while the late pig will often remain 

 to be an expense to the farm and a drag on the market 

 the next season. Pigs intended for show should come as 

 soon after the first of March or the first of September as 



