College Bulletin
Issued Monthly
Extension series 2 No.
Eintered as second-class matter November 27, 1909, at the postoffice, at Corvallis, Oregon,
under the act of July 16, 1894.
Oregon Agricultural College
EXTENSION DIVISION
•
Prize Whining Pigs for Oregon Boys
E. L. POTTER
Professor of Animal Husbandry
The bulletins of the Oregon Agricultural College are free to all residents of
Oregon who request them
PREFATORY NOTE
VW"
Oregon's rapidly increasing population brings with it a corresponding increase in demand for provisions. This changing condition, coupled
with the fact that her people are now largely dependent upon other
states for their meat suppl y , calls forth this monograph It is
one of a series of bulletins which will be published in the interest
of the boys and girls of the state and is prompted by a keen appreciation of a boy's desire to share in the management of the farm and its
stock, whenever he can render assistance. Live stock always appeals
to a boy and if he he given a start for pig raising the proceeds of his
industry will add no small amount to the annual income from the ranch,
This bulletin is published in the hope that it may be a source of aid and
encouragement to the boys of Oregon who are interested in raising
pigs for profit.
Scientific expressions and technical words are purposely avoided
in the text so that the subject matter may be clearly presented to youthful minds.
We take this opportunity to acknowledge the generous support of
the Portland Union Stock Yards Company in the promotion of the
boys' and girls' industrial fair work throughout the state, and the
financial assistance which makes possible the publication of 50,000
copies of this bulletin.
RALPH D. HETZEL,
Director of Extension.
Corvallis, Oregon, April 5, 1912.
PRIZE WINNING PIGS FOR OREGON BOYS.
Of all domestic animals, the one which usually receives the shabbiest treatment, and which at the same time pays the farmer the most
money for his keep, le the pig. His pet name is "mortgage lifter," and
justly he has earned it. He will build a pound of pork for every four
or five pounds of feed eaten, while a steer or a sheep will not do quite
half as well. The pig thrives best on grain, which is an expensive form
of food, but still he returns a handsome profit on the investment.
The two fundamentals of success with hogs are a good grade of
stock and scientific handling. Ordinary stock. carfully managed will
bring satisfactory results, but choice animals, with proper care, are
found more profitable.
Equipment.
All the equipment that is required for raising pigs is some form
of simple shelter that will protect them from the wet and bad storms.
In Eastern Oregon some effort must be made to have the houses fairly
warm, but in Western Oregon any house that is dry and reasonably
well protected from draughts will he satisfactory. A small "A" shaped
house, about 7 feet each way, makes a satisfactory shelter for a sow
and her litter. It must he remembered that hogs must have some exercise and plenty of fresh air, and that confining them in a small, poorly
ventilated shed or barn is sure to bring had results.
4'
Time for Breeding.
The best time for sows to be bred is usually in November. "Since
it will be about 16 weeks from the time they are bred until they produce pigs, the pigs will come about the first of March. This is usually
the best time of t1-e year. Sows -will raise two litters of pigs in a year,
one in the spring and one in the fall, but the winter pigs are harder
to take care of and are usually less profitable.
The Care of Brood Sows.
Brood sows must have foods which are nutritious, but at the same
time not concentrated. A brood sow that Is not suckling pigs does not
need all the grain she will eat. If given as much as she will eat sbe
will soon become too tat. She must, however, be given enough bulky
food to satisfy her appetite. The best feeds then, will be about 1 pound
of grain a day, together with all she will eat of good, bright clover or
alfalfa hay, kale, roots, or skim milk. Such feed should keep her in
good condition but not too fat. The breeder should see that she gets
opportunity to run out of doors a great deal. it is even better for her
to run out in the mud and rain than to be confined in a smart_ pen.
Confining brood sows in small pens and feeding heavily is sure-. to
make them produce small litters of unhealthy pigs.
Farrowing Time.
When it is within a few days of the time for the sow to bring pigs,
s fender should he put around the aide of the pen. One may take 2x4
scantling or poles and put one along each side about 8 inches from the
floor and about the same distance from the wall. Then the sew can
not lie down against the wall and crush the little pigs. The fender
holds the sow away from the wall but allows the pi g s to run under if
they should happen to be behind her when she lies down. The pen
should be clean and the bedding good, clean, due straw being the
best bedding. One should not put in very much, or have it too coarse,
as the little pigs, when they come, may get tangled up in the lon g coarse
straw, and the sow may lie down on them. A pleat many little pigs are
killed in this way. After the pigs are born, the sow should not be fed
anything for about 26 hours. but water may be given her to drink.
