Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1918 — FARMERS SELLING OFF SMALL PIGS [ARTICLE]

FARMERS SELLING OFF SMALL PIGS

Valparaiso Vidette. According to reports coming in from the rural districts, many farmers throughout the county are disposing of their young pigs to Gary hucksters who go around through the county with the express object in view of buying this class of The little pigs are sought for roasting purposes and the men pay good prices to secure these choice bits of stock. They are taken to the Calumet district and even into Chicago, where a good profit is realized in a resale to people living there. One farmer recently disposed of a lot of twenty-seven to a buyer. The practice of selling this young stock is detrimental to the swine industry in the county. If it continues without interruption there will be a considerable reduction in the total meat supply for next winter. To illustrate the importance of this question and of taking some step to put an end to it, one can take the profit secured from a pig weighing 50 pounds, which amounts to about $3, and compare it with the profit resulting when the pig is sold six or seven months later at a profit of from $lO to sls. This shows that the little pig has a potential revenue later on that is not to be disregarded, and farmers should consider this when they are asked to sell them. It is estimated that 1,000 little pigs have been slaughtered this year in this way. The hucksters will not buy the larger pigs; only the little ones are sought. .Steps will' be taken to bring this matter before the Porter county council of defense and County Food Administrator Charles Link, in order to stop the sale of these little pigs and prevent a reduction in the pork supply of the county.