BULLETIN
OF THE
Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
(In co-operation with the United States Department of Agriculture.)

NOVEMBER, 1919 EXTENSION SERVICE N0. B 52

HOGS IN TEXAS

By

EDWIN HOUSTON, Extension Service, Swine Husbandman

 

Address

T. O. WALTON, DIRECTOR
College Station, Texas.

HOGS IN TEXAS

By EDWIN HOUSTON, Extension Service Swine Husbandman

Introduction.

This publication is not intended to be a complete treatise on swine rais-
ing, but the idea uppermost is to give in pamphlet form some of the most
successful methods used in hog raising under Texas conditions.

The hog is nothing more nor less than a package in which to put
feed. If you have the feed'there is usually no more economical way of
marketing it than by converting it into pork, but if you have no feed
nor any prospect of raising it you certainly have very little use for hogs.

Swine breeding can be made a very profitable occupation in Texas
if it is pursued as a legitimate business and not considered a get-rich-
quick scheme. It takes a little more thought and study than most kinds
of farming and therefore should not be attempted on a large scale by the

beginner. One or two good ‘hogs should be acquired and as a knowledge
of the business increases the herd will increase, but where it is attempted
on a large, extravagant basis by men with no experience, failure is almost
sure to follow.

Texas has many advantages as a pork producing state, both in soil
and climate. If these natural assets are capitalized to the fullest extent
in pork production we will soon be shipping train loads of pork out of
the state instead of shipping it in, as we now are doing. Often, however,
we take too much for granted. Because our winters are not severe you will
usually find the West Texas farmers do not supply their hogs with
enough bedding and shelter. We do not use grazing crops for hogs very
much though we can excel in this respect.

SELECTION AND HEREDITY_

The success of the venture will depend on the breeder’s ability to
select the right kind of animals for his breeding and feeding operations,
more perhaps than on any other factor involved; therefore, this question
should receive the greatest attention. It takes practice, and a good deal
of it, to develop the ability to judge hogs intelligently. County, state,
and community fairs should receive every possible encouragement and
hog men should be present when the awards are made so that they may
become familiar with the desired types.

There is no quicker way to learn the art of selection than by show-
ing a few of your own hogs. If this is done in an honest effort to
learn, and if the exhibitor will be fair and not accuse the judge of un-
just partiality, ‘but will endeavor to learn the reasons why the decisions-
were made, there is no other way that will more indelibly impress on his
mind the proper methods of selection.

Modern judging is done almost altogether from the standpoint of

utility in pork production. The so-called fancy points are receiving a

minimum of consideration and this is as it‘ should be. Do not‘ get
the idea that if you are raising hogs for market it will not be necessary
for you to know anything about a show hog. A modern prize winner
is simply a hog that will dress the greatest number of pounds of the
highest priced meat and at the same time will produce this meat the
most economically, so far as can be judged from the appearance of the
live hog.

If one brood sow is bought and brings an average litter of six
pigs twice a year, and half these pigs are females, and they in turn are
bred and bring an average of six pigs twice a year, farrowing their
first litters at a year of age, and are rebred every six months, over
five hundred hogs will be produced in three years. If one begins with
good hogs in the breeding herd, the progeny should bring the highest
market price; but if a poor selection of breeding) stock is made at the
beginning, it will be hard to estimate the financial loss during the years
following. '

The cost of the original breeding stock is a small part of the hog
business. The feed cost is the big item of expense that enters into pork
production. -

Heredity and environment are the two factors that determine every
clement of a hog, either good or bad. An animal will inherit the charac-
teristics of its forebears and these will be developed or retarded by
the environment under which it is kept. The right kind of animals
come from the desirable type of ancestors and from proper feeding and
care. The pedigree is simply a list of ancestors and affords to men
acquainted with the breed an opportunity of knowing Whether the ani-
mals composing the pedigree of an individual have demonstrated their
ability as successful producers.

3

Inbreeding and linebrecding are the same thing, but differ in de-
gree of relationship. Both mean the mating of animals that are more
or less closely related. This practice has been used very successfully
by intelligent breeders to stamp a desirable type, but when it has been
continued as a practice for a long period of years it has almost in-
variably resulted in decreased size or decreased fecundity, or in both.
Our recommendation is that inbreeding particularly be avoided.

It is customary in the cattle and horse breeding industries to use
purebred sires on the native animals in order that the quality may be
-graded up." This is sometimes done in the hog business and is certainly
better than using poor sires, but swine reproduce so much faster than
cattle or horses that it is more profitable to get a small start of pure-
breds and if the good females from this start are kept and cared for,
a herd of the highest market value can be developed in a few years.

The mating ofanimals that are both purebreds but are of differ-
ent breeds is called cross breeding. These hogs have great vitality, due
to the crossing of different lines of blood, and usually make excellent
feeders. However, if these cross breds are used for breeding purposes
they invariably produce poor offspring. It is inevitable that a farmer
will want to keep some of his best gilts for breeding. On this ac-
count it is more desirable to start with one of the recognized breeds
and keep them pure.

