MARKETING SWINE 303 



in as light hogs while the market at this time demands 

 heavy hogs. If they are carried through the winter, as 

 many hogs are, and sold during the next summer, they 

 will have had time to develop into heavy hogs which 

 again puts a product on the market that is not in greatest 

 demand because at this time light hogs are what is 

 wanted principally. Thus if a man is to market his hogs 

 to the best advantage, he must supply what the market 

 demands. 



It is very often said that the market always demands 

 what is not available. That is, when light hogs are fur- 

 nished the packers want heavy hogs, and when heavy 

 hogs are furnished, they want light hogs ; but if this ques- 

 tion is properly considered it is seen that the demands 

 for the various types of hogs are more or less constant in 

 order to supply the demand for pork as it comes during 

 the different seasons of the year. Thus in order to pro- 

 duce market hogs to the best advantage they should be 

 farrowed at such a time, and fed in a way, that they will 

 reach the market with the weight and condition that are 

 in greatest demand at that particular time. 



The time at which hogs are to be marketed should be 

 determined at the time the sow is bred and also when the 

 pigs are weaned. A system of feeding should be adopted 

 that will get the hogs into prime market condition at a 

 certain definite time, and when this time arrives the hogs 

 should be sold. The greatest and most economical gains 

 can be obtained by feeding a hog with a certain definite 

 end in view, that is, by finishing him at a certain time. 

 If when this time arrives the hog is not sold, but carried 

 over in order to wait for a better market, if he has been 

 properly fed up to this time he will not make profitable 

 gains thereafter, and if carried over will not make suf- 



