Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 19, Number 9, DeMotte, Jasper County, 28 January 1949 — Hog Breeding Farm Class Subject [ARTICLE]

Hog Breeding Farm Class Subject

Adult Farmers To Discuss Relations Of Scientific Swine Breeding And Good Boars Problems in scientific hog breeding will be discussed in the adult farmers evening class Wednesday in the Agriculture room of the Rensselaer High School. The relation of the herd boar to fast gains on market hogs and large litters farrowed will be discussed by Ben Salmela, graduate animal geneticist and breeding specialist for the Johnson Farms near LeCrosse. Purebred boars compared with grade boars, cross breeding and the results of using the new hybrid boars like Minnesota number one hybrid boars will be‘discussed. The men in the class will be asked to discuss their problems and experiences in the use of the most profitable type of boars on their respective farms. Figures will be given on gains on market hogs with grade boars and purebred boars. Following this Ben Salmela will explain the production of the new hybrid hogs. This is a new principle in hog production and is being followed on a few farms only at present. One thousand litters of hybrid hogs will be prodded next year on the Johnson fdims at LaCrosse. At the last meeting Wm. Grow discussed management and feed-

ing of beef cattle and recent trials at the Indiana Station in wintering beef cattle. Discussion also centered on the value of corn cobs in cattle feeding rations. Corn and cob meal was reported to be equal to 100 pounds of grain if the ration was not bulky. It was brought out that experiments to date show that corn cobs are worth $25 per ton when corn is $1.25 per bushel. It was also brought out that in trials at the Indiana Station last year bred sows and gilts fed a basal ration of coin, soybean oil meal, and mineral in the dry lot, weaned three pigs per litter. Sows led the basal ration with fifteen per cent alfalfa meal weaned 7.5 pigs per litter; those receiving dried whey and the basal ration in the dry lot weaned 4.4 pigs per litter, and those allowed to run on alfalfa pasture during the. fall and winter and receiving only the basal ration weaned 7 pigs per litter. Three of the 14 sows and gilts in the dry lot receiving the basal ration only lost all of their pigs after farrowing and 38 per cent of the pigs from the other sows died in from one to three days after farrowing. Fourteen sows allowed to run on bluegrass pasture and receiving the basal ration of the gestation period weaned f> pigs per litter. It has brought out that well balanced rations for bred sows and gilts produce more strong pigs that live at birth and big-

ger pigs which are ready for market ten days to two weeks before those farrowed by sows fed only corn during gestation. Some of the men stated that they were feeding one pound of alfalfa meal per sow per day to their breeding sows. Others were feeding loose alfalfa hay with good results. Dr. Andree, local veterinarian discussed the prevention of shipping fever and hog cholera prevention. Good management and feeding practices in livestock production has reduced hazards in the livestock business, stated Dr. Andree.