The ranch., November 15, 1902, Page 13, Image 13

About The ranch. (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
BREEDING FOR SPRING PIGS.
John M. Jamison.
The greater part of the hogs pro
duced are spring farrowed. Still,
much more is being thought of the fall
pig, and many are farrowed during the
summer months, and a lew breeders
are willing to have pigs farrowed dur
ing the winter. The all year demand
on the market is gradually changing
the old customs. Later on so much
attention will not be given to the time
when pigs are farrowed, but more care
will be given to looking after them
and making hogs of them. The spring
month most desirable in which to have
pigs farrowed depends on how the
farmer is fixed to care for them.
March is the favorite month, yet many
are lost in March —probably more than
in any other month in the year—be
cause the farmers are not in shape to
give them proper care. Some farmers
breed for March, when they know they
are not fixed to care for the pigs; but
they hope to be and fail, the pigs also
proving to be a failure. Many breed
for March, hoping the weather will be
pleasant at farrowing time and the
pig will be saved, yet more often than
otherwise they are disappointed.
In an important matter, on which
depends so much the success of the
farm, no haphazard work should be
done. Instead of depending on un
certainties, it is best to make things
as certain as possible. The best we
can do has very much of uncertainty
in results. With the farmer who 5b
poorly prepared to take care of young
spring pigs April will often prove a
better month than March. When both
are farrowed on the same farm, when
finished for market, the April pigs will
be as good as the March pigs, for the
reason that the April farrowing start
ed off better and were not checked by
severe weather. Just recently a farm
er said: "My April pigs are as good
as the March farrowing; the weather
conditions accounted for this, as all
had about the same care."
It is an excellent plan to manage a
herd of brood sows so that they can
be bred about the same time, within
two or three days or a week at furth
est. This is desirable, because some
times the litters are unequal in num
ber; some not as large as the sow can
care for, and some too large. When
all are farrowed within a day or two
of each other, this unevenness in num
ber can be evened up by dividing.
Another reason for having them even
in size is that they sell better. An
uneven lot gives the purchaser an op
portunity to cavil about the undesir
able size, which he is quick to take ad
vantage of and magnify to an undesir
able extent.
It is always the safe way to keep
the date of breeding, particularly
when the sows are bred to farrow in
cold, unpleasant weather, or when
such weather is to be expected. A
sheet of paper or a piece of cardboard
tacked up about the barn or other
building that is frequented every day
is good to make the record on. It is
easier to do it here than to remember
'o do it at the house, and there it
Should be allowed to remain till no
longer needed. The farmer can at
any time refresh his memory regard
ing the matter. When the date of
breeding is put down, opposite it, as
soon as the sows are known to be in
farrow, should be placed the date of
farrowing, 112 days after breedings,
or sixteen weeks. While some of the
gestation tables place the time at 115
days, I have always found that 112
days is the safe time for the farmer
to work on. It he waits for the last
limit on the 115 days before making
preparations to care for the pigs, he
will more often than otherwise lose
the pigs if the weather is bad.
The breeding stock should be in fine
condition, and should be the best ani
mals on the farm. On most farms the
farmers can best grow their sows,
but not the boars. Where they select
boars from their own herd, to save
expense, or from a conceited notion
that their hogs are superior to any
others, they probably commit a serious
blunder, and start on a course of in
and in breeding—the great wrecking
error in farm hog breeding. A breeder
of experience may tamper with in and
in breeding and make a success of it,
but the general farmer had better
hove nothing to do with it.
Old sows are much better to use
for early litters than young ones. Still,
if the young ones are very tame they
shoul dsucceed well. A sow that is
not gentle an dtame to handle is not
of much value to bring pigs in bad
weather. Such a sow wants to be
let alone at farrowing time. Too often
the sows on the farm are of this kind,
which is very much against success
and profit.
At the breeding time it is better to
have the male in a lot adjoining the
field or run of the sows; then, when
the sows are in season, they will be
found about the lot where the male is
confined, and should be turned in to
him one at a time; and the herdsman
should know that each sow is served.
Sometimes the boar is a failure, and
if allowed to run with the sows and no
attention is given to him the farmer
realizes his worthlessness when ser
ious loss is evident, from the fact that
the sows fail to be in pig.
There is great advantage in having
pigs farrowed early. There is less
loss feeding against cold weather;
keeping up animal heat is reduced to a
minimum when they are small; it is
raised to the maximum when they are
large. If they are early farrowed, say,
in March, they can be made ready for
the market before biting cold weather
comes on. If farrowed late in the
spring, most farmers will be found
feeding well along into one or two win
ter months, facing the discouraging
week about enough to make the grain
week about enough to make the corn
fed a total loss. There is a market all
the year for fat pigs, but sometimes it
is much better than at others. The
early pig to market in the fall usually
takes a good price. If the spring pigs
are early the fall pigs can also be
brought early. So, taken all around, it
is advisable to breed for March or
early April pigs, and then make sure
to be ready to take care of them. On
every hog farm in the corn belt enough
fodder is wasted to make the most
comfortable houses for the sows at far
rowing time.
