SWINE MANAGEMENT. 



5 



Hogs following steers in many cases hav^e increased the profit per 

 steer by from $6 to $9. Farmers and hotel and restaurant owners 

 are using kitchen refuse to produce salable pork. In fact, as a 

 consumer of by-products the hog has no riyal. 



However, this propensity in many instances is being taken unfair 

 advantage of through ignorance and lack of care. Milk products, 

 anijual offal, etc., which contain disease germ^, especially those ot 

 tubturulosis, are given to hogs. This practice Jiot only results iji 

 spreadiiig disease but causes loss in the hogs themselves through 

 condemnation at slaughter. As pointed out in a later section, all 

 such products should be o>ffectively sterihzed before beijig f(Hl. 



HOG-GROWING SECTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The first place in hog raising in the United States is easily with the 

 corn-growing sectiojis, where corn is the first grain thought of wheji 

 the fattenuig of hogs is considered. It is, however, fallacious to 

 argue that liog raising will not give profitable returns outside of the 

 corn belt. The corn belt has great advantages for economical pork 

 production, but it also has its disadvantages. The cheapness and 

 abundajice of corn in this section have often led farmers to use it as 

 the exclusive gram feed. Breeding stock so fed does not thrive well 

 and is not so prolific as when given a varied ration, and when. used 

 for fattenuig, an exclusive corn diet is not generally profitable. The 

 work of the agricultural colleges and experiment stations during 

 recent years has done much to show breeders and feeders the undesir- 

 abUity of this practice, and the increasing price of corn has forced 

 farmers to economize hi its use as much as possible. 



The few States comprising the corn belt are the source of supply 

 for a great amount of swine products, especially hams and bacon, 

 that are consumed in other portions of the country. Yet the advan- 

 tages of these corn-belt States are little, if 'at aU, superior to those 

 of many others outside of that district. The South has an abimdance 

 of vegetation. Cowpeas, soy beans, velvet beans, and peanuts are 

 leguminous crops peculiar to that section which have great value in 

 pig raising. Corn grows readily in all parts of the South, and hi the 

 subtropical sections the experience of feeders with cassava seems to 

 indicate that it has considerable value for pork production. In 

 addition there is generally an abundant water supply; the climate 

 is mild and there is a long period durmg which green feed is available ; 

 thus the expense of shelter and winter feeding is greatly lessened. 

 These conditions, giving a long period of pasture and outdoor life, 

 enhance thrift and with proper management insure great freedom 

 from disease. 



The East is pecuHarly adapted to hog raismg in view of the fact 

 that markets for fresh pork and cured products may be found in 



