GENERAL SWINE MANAGEMENT 21 



The purchaser should use judgment and care in selecting hogs, to 

 be certain that the hogs purchased are reasonably fresh from the 

 farm and have not been retained for any great length of time before 

 he acquires theiu. Government inspection safeguards the purchaser 

 of stock hogs so far as is possbile, as all hogs showing any evidence 

 of disease or rise of temperature are rejected. When a large num- 

 ber of a given lot are rejected, it is an indication that it has been 

 some time since the hogs left the farm. The usual method of pur- 

 chasing hogs through the commission firm is that the commission 

 firm permits the owner to return all rejects at the same price per 

 pound that he paid for them. This jjoint should always be definitely 

 understood by the purchaser and his commission man. 



After the hogs have been purchased, the owner should be advised 

 that they be given not only the serum and virus treatment, to im- 

 munize them against cholera, but also bacterin treatment, to protect 

 the hogs so far as possible against the future development of infec- 

 tious pneumonia or swine plague and also against necrotic enteritis 

 or inflammation of the bowel. Experience has demonstrated that 

 the so-called triple treatment has been of advantage to the shipper 

 in that the losses have been less than in those shipments in which 

 the hogs have been immunized only against cholera. 



The purchaser should also instruct his commission man not to 

 overload the cars, for overloaded cars result not only in lack of 

 comfort, but actual damage to the hogs. Further provision should 

 be made, particularly in the fall and winter months, to have the 

 cars papered or provision made to protect the animals against incle- 

 ment weather. The cars should also be provided with ample bed- 

 ding, and the government requires that cars shall be cleaned and 

 disinfected before used for such service. Shippers of stoeker hogs 

 will find that they will be materially benefited by taking care of 

 the loading of cars, as indicated. 



Unless the time limit requires, the hogs should not be unloaded 

 and fed enroute, and when necessary to feed, explicit instructions 

 should be given that the feed be relatively light. Provisions should 

 be made for the arrival of tlie hogs at destination, in order that 

 they may be given the best possible care. If the hogs have had a 

 relatively long journey it will be best to put them in the railroad 

 stockyards, seeing to it that they are well bedded and cared for until 

 they have had an opportunity to rest and regain vitality. Similar 

 provisions should be made on the farm; that is, particularly during 