After the 36 hours, slop made of shorts and water or milk should be
fed her but not more than two pounds of shorts a day. From now on,
however, the feed can be increased rapidly and within two weeks the
sow should be getting from fi to 10 pounds of grain or mill feed a day.
Suckling Pigs.
The best feed for the sow while she is suckling pigs would be shorts
or middlings and skim milk, although ground wheat or barley will do
fairly well. The sow should be given all sloe will eat. A pound of grain
fed to the sow will make more growth on the pigs at this time than
at i.ny other time in the pig'a Iife. A pound of pork in this way can
usually be made on from 2% to 3 pounds of grain, while to make a
pound of pork on a hog a year old will require about. 5 pounds of grain.
Not only should the sow be fed heavily, but the little pi gs themselves should get some feed as soon as they are big enough to care for
it, which will he when they are about two weeks old. A corner of the
pen should be fenced off in such a manner that the litte pigs can get
in, but. that the sow can not._ A small trough can be put in this pen,
and the little pigs fed a slop of skim milk and shorts or middlings.
Where there is no skim milk a slop can be made with grain and water,
1-1:1 ais is not as good. The little pigs may be given all they will
up of this feed.
Just as soon as there is good pasture, such as clover, vetch, alfalfa,
or rape, the sow and her pigs should be turned out on that, but the
grain feeding should be continued. The pigs may be weaned at any
time r rom 6 weeks to 12 weeks of age. When the sow is to produce
two Inters a year, the pigs must be weaned at about 6 weeks of age.
In or,:c r to wean at this early age plenty of skim milk and rich feed
ssary. Where the sow is to produce but one litter a year the
s uiay run until they are 10 or 12 weeks old. By this time they
practically weaned themselves. The boar pigs should be
c;:s.r_.ted when from one to two months old.
N1 ;II lave
Growing Pigs.
We commonly speak of pigs from the time they are weaned until
they are ready to fatten as growing pigs or "shoats." During this
period they must have abundant exercise and plenty of the richest
pasture. In addition to this they will need some grain, but not a large
amount, that is , not all they will eat. About 2 pounds a day will
ordinarily be about right. The pigs will grow rapidly on such feed,
but will not get excessively fat. They will not do well at this time shut
up in a small pen.
Fattening.
When the pigs get to 'be about 100 pounds in weight, which they
should do when about 5 months old, it is time to put them in a smaller
lot and fatten them by feeding heavily on grain.
In the beginning they should be fed about 3 pounds of feed a day,
divided equally in two feeds. This should be increased gradually until
by the end of ten days or two weeks, the pigs are getting all they will
clean up well twice a day. The best grains for fattening are ground
wheat or barley. These grains, however, should not be fed alone, but
the pigs should be , given in addition some other feed, such as skim milk
or tankage. If they get about a gallon apiece of good skim milk in
add l "on to their grain, they will gain much faster and much more
c-L-dly than on grain alone. Where tankage is used, one-half pound a
day may be mixed with the grain. It does not matter much whether the
grain is fed dry or in a slop. In all cases the pigs should have plenty of
water, and should be kept clean and comfortable. When they have
reached about 200 pounds in weight it is time to sell them. If well
fed, they should reach this weight in 2 months after the feeding has
corm , onced, or in other words, when they are 7 months old. Pigs
about 200 pounds make better meat and sell for more a
pound than do older and bigger pigs .
Books and Bulletins on Pigs.
Circular 18, p-iblished by the Oregon Experiment Station, gives
complete instructions as to the care and feeding of pigs. This bulletin
may be obtained by writing to the Oregon Experiment Station at Corvallis, Oregon. The best book on the judging of pigs is "Judging Live
Stock" by John A. Craig. This book may be obtained from the Breeder's
Gazette, Chicago, Illinois, for $1.50.
When any questions come up which you can not answer, write to
the Animal Husbandry Department of the Oregon Agricultural College,
Corvallis, Oregon. The men in the employ of this department are always
ready to do all in their power to help the stockmen of the state.