FEEDS AND FEEDING.

Concentrates.

Grains can be classed as carbonaceous or fattening feeds and as pro-

tein or bone and muscle building feeds. To build a house the mason must

have both bricks and mortar. If he has not the right proportion of
each there is much waste. If a hog has too much protein or too much
carbohydrates he will certainly not be economically grown. When we
sa~y “a balanced ration” we simply mean the relative proportion of
growing feeds to fattening feeds that the hog needs.

Some of the commonly used protein feeds on Texas farms are as
follows:

Wheat Bran.

Wheat bran can be fed to brood sows with litters, especially if they
are fat, but it really has a very low feeding value. It is bulky and is
a nitrogenous feed and will be found useful in reducing fat breeding
stock. As a fattening feed or as a pig feed wheat bran is too bulky
and coarse to be very useful.

Wheat Shorts.

There is no better hog feed than wheat shorts where it is available;
especially is this ‘true when fed to sows, suckling pigs and young pigs
just after weaning time. We always prefer a mixture of several feeds
rather than any one kind and believe that hogs will always do better on
a mixed ration, but wheat shorts is very nearly balanced in itself.

4

Skim and Butter Milk.

Skim milk and buttermilk have about the same feeding value. One
pound of either is equal to about one-fourth of a pound of grain when
used as a supplement to corn, milo, barley, rice bran, or-like feeds, for
fattening hogs. When fed to suckling pigs, before or just after wean-

' ing, it has a still higher value. It seems to stimulate growth_ and

bone development better than any ‘other feed. More value is gotten
out of skimmed milk, if a small amount is fed in connection with a good
deal of grain, to a number of hogs, than if fed in large quantities alone-
or with small amounts of grain. There seems to be no difference in
the value of milk, whether fed sour or sweet, so long as one method is
maintained. If it is being fed sweet and then is suddenlyfed sour for
a time or two, scours and other digestive “disturbances will follow.

Cottonseed Meal.. ,

No feed has been more discussed by the hog man than cottonseed
meal, nor is it yet definitely understood. The known fact about cotton-
seed meal, however, is that if fed in too large a quantity to hogs it
will kill them; that the hogs that do the best on it will die the quick-
est. When fed at the rate of one part cottonseed meal to six parts
corn or milo, it produces very cheap gains and there is very little danger
when this is fed no longer than 80 to 90 days to pigs weighing over 100
pounds. When fed this way it has usually been found cheaper than
tankage as a corn supplement. It has further been found that it is a very
dangerous feed for young pigs just weaned and often will kill them
very quickly. It is a safer feed when fed to hogs on a green pasture
than when fed in a dry lot. Cottonseed meal has proven splendid when
fed, not in excess of one part to six parts of grain, to brood sows that
are suckling pigs.

Some think there is an advantage in souring cottonseed meal for hogs.
Some tests indicate that there is an advantage in feeding copperas in.
connection with cottonseed meal to hogs, from the standpoint of elimi-
nating poisonous effects. A stock solution of two pounds copperas
dissolved in fifty gallons of water is kept on hand. This solution is
mixed with the cottonseed meal and grain just before feeding, at the rate
of one-half gallon of the solution for every pound of cottonseed meal
fed.

Peanut Meal.

Peanut meal analyzes about the same as cottonseed meal and will
prove about as effective as hog feed. Peanut meal will produce a soft
quality of pork if fed in too great a quantity, but on account of its
very high protein content it need never compose more than one-third
of the ration, and for fattening hogs one part peanut meal to five parts
corn or milo chops is about right. In this proportion there is no danger
of it effecting the quality of the meat. One advantage of peanut meal
over cottonseed meal is that it can be fed indefinitely without danger
of poisoning. Peanut meal is low in ash and mineral matter and has
been found not quite as good a bone developer as some of the other pro-
tein feeds. a

Tankage or Meat Meal.

Tankage is a packing house by-product that contains from forty to

sixty per cent protein and is high in mineral matter. It is a splendid‘
5

supplement to corn, milo, or rice bran, when fed at the rate of nine parts
grain to one of tankage. This is also a splendid feed for growing young
stock and for brood sows, but should rarely be fed in greater pro-
portion than on‘e part of tankage to eight or nine parts of grain.

Fish Meal.

Fish meal is a splendid hog feed that is just being put on the mar-
ket for the first time. It is a by-product of the fisheries and analyzes
about sixty per cent. protein and sixty per cent. ground bone. A number
of states have just completed experiments comparing it with tankage
as a supplement to corn, milo and barley, and without exception it has
proved to be a little more profitable. It is also expected to prove valu-
able in maintaining size and vigor in breeding stock on account of its
high mineral content. Fish meal that has been dried down below an
eight per cent. moisture content keeps indefinitely and should be fed
and handled about like tankage.

