512 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



They are improved breeds simply be- 

 cause they can utilize much more feed to 

 advantage than the common unimproved 

 stock. 



Poland-Chinas at the Oregon station 

 made a gain on wheat of about 0.7 

 pound per day as compared with 0.57 

 pound per day made by Tamworth-Po- 

 land-Chinas. The cross bred pork in 

 this case was superior in quality for cur- 

 ing because of a thinner rind, less fat 

 and a larger percentage of lean. The 

 cooking test of the meat showed it to be 

 of superior quality also. 



The Kansas station reports that it re- 

 quires from 23 to 30 per cent more feed 

 to produce 100 pounds of gain with hogs 



dryness, which greatly adds to the clean- 

 liness and comfort of the animal. 



Where large numbers are kept, the 

 pens may be built on either side of 

 the building with an alleyway running 

 through the center containing feed bins, 

 scales for weighing, and, if need be, a 

 kettle for cooking and heating food 

 and water. In such cases, the long way 

 of the house should extend north and 

 south. This will insure plenty of sun- 

 light for each pen at some period of the 

 day. The pens may be made 8x10 feet 

 square, with a section divided off for 

 sleeping. 



Cement floors are generally recom- 

 mended now as being the cheapest and 



Fig. 328 — CHESHIRE PIGS 



of mixed breeding than with pure bred 

 hogs. 



BUILDINGS FOR HOGS 



For the economical production of 

 pork, in the northern states, some form 

 of comfortable pen in which the hogs 

 may be housed in winter, is essential. 

 These houses need not be made of ex- 

 pensive material, but they should be 

 made tight and comfortable, with sepa- 

 rate spaces for feeding and sleeping. In 

 all good hog houses, attentionmust be paid 

 to suitable lighting, ventilation, clean- 

 liness and warmth. The building should 

 be located on high, well-drained ground, 

 so that the pigs will have to ascend an 

 incline to enter the pen. This insures 



most serviceable material for flooring. 

 The sleeping quarters for the hogs, how- 

 ever, should be made of boards laid on 

 the cement. Bare cement floors are ex- 

 ceedingly objectionable if hogs are re- 

 quired to make their nests on them dur- 

 ing the winter season. Even when an 

 abundance of bedding is used in these 

 floors they are cold and bad results are 

 likely to follow. At farrowing time it is 

 especially dangerous, as the newly born 

 pigs wriggle around onto the bare floor, 

 which is slippery, and prevents them 

 from getting on their feet, where they 

 soon become chilled and die. For these 

 reasons, therefore, cement floors should 

 always have a portion overlaid with wood, 

 on which the hogs may make their beds. 



