"■T I;VC' ways to raise better pis:s were presented to lUinors 

 ■ tarmers last month by sunesstul hodmen and colIt;t;e 



■ experts during the annual Swine Growers' Dav pro- 



■ gram at the Clollece of A^cricuhure. 



i. ■ A new and simple way to keep sow production rec- 



ords followed by the Illinois Swine Herd Improvement Associa- 

 tion was explained by Wayne Brethorst. a farmer from Mahomet 

 in Champaitrn countv. 



Brethorst said that pius from eath sow entered in the 

 Assotiation are weiqhed at about ''(i days ot atre (weanini; 

 age). Litter records are kept by earmarkini; before the piL;s 

 are more than live days old. 



At weanim: time the rate of i;ain. size, and general healtii 

 of a pi^ are prettv well estahlisiied and the best pit; at this 

 age will probablv make tlie best hoc. At this time a farmer 

 also can tell how well his sows have perlormed as mothers. 



Association members are tindinc Brethorst .said, that one- 



FFA students from Benton and other high schools were among 2000 

 farmers attending Swine Growers' Day at the University of Illi- 

 nois. On tour of the College of Agriculture swine farm, students 

 (top picture) look at sow with frisky pigs out on clean, dry cinder 

 bed when adjacent ground was sea of mud; (center) measure sun 

 shade mounted on skids used with straw roof for hogs on pasture, 

 and (bottom) watch as William Marshall, assistant herdsnion, ster- 

 ilizes hog trailer with live steam. 



BETTER WAYS 



TO 



RAISE HOGS 



fourth of their sows are producing one-half of the pig crop 

 wliile three-fourths of the sows are raising the other half. 



The Illinois Swine Herd Improvement Association was or- 

 ganized last year largely among Champaign county farmers 

 under the leadership ot Leslie Heiser, vocational agricultural 

 teacher at Fisher. It is a non-profit association and dues are 

 only S1.'»0 for each sow and litter. An office is maintained 

 at I-"isher. 



The importance ot keeping a record on a sow's perform- 

 ance was also confirmed by ^X^ A. Craft, director of the Regional 

 Swine Breeding Laboratory at Ames. Iowa. 



In his talk Craft told of some of the results from the Re- 

 gional laboratory where a gigantic swine breeding research pro- 

 gram is being conducted. 



More than 60 inbred lines have been started and H.400 

 litters and 66,600 pigs farrowed at Ames and the other land 

 grant colleges in the cornbelt cooperating in the work with the 

 L'nited States Department of Agriculture. 



Craft mentioned the Minnesota No. 1 and No. 2 bogs 

 which have resulted from this research. He said that they are 

 finding that hybrid vigor appears to be as real in pigs as in corn 

 although economic problems are more difficult to overcome than 

 has been the case with corn. 



If inbred lines and inbred crosses pro\c practical, breeding 

 stock can be sold through breeders who will raise selected in- 

 bred lines to produce boars for farmers. Cratt believes. There 

 should be opportunity here for both small and large producers 

 in that, he said. 



Necro. a serious hog disease, is being brought under con- 

 trol by new sulfa drugs. Dr. C. C. Morrill of the College of 

 Veterinary Medicine, reported. He said they have used sulta- 

 thalidine successfully on a number of intected pigs. 



Morrill cautioned that the use of the drug cannot be ex- 

 pected to remedy a poor diet or reduce contamination in feed 

 lots or hog houses, both causes of necro. 



The few pigs that are still hopelessly stunted after an 

 outbreak has been brought under control should be killed, he 

 said. 



During tiie morning tour of the swine farm the college 

 had on display .several pieces ot equipment helpful in hog pro- 

 duction. 



One is a portable steam spraying outfit used to disinfect 

 houses, iced troughs and other hog equipment. A second piece 

 of equipment handy on a hot summer day is a portable sun 

 shade with a wire and straw roof. 



24 



L A. A. RECORD 