Cowpea Meal.

Cowpea meal is being Lised to some extent as a hog feed, but thus
far it has had a limited use and the hogs do not seem to take readily
to it. It may comprise one-third of the ration when fed with such feeds
as corn, milo chops, etc.

Alfalfa Meal.

Alfalfa meal is being used some as a hog feed and has nearly the
feeding value of Wheat bran. It has a little more ash or bone building
material, but at the same time has considerable more indigestible fibre
and is therefore fed principally to brood sows and stock hogs because
is is so bulky that fattening hogs can not eat enough of it to make the
most economical gains. Many of the prepared hog feeds have alfalfa
meal as their base.

Some of the generally used fattening carbonaceous feeds are:
Corn.

Practically every farmer in Texas knows the feeding value of corn
and all agree that there is no grain that is< better for fattening hogs.
Corn is misused sometimes in that it is overfed and fed without any-
thing to supplement it. Since corn is very high in carbohydrates it
should always be supplemented with some feed high in protein and min-
eral matter for the most economical results, even with fattening hogs.
The full value of corn can not be obtained when it is fed alone. A
given number of pounds of corn will make the greatest amount of gain
when fed to hogs weighing from 150 pounds to 200 pounds, if it is

* ground fine. This increased value is about five per cent. greater than

when the same amount of grain is fed on the ear. Whether it pays to
grind it or not depends on the value of the corn and the cost of grind-
ing. Ear corn will give greater returns ordinarily than shelled corn.
It is supposed that this is on account of the fact that pigs have to eat
the ear corn slower. If corn is shelled it should then be ground, except
for pigs weighing under 100 pounds. Young pigs can use it equally
well when it is shelled or ground. The older and fatter a hog is, the
greater the advantage in grinding the corn.
6

Champion Tamworth Boar, National Svvine Show 1918.

Kafir, Milo and Feterita.

Kafir, milo and feterita have about the same feeding value and all
make splendid hog feeds. Yields of about twenty per cent. greater are
obtained by threshing and grinding these grains rather than feeding
in the head or feeding without grinding. When fed in the head a great
many grains are worked into the ground and lost and a great deal of
it passes through the hog without being digested.

Rice Bran.
Rice bran is being used more and more by the Texas hog men. The

Texas Experiment Station found it almost as valuable as corn for fat-

tening hogs. For best results rice bran should compose not more than
half the ration and then should be supplemented with a high protein
feed. Rice bran contains a great deal or crude fiber and is therefore
not as good for young pigs as some ‘of the more concentrated feeds.
Rice polish is a very good feed and much more concentrated than rice
bran. It can be fed with rice bran very successfully but will cause

scouring if fed in too large amounts to hogs that are not used to it.

Rice.
Rough rice has never given very satisfactory gains for hogs. The

by-products, rice bran and rice polish, however, have given good results.

When rough rice is fed to hogs it should be ground.
7

Barley. .

. Barley is a feed that is proving more and more popular in Texas.
lt 1s nearly as good as corn for fattening hogs and is better as a growing
feed. Barley 1s very hard and must be ground, rolled, or soaked, in
order that 1t may be profitably used as a hog feed.

Oats.

Oats is a splendid hog feed that has not been appreciated by the
Texas hog man. 'l‘his feed should never be fed in a slop with other feeds
or in any Wet form, unless it is ground. If fed whole and wet the hog
swallows it without proper chewing and it does him very‘ little good.
Oats has proven very satisfactory fed dry and whole in a self feeder,
as then the hog can get as much as he Wants and will eat only a little
at a time and will chew it very well. Oats can also be fed very suc.
cessfully Whole and dry, if scattered thin on a cement floor or other hard
surface. The idea in oat feeding is to make the hog chew the oats
thoroughly. Oats is almost a balanced ration in itself and will be found
especially valuable for growing breeding stock. On account of its
bulkiness oats does not prove satisfactory in making quick gains on
market hogs. l

Wheat.

Wheat has a little higher feeding value than corn and when it is
cheap enough it will be found a very satisfactory feed. It is better fed
ground than whole. ’

Peanuts.

There is no feed known that will produce more pounds of pork on
as few pounds of grain than peanuts, and when the hogs are allowed to
harvest the nuts and eat the top forage, remarkable results have been
obtained. On much of the sandy lands of Texas peanuts will produce
annually splendid crops on land that is too light to grow profitable corn.
The Spanish variety is the kind that yields the heaviest and will stand
the most drouth. Peanuts contain certain quantities of both proteins
and fats and though it is certain that they will make a soft flabby quality
of pork, they are such a very good hog feed and are so economically
grown in many sections that they will always have a place in Texas pork
production, if only for the use of the breeding stock and pigs.

Commercial Feeds.