State of Ohio. City of Toledo,
Lucas County, 88.
Frank J. Cheney makes oath tbat be is
the senior partner of the firm of F. J.
Cheney & Co., doing business in the City
of Toledo, County and State aforesaid, and
tbat said firm will pay tbe sum of ONE
HUNDRED DOLLARS for each and every
case of Catarrh tbat cannot be cured by
tbe use of Hall's Catabrh Cure.
FRANK J. CHENEY,
Sworn to before me and subscribed In
my presence, tbis Gtb day of December, A.
D. 1886. A. W. GLEASON,
(Seal.) Notary Public.
uu./h Catarrh Cure is taken internally
and acts directly on tbe blood and mucous
surfaces of tbe system. Send for testi
monials, free.
F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O.
Sold by Druggists, 75c.
Hall's Family Pills are tbe best.
THE RANCH.
GILBERT HUNT FEED MILL.
js-afr^ - This roll has no equal in the mar-
Jfe)«Sks*i iG^ as a fee(l crusher. The mills
Jw«lfl*\ are complete, all ready to belt up
miiimma&K _ and go to work. The rolls and shaft-
TOi?/M^^£y^^ ing are very heavy, and the bear-
RiMi&amH ings heavy and long, insuring cool
IRSraISP^E* running journals. The rolls are
dSflßSllili'^Stir slightly corrugated to make them
MBEBBpHlll(||linwV^ feed properly, but not enough to
xIfOC _'; i " im -Z-SC-J rind the grain fine as is the case
■VSXMMmBsJ '^Tlß^^MS~lro\ wilh most corrugated rolls. The
'^H ■ HHf UM WuyS** J||\ spring contact on rolls is very eas
ySmMwfhU 10 «Sfc 'M ily adjusted. They have an adjust
w iSf/ nml \ Hil able n°PPer feed and absolute force
ysmM H En 111 feed over the rolls. We make them
Ik Im mm r, IF HI *n a number of different styles, suit-
W_J^»fcj^g^^ ' JWi ed to all requirements, and having a
C~~ ->—^—?—--'"SJSBS *^^^hL capacity of from ten tons to fifty
--1 ~ SSJl^^^ °nSWALLA y WALLA, WASH.
All Sizes. Not the Cheapest, but Lowest Priced. The Best
Mills ever put on the Market. Write for Prices.
Car ley Bros. : Col fax, Wash.
■ •
'H—^B Registered f
I|M|^HH| Here fords.. I
"<sse»asa«^^^S^BiSi^^^M Original Stock Imp. from England; hard
tSHmSwmBfU BM headed b Mack Alamo.
...THE SPRINODALE STOCK FARM...
A. J. SPLAWN, Proprietor, NORTH YAKIMA, WASH
LADD'S HAZEL-FERN FARM
A. J. C. C. Jerseys. A. G. C. C. Guernseys. Reg. Berkshire Swine.
The only deep milking strain of COMBINATION blood on the Pacific Coast, headed
by Chief Engineer (47147), who carries all the blood elements of Brown Bessie and
Merry Maiden.
Our Guernseys were selected from the be st milking strains in the United States.
Our Berkshires were selected for breeding and Individuality and contain the blood
of Cherry Blossom, Longfellow and Lee st rains. We can assure buyers of quality, the
best of breeding and satisfaction. We invite correspondence and personal inspection.
F. B. M'ELDOWNEY, Supt., Portland, Ore.
OAK HILL STOCK FARM
a Property of QHAS. E. LADD, Breeder
?;^^Pli Shorthorn Cattle, Shropshire
Cotswold and Southdown Sheep
>&§i^hlJHßHaii stock registered with the best of breeding aud individual merit. Young ;stoeU
stock for sale. FRANK BROWN, Mgr. f North anthill. Or a.
Old Process Oil Cake Meal.
' Experienced feeders pronounce it to be the best and most profitable for Milch Cows. Beef Cattto
Horses, Sheep, Hogs, Fowls, etc. Keeps stock in a healthy condition and makes palatable meats. ' /
you have one horse or cow, or a dozen, they should not be without Oil Meal. Oil Meal Cake Is sold b7
all dealers in bay, grain, flour aud seeds. Correspondence solicited.
PORTLAND LINSEED OIL WORKS
Marcus Simpson, Mgr. Sherlock Aye., near Nicolai St., Portland, Oregon
HAZELWOOD COMPANY, Ltd.
Spokane, Washington
Breeders and Importers of
HOLSTEIN, GUERNSEY AND JERSEYfCALTLE
POLAND CHINA SWINE
We haye 1 some tine young Poland China sows for sale. All stock registered and from the bea'.
blood in the United States.
Southdowns < °-<<**
~s~: ; ™f ; "--^^ ■;,"■ ":" number of he#d
of young sheep of this popular breed. J. T. Wilkinson Chilli wack. B. C
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