swine;. 415 



SWINE BREEDING AND FEEDING. 



"It is a true saying 'that farm stock will be just what its owner makes 

 it.' It is true of swine to a greater extent perhaps than any other ani- 

 mal on the farm. They can exist under adverse conditions and live 

 with less care than an}-^ other stock, except, perhaps, the hen. On the 

 other hand they will more readily respond to good care and feed than 

 any animal we raise on the farm. They can eat anything from dish 

 water to grass and grow upon it, if given something else to fill up the 

 ration. 



Therefore, by this quality mentioned, he becomes a very valuable 

 animal to the farmer and farm. There has been but little attention paid 

 by the average farmer to the breeding of swine, and less care given to 

 the selection of breeding stock, than any other branch of live stock. 

 Sometimes an enterprising farmer would break away from the custom of 

 keeping runts for breeding stock and buy a thoroughbred male and use 

 it on ordinary sows; but, also, the male from this cross was used by him 

 and his neighbors instead of buying another thoroughbred and using it 

 on the females of the first cross. But many did not even go as far as 

 this; but were content to keep on breeding the same old razor back, with 

 long legs, narrow chests, thin hams and an ugly disposition — pigs that 

 looked large but weighed light. Now in the breeding of all animals we 

 must have some end in view, so too with the swine. As I am speaking 

 of the breeding of swine for profit, we have first to consider what the 

 market affords. In most markets the demand seems to be for a pig that 

 will weigh when dressed from one hundred to one hundred twenty-five 

 pounds with as much lean meat as we can get. With some packers a 

 one hundred fift^' pound pig is more desirable. But heavy hogs seem to 

 be slow sale, and the time when tons of lard would be sold as pork for a 

 big price has passed away. Therefore, in the selection of breeding stock, 

 we should try to get what will weigh from one hundred to one hundred 

 twenty-five pounds, dressed, in the shortest time with the least amount 

 of food. This is not an easy matter, but by a careful and judicious se- 

 lection governed by an unprejudiced study and trial of the different 

 breeds will enable one to come very close to getting the pig which will 

 accomplish this. There are several other things in the breeding of swine 

 that should not be neglected. As a pilot in steering his boat to the har- 

 bor must avoid all breakers, shallows and reefs, so too must the swine 

 breeder, in his effort to get the pig he wants, see that he discards the 