The value of a commercial stock feed depends entirely on the amount
and quality of the different ingredients that go into it. Some of these
feeds which are principally the by-products made in the manufacture of
human foods, have a place in the economical ration. Most mixed hog

feeds are better than any single one feed. The variety seems to stimu-_

late the appetite and help assimilation.’ When the variety is the sole
value of a commercial feed, then the swine breeder can usually do the
mixing cheaper than he can have it done by the feed companies, but when
a commercial feed is one that is used to save by-products it is often
worth the price asked. i

PASTURE AND GRAZING CROPS

Though hogs have a small digestive system and are considered
principally as consumers of concentrates, still for their best development
they should have as much good green pasture as they will consume. Not
only will the green feed help to make them healthier and better
animals, but it can be used to cut the grain cost in half. Most of Texas
has such a mild climate that there is no reason why our hogs should
not have some green feed every day in the year. It has been proved
by repeated experiments and by the experiences of hog men in Texas
that hogs can ordinarily be produced at half the cost where pasture is
supplied in abundance, rather than where the hogs are fed in a dry lot. In
fact, we doubt if it will be profitable for a man to attempt to raise hogs in
Texas Without supplying pastures for them. This is one big advantage
we have over the northern states in pork production and we should
certainly make full use of it. If there is any way possible for us to
make the Texas hog man appreciate the vital importance of pasture crops
in economical pork production we would feel that we had taken a long
step forward in putting Texas permanently in the hog business.

Pasture crops that are well adapted to Texas are:

.Alfalfa.

There is no pasture crop that equals alfalfa where it grows successful-
ly. Hogs like it. It has a very high protein and mineral content, and in
good seasons, if used with a little grain, it will produce from four to
seven hundred pounds of pork per acre. Where possible, alfalfa should
be planted as a hog pasture and when not planted too thickly and prop-
erly inoculated, its area of production can be spread a great deal.

Sudan Grass.

Where alfalfa can not bQKgTOWTI we believe Sudan grass is one of
the best summer hog pastures obtainable for Texas. It is not a legume,
but nevertheless contains a great deal of protein and is very nutritious.
Sudan grass stands a great deal of drouth and hot weather and the
hogs eat it greedily until it grows too old and tough, then it can be
mowed for hay and a new tender growth will start out at once.

Sorghum.

Sorghum is the staple summer green crop for Texas hogs. It is
usually fed as a soiling crop, because if the hogs are turned into it they
cut down a great deal more than they eat and as soon as this dries a
little the hogs do not like it very well. It’s chief value’ is to furnish
succulent feed. '

Bermuda.

Bermuda is grown extensively throughout eastern sections of Texas
and makes an excellent permanent pasture crop, since it has a large
carrying capacity per acre and can withstand drouth. This crop is
grown generally from root cuttings. Bur clover seeded in Bermuda pasture
affords both summer and winter grazing. Bermuda is not very high in
protein and therefore should be supplemented with feed rich in protein
as well as with some grain.

‘ 9

Cowpeas.

Cowpeas may be either planted alone or in corn at the last culti-
vation. They make a good pasture crop for hogs and when supple-
mented with carbonaceous concentrates produce economic gains. Being
high in protein and mineral matter they are an excellent crop for young
growing pigs. The Groit and Brabhan varieties have given excellent
results for Texas conditions, although the Whippoorwill and other stan-
dard varieties may be used. They are generally grazed until the first
peas begin to ripen. Cowpeas yield the greatest return when pastured
in conjunction with the feeding of corn, milo, etc.

Barley.
Barley is a splendid grazing crop for hogs. It does not winter kill

‘as easily as oats and therefore is better adapted than the latter to north

Texas conditions. In most parts of the state it produces more grazing
than rye or wheat.
Oats.

Oats has given excellent results as a grazing crop for hogs. It is
the most popular of all the cereal crops for grazing hogs in south Texas,
and should be more generally used, especially in those sections where
there is little danger of winter killing. Like wheat and rye, oats should
be supplemented with grain feeds.

Rye.

This is an excellent grazing crop for hogs and due to the adapta-
bility, is used more extensively than wheat as a grazing crop for Texas
conditions. It will stand more cold weather than any other pasture and
we recommend it for those sections where the other winter pastures freeze.

Wheat.

Wheat is used sometimes as a grazing crop for hogs, where it is
planted as a grain crop, but does not furnish nearly as much nor as good
pasture as oats, barley or rye.

Bur Clover.

Bur clover is a valuable grazing crop either when grown alone or
when sown in a permanent pasture. It may be sown broadcast in Sep-
tember. Liberal seeding should be practiced. It can be pastured during
the winter and spring months. Being a legume, it is high in protein.
Bur clover is splendid to plant on Bermuda sod and this combination
makes a permanent pasture almost throughout the year.

Sweet Clover.

