4 BULLETIN 13881, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
TaBLE 1.—Crops and livestock raised on farms of various sizes 
[Farms in Warren County, Ill., and Henry County, Iowa, covered in this study] 
ars = Tn . 
= & Ag Pasture Livestock (number) 
jn | 38 ag 
Size of farms in acres ls ai a2 vy , 8 
; , 'g = Se) 8 ale (eal S| S| mn Sl gers 
s#/25) F/2 es PIE S| 2/F| @ 8) sls 
GZ. Ae Col|OoF a Sin |elielal&liolala® 
| 
1921 | 
ess bhian- 150 acres. 22325. foe RL 20°) 410) 47 7316 | 3 }713) 14012) 5) 15.}, (90. ier iee2 6 
ib to LOO acres i fic) Foo ity shi 19 | 165-| 67 | 31 | -5 | 22) 16) 17) 7116) 95 |45) 6 9 
pp acres and-overs (ot ses Bee | 14 | 276 | 110 | 53 7 | 28 | 44 | 25) 9 | 25 | 164 | 46) 7| 12 
Total and average of all farms_--_| 53 | 174 | 71 BE} 61S 15203) 921). FF ves | 114 $22) 9 
1922 } 
| 
apes nen: 150 scres-t tet ots eee eed 14 | 116 43 | 19 Sas 17a O:) 16 11382) )15 1 7 
OPUN Ate COE i a iss ae eile. 16 | 167 67 31 | 12 | 20 | 25 5 a Nag KT 0m FA 9 
POO Acres BNC OVer 2224.5 -S eS} 12 | 241 | 89 | 44} 26 | 24 | 34) 16) 8 | 26/ 169} 70| 2) 11 
Total and average of all farms___-| 42 | 171 | 65 | 31 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 11 & | 20) | 138) |, 34.) 5 9 
1 On a few of these farms so large a proportion of the hogs followed fattening cattle in dry lot that these 
farms are not included among those showing hog costs. 
2 Includes small dcreages of barley, rye, and soy beans. 
3 Includes clover, timothy, alfalfa, and mixed hays. 
A crop rotation of corn, corn, oats, and clover is the general basis 
of the cropping system. This rotation is varied by growing wheat, 
barley, rye, alfalfa, soy beans, sweet clover, or other crops. The 
average acres of crops grown and the number of livestock kept on 
the farms of different sizes is given in Table 1. The farms included 
in this study were selected to show the methods and costs on farms 
where hogs were a large part of the farm business. To bring out the 
variations in the extent to which hogs contribute to the farm 
business, some farms were selected having the hog enterprise more 
developed, and others less developed, than the average. The typical 
farm of this area would probably include a greater percentage of 
receipts from crops and cattle than is indicated in this study. 
SYSTEMS OF HOG PRODUCTION 
ONE LITTER PER YEAR 
The one-litter system of hog production is carried on by raising 
early or late spring pigs. The early spring pigs are farrowed during 
February and March. Comfortable quarters and excellent care are 
necessary at farrowing time if a good pig crop is to be saved. The 
sows and litters are put on pasture about A ril 1, and the sows 
removed about June 1, to wean the pigs. The sows are usually 
fattened and sold after the pigs are weaned. The ereier ortion of 
the early spring pig crop is fed out for the fall market of September 
and October. The pigs are grown as rapidly as possible by using 
the best pasture available on the farm and supplementing a full feed 
of corn with various protein feeds. They are fattened on the corn 
crop of the previous year. At the time when this corn is fed to the 
hogs, it is usually higher in price than at any time since it was 
harvested. 
If a corn shortage occurs on a farm, these early spring pigs may be 
fed a limited ration during the summer and finished on the new corn 
crop. In such cases they reach market in November and December. 