This crop was formerly regarded as a weed, but in those sections
where it will grow, it is now regarded as an excellent grazing crop for
hogs. It will do best on soil rich in lime, but will grow in soil so poorly
drained and low in humus that the other clovers will not live. The crop
should be thickly seeded to prevent the stems from becoming woody.
As it matures it should be cut about six inches above the ground, since
the new shoots grow from the stem instead of the crown as in the case
of alfalfa. There are two varieties of sweet clover—the yellow and the
white. The white variety is the more generally used.

Sugar Beets and Mangel-Wurzels.

Sugar beets and mangel-wurzels have given excellent results as feeds

for brood sows and young growing pigs. They are especially valuable
10

for feeding in bad weather and in the winter when green grazing crops
are not available. Due to their succulent nature they are an excellent
feed for sows“ suckling pigs. They are too bulky to be of much use in
the fattening ration. Since a tremendous tonnage of them can be raised
on rich, loose,_loamy soils, we believe that their use will materially in-
crease with time.

Sweet Potatoes.

Hogs like sweet potatoes, but they have‘ a very low feeding value
and will not give the pork returns per acre on the same kinds of_'soils
as will peanuts. It is doubtful if it will prove profitable to plant sweet
potatoes, especially as a hog crop, but if this is done certainly one of
the large yielding varieties should be used. The culls and unsaleable
potatoes may be fed to the hogs at a profit.

Grand Champion Poland China Boar, National Swine Show 1918.

ll

THE HOG’S HEALTH
Mineral Matter.

Grain feeds fed to hogs are usually high in protein or in carbohy~
drates or in both, but few feeds contain a sufficient amount of mineral
matter, especially of phosphorus and calcium, for best results in producing
growth. The legumes are high in calcium, while skim milk and tank-
age are high in phosphorus. It will always pay the hog producer to
have a mineral mixture before the hogs so that they may have access
to it at all times. The following mixture may be used:

Charcoal ___. _____________________________ __ 2 bushels
Hardwood ashes _________________________ __ 2 bushels
Salt ____________________________________ __ 15 pounds
Air-slacked lime ________________________ -_ l0 pounds
Sulphur _________________________________ __ 8 pounds
Pulverized copperas _____________________ __ 3 pounds

The charcoal should be broken up and mixed with the ashes. The
salt, lime and sulphur should be mixed together and this mixture thoroughly
mixed with the charcoal and ashes. The spulverized copperas can then
be mixed in either dry, but preferably by dissolving the copperas in
warm water and sprinkling this over the mixture.- This mixture may
be put in boxes or troughs under cover where the hogs may have access
to it at will.

A Champion Berkshire Barrow.

1"

RATIONS FOR BOARS, SUCKLING SOWS AND GROWING
-BREEDING STOCK.

It is desirable to make as much growth as possible on breeding stock.
and to keep your boars and sows in good healthy condition, but it is
neither profitable nor advantageous to get them too fat. We give here-
with a few rations that could be used, in order that you may get an
idea of what we mean by the right kind. of feed for this type of hogs.
We give only a very few of the many possible combinations of feed
that could be used equally as well.

1. 50 per cent ground barley or ground corn.

25 per cent ground oats.
25 per cent wheat shorts.

To be fedhogs on Sudan grass, rape, alfalfa, barley or oat pasture.

2. 50 per cent ground milo maize.

50 per cent shorts mixed with an equal number of pounds of skim
milk. a

To be fed hogs on Sudan grass, rape, alfalfa, barley or oat pasture.

3. 50 per cent ground maize.

40 per cent whole oats-fed‘ in self feeder or scattered on a hard
surface.
10 per cent tankage or fish meal.

To be fed hogs running on cowpeas, Sudan grass or alfalfa pasture-

4. 70 per cent ear corn, or ground corn.
25 per cent peanut meal.
5 per cent tankage or fish meal.

To be fed hogs on Sorghum cane pasture.

RATIONS FOR FATTENING HOGS.

It is desirable to make the pigs being fattened eat all they possibly
will, because when on heavy feed the relative cost of the maintenance
ration can be materially lowered.

l. 75 per cent ground barley or corn.
25 per cent peanut meal.

2. 45 per cent ground corn.
45 per cent ground milo.
l0 per cent tankage or fish meal.

3. 45 per cent ground corn or milo chops.
40 per cent rice bran.
15 per cent cottonseed meal.

To be fed not over 90 days.

’I‘here are many other combinations that are just as satisfactory
and the feeder should be governed largely by prices of the feeds available.

Worms.

'I‘he principal parasites that affect hogs are intestinal worms» and
lice. Intestinal worms are usually more the result of getting pigs stunt-
ed or keeping them under bad conditions than they are a primary trouble.
If the mixture of lime, copperas, ashes, charcoal, and sulphur, is kept
before young growing pigs and if they are kept in strong, thrifty, grow-

13

ing condition, you should have very little trouble from worms; but if
the pigs are neglected and stunted and no mineral mixture is kept be»
fore them it is more than likely that they will become infested with.
worms. Especially is this liable to occur if they are in a pasture that
has had hogs on it for a number of years.

A mixture of Santonin and Calomel is the standard remedy used
for the eradication of intestinal worms. It is customary to give this in
doses of about 5 grains of Calomel and 5 grains of Santonin in one dose,
to pigs weighing from 50 to 100 pounds each. Better results will be ob-
tained if the pigs are starved for twenty-four hours before being treated,.
and where it is possible, we think it advisable to catch each pig and put
the desired amount of medicine in its mouth. Where pigs are treated in
large bunches the Santonin and Calomel are usually fed in a thin slop.
The danger with this method is that the pigs that need the medicine the-
worst are usually the poorest eaters and the heavy eaters usually are not
so badly infested. ,,

There are worms that infect hogs, such as lung worms, kidney worms,
etc., that are more difficult to remove, but fortunately they are much
less common than the ordinary intestinal worms that are easily removed
with the Santonin and Calomel treatment.

Lice.

Lice are very easily killed with oil or any of the common coal tar
dips, but the difficulty is to keep the hogs from becoming reinfested.
The use of ordinary crude petroleum, as it comes from the wells, is a
very satisfactory method of controlling lice. It can either be applied
with a brush or an old broom, after the hogs are crowded together in a
small pen, in which event the hogs will rub against each other and
thoroughly spread it to all parts of their bodies, or it can be applied by
putting a few gallons on top of water in a dipping vat and the hogs
run through this dip. In the summer time when hog wallows are in
use, a little crude oil, applied on the top of the wallow water, will an-
swer the purpose very satisfactorily. Any coal tar dip can be applied
in a similar manner, or can be sprayed on.

The advantage of crude oil over the coal tar dip is that the crude
oil is usually cheaper and that it stays on for a longer period of time,
and when the hogs go to their beds that are infested with lice they have
a tendency to smear the oil around and kill the lice out, while the ordi-
nary dip quickly evaporates and when the hog lays in an old nest he
becomes reinfested with lice. Lice are certainly treacherous in that
they will come back in a few weeks after they have been apparently
killed out, and it is therefore necessary to treat hogs for lice about
once a month.

Cholera.

Cholera and Swine Plague, or Hemorrhagic Septicaemia, are the two
principal Texas diseases affecting hogs and our advice would be when-
ever there is any chance of these deadily diseases being present for the
owner to promptly wire Inspector in Charge Hog Cholera Control, 602
Flatiron Building, Fort Worth. This inspector has charge of employees
of the Bureau of Animal Industry, located in all principal hog raising
districts of Texas and these men are there to be used and called on in

14

‘the control of hog diseases. Their services are free, but they can not be
(expected to inoculate the hogs of every man with serum that wants them

inoculated, because their time is necessarily limited; but they will diag-
nose the trouble for you and see that you can get proper veterinary ser-

vice.

BREEDING STOCK.
The Boar.

A great deal depends on the. care and attention given the head of
the herd and generally very little thought or consideration is given him.
He should have good shelter and a dry place to sleep, and should by all
means be allowed plenty of exercise. Often a boar is hard to keep in
his lot and so the tendency is for the farmer to put him in a small tight
pen and keep him there. This is all wrong. He must be given exer-
cise and kept healthy and vigorous if he is expected to sire large litters
or strong, healthy pigs. i '

A Texas Owned Duroc Jersey of Great Size and Merit.

Give the boar plenty of good feed and if corn is used do not forget
to supplement it with feeds high in protein. Dry oats is a splendid feed
for him. ‘Give him plenty of clean, fresh water and keep him comforta-
ble. Access to pasture, or green feed cut and thrown over ‘is es-
sential for health and vigor.

A boar should not be used at all before he is eight months old and
should be used very little before a year old. Even after he is mature,

15

- many a boar has been ruined from over use. It pays to have more boars

and not over do any of them. ‘Keep them in good condition, but not fat.
In the summer, for mature boars, it is often more satisfactory to keep
them somewhat thin. This does not hurt them as long as they "are strong
and healthy. Surplus fat is certainly a great handicap to a mature boar
in hot weather and should be avoided.

Care of, Sow and Litter.

Anyone can fatten hogs after a fashion if he has plenty of feed and
has good healthy hogs, but it takes a real good man to raise good
big litters of strong husky pigs. The care and management of the sow
before and immediately after farrowing is the factor that decides the
fate of the future porkers, and the breeder that is thoroughly capable
in his ability here is on the road to becoming a successful hog man. '

There is considerable difference of opinion as to the right age at
which a sow should be bred. Some think eight months old is the prop-
er age to breed, while others like them to be at least fifteen. Certainly
they should not be expected to farrow under a year old and if they far-
row at this age they must be well fed. Two litters a year can be easily
raised in Texas if the breeders will prepare to give the fall litter good
shelter and bedding. If a gilt farrows at one year of age she should
raise but one litter the first year. She should be given time to grow and
develop well before being bred again.

After the sow is bred she should be fed a good, strong, raw
ration that contains plenty of protein and should be given plenty of ex-
ercise. Under no condition should the sow be allowed to get too fat be-
fore farrowing. Flabby fat will certainly cause trouble. Many pigs may
be overlayed on this account and the sow will not do nearly as well as
if she were in good condition, active and alert, and her muscles hard.

If care has been used in keeping the service dates the time of far-
rowing will be definitely known and the sow can be put in a pen a week
prior to the arrival of the pigs and can be fed light, cooling feeds, such
as wheat bran. It is also advisable to see that she does not become con-
stipated as this is sure to cause trouble. A teaspoonful of Epsom salts,
fed once a day for several days, will remedy constipation and many suc-

ecessful pig raisers make it a practice to give each sow a dose of Epsom

salts a few days before farrowing. This certainly will not hurt them if
given in small amounts and may save a lot of trouble.

Get the sow in a warm dry place before she farrows and see that
she has enough bedding to make her comfortable but not enough to make
it dangerous that the pigs will get under it and be overlayed. Give her
plenty of water before and after farrowing and though it is a mighty
good idea to watch her closely at farrowing time, it is very important

for her not to be disturbed any more than is absolutely necessary to give

her and her litter any needed attention. If the weather is cold, it may be
a good idea to take the pigs away and put them in a warm dry basket

until the sow has finished farrowing and then put them back with her.

When the weather is mild this will hardly be necessary. Sometimes
the little pigs fight each other, or cut the sow’s teats, and it is desirable

to break off the tusks on the side of the pig's mouth. This is more often

16

necessary in big litters in hot weather when blow flies are liable to lay
maggot eggs in any little cut on the, pig’s mouth.

After the sow gets through farrowing give her a drink of water and
see that she and her family are perfectly comfortable. For the next
twenty-four hours give her nothing at all to eat, but all the water she
will use, and disturb her as little as possible. When feeding is recom-
menced start with a very light feed for the first few feeds and gradually
increase this as the pigs will stand an increased flow of the mother’s milk.
It is essential that the pigs be watched very closely at this time so that
one can judge the proper amount of feed to give the mother. After
ten days or two weeks the sow can be put on about full feed and it certain-
ly does pay to feed the sow with a litter all she can use profitably. The
pigs make their cheapest gains while suckling and it is very desirable to
give them as good a start as possible before weaning.

Should the tail or ears become chapped, see that the sleeping quarters
are kept dry and grease the affected parts with a little carbolated vase-
line. If this is not attended t0 the tails are liable to drop off.

If you can get the sow and pigs out on a green pasture they will
"certainly do better than on a straight dry-grain ration. They will keep
in better health too, due to the exercise and the laxative effect of the
green feed. '

Pigs must get exercise too, because it they do not and are eating well
they are pretty apt to get the “thumps,” which usually prove fatal.

Get the little fellows to eating as soon as you can. One of the best
methods is to put a self-feeder inside of a little creep so that the pigs
can get to it at will, but the old sow can not get at it. ln this way
the pig gets just what it wants and will gradually eat more and more
until by weaning time it is eating so heavily that it will not miss its
mother’s milk at all. Whatever method is adopted in feeding your young
pigs see that they do not have stale, sour feed left in their troughs.

If the pigs are accustomed to being fed before weaning they start
off eating after weaning and show little desire, after the first day or
two, for their dam. Pigs should not be weaned before eight Weeks and
ten or twelve is better. It should be borne in mind that there is no food
for growing animals that can replace milk. If two litters are raised
each year, pigs should be weaned at about ten weeks of age. At this.
time they should be fed a ration that contains a fair amount of protein.-
and mineral matter, since growth and not fat is what is desired. It is;
preferable to feed the grain dry. In addition to the grain feeds, some
grazing crops should be provided for them. It is best so far as pos--
sible, to wean and feed pigs by litters, but this is sometimes not practi-
cable, in which case pigs of about the same size and age should be runi
together and for best results should never be allowed to run in lots of more
than fifteen or twenty. The runts should be separated and fed to them-
selves. Pigs should be castrated as early as possible; the younger the-
better. Possibly the best time is two or three weeks before weaning or
just after weaning. At about three or four months of age the boar pigs
and gilts that are to be kept for breeding purposes should be separated

17

I

from the rest of the pigs and fed to themselves. Care should be taken
to see that the pigs get enough feed and all the clean water they can
drink; provided with clean quarters; have an abundance of shade and
are kept free of lice, It is during the growing period that the pig makes
its most economical gains and everything in the Way of feed, care and
management should be provided to afford these gains.

Champion Hampshire Sow, National Swine Show 1918.

l3 . ,

Herd Record and Marking‘ for Identification

Careful records should be kept in the breeding herd as to service
records, farrowing records, and sales. These should be kept in a per-
manent form by the breeder of registered hogs because occasion arises
from time to time when it is necessary to look upon the sales and breed-
ing of animals which may have been disposed of several years previously.

A breeder of purebred animals should leave nothing to memory, and
since the purebred business is based upon the integrity of the breeders
engaged in it, everything possible should be done to keep careful, ac-

curate records.

It is best to mark pigs for identification as soon as possible after
farrowing; certainly by weaning time. Probably the most satisfactory
method is by means of notches in the ear to identify the litters and by
metal ear tags or buttons for, identifying the individuals.

Each litter can be numbered in the order in whicli‘ it comes by let-
ter; certain notches in the ears standing for certain; numbers. For in-
stance, assign the following values to notches cut in the ears of hogs:

1 notch, upper rim of right ear ____________________ __10
1 notch, lower rim of right ear ____________________ __ 1
1 notch, upper rim of left ear _____________________ "30
1 notch, lower rim of left ear ______________________ __ 3

'l‘lwus twenty-five would be marked as follows:
2 notches, uppercright ear (10x2—-20);
2 notches, lower right ear (1x2—2), and
1 notch, lower left ear (3x1—3).
Total-—25.

A common leather harness punch can be used or a special punch for
this purpose can be secured from Stockmen’s Supply companies.

19

SELF FEEDERS.

4 Self feeders have produced as economical gains as hand feeding,
when plenty of water has been kept available for the hogs and when a
number of feeds have been used in the feeder, so that the hog can select
the amount of each feedhe wants. Corn should never be used in the
self feeder unless it is properly supplemented with other grain feeds.
The self feeder is especially recommended in starting young pigs to eat-
ing grain during the suckling period, but when allowed to remain on the
self feeder too long they become too fat and finish too quickly for the
greatest development of growth. Therefore, pigs intended to be kept as
breeders should be taken off the feeder when they weigh about 60 pounds
and then hand fed. The self feeder affords a good method of feeding
oats to hogs and their use is recommended when the precautions named
above are observed. The following type of self feeder has given good
results.

/\ SELF FEEDER F012 H0655

r-
<1
‘j / ‘Qf TOPTO OPEN "mus
'__ " \
Q T“—’ 8*“ HINGE HERE

  

 

~» A
- DEFLECTOR
.’_/_2~_ __ _ >
creoss SECTION i, 712cm" ELEVATION
SCALiElikz-fl _
HOUSES.

The following type of portable house is recommended for Texas con-
ditions because it can be economically and quickly built and also pro-
vides by hinged doors on the sides, a method of ventilation and shade-
for the hogs. We recommend that no floor be built in this house but it
should be moved as often as is necessary to prevent dust accumulating
in the house, which will occur if the house is allowed to stand in one place
too long.

20

 

HOG HOUSE FOR TEXAS CONDITIONS

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VENT AT EACH E _1~
mix
< 2
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NOTE ALL LUM- 14g
BER EXCEPT m
EUNNERS TO
BE LONG LEAF N65
PINE
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sicmow A-A ““ii"_"3"°'

ll-
DLA 5117i ‘ELEVATION

CONCRETE HOG WALLOW.

A concrete hog wallow 8’x10’ may be made as follows: On nearly
level ground, make frame of two 1”x12” ten feet long, and one 1”x12”
eight feet long, and one 1”x16” eight feet long. Fasten firmly together,
being careful to drive stays every two feet to prevent spreading. See
that top is level; lower side must be dug in four inches.

Make excavation in lower end of rectangular enclosure five inches
deep, pile and tamp dirt around other three sides so there will be a regu-

lar slope of eight inches from these sides to the center of lower side.
Nine sacks of cement (nine cubic feet or one-third cubic yard), one

cubic yard sand, and one cubic yard of gravel or crushed rock will be re-
quired. Mix cement, sand and rock in proportions of 1:3:3.

Apply concrete four inches thick for floor, being careful to get slope
regular from upper end and sides to lower end. Finish should be rough
and slope straight instead of concave, to prevent hogs from slipping.

Pan should now be eight inches deep, sloping from three sides to
center of fourth, where four-inch drain pipe is to extend horizontally
through wall at base so that wallow may be completely drained and washed.
Stop cock or large wooden stopper may be used toretain water.

After floor has begun to “set” make inside form for six-inch curb‘ with
two 2”x4” eight feet, eight inches long; one 2”x4” seven feet long; and
one 2”x12” seven feet long, with bottom side sawed off so that it slopes

from full width at. center to four inches at ends. Place in large form on
21

concrete floor, being careful to leave a six-inch space all around for cur-b.
Fill in to top of 2”x4” and 1”x12” making curb four inches high on in-
side except on lower end where it is twelve, and a total of twelve inc-hes
from outside except on lower end where it is sixteen.

CCDNCRETE HQG VVALLOW
SCALE fill

baa"
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INDICATE FALL

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Bank up earth around wallow so that hogs can get in, and so they can
not root under. Concrete or board approach may be made to wallow at
one side or end.

22