Show HOG production AND FARM PLAN plenty of grain Is seen as necessary for success by E al Kegen brecht swiss swine husbandman texas A st af college hog production a basic item in the food for victory program easily can be made successful if properly fitted into a profitable farming plan especially suited as a small enterprise ter prise hog production primarily is dependent for success upon the availability of an abundance of grain feed hogs always pay more for corn barley or grain sorghums sorg hums than does the grain market about four pounds of feed produces a pound of pork but the feed must be properly balanced feeds used to balance the farm grain usually are higher in price than the latter but the quantity is small farmers who keep from one to three sows bows almost always make a success says hogs do not do well when run in large groups because sanitation and disease prevention become serious problems with large herds the principal item of expense in hog production is the grain feed but if this is grown on the farm or obtainable locally at reasonable prices the enterprise easily can be established on a profitable basis while a sandy well drained soil is the most suitable hogs can be successfully raised on a heavy black soil but in such case concrete feeding floors are almost a necessity hog pastures are necessary with small grain for winter and sudan for summer the best native grasses such as bermuda are good for a short time in the spring but soon get hard and taugh and become of little value A good pasture will furnish 50 per cent of the needed protein and otherwise reduce the cost of production suitable equipment a movable hog house a few troughs and a self feeder can be built at small cost A concrete wallow can be classed as almost a necessity if hogs are kept comfortable they make rapid and economical gains and losses from overeating are avoided it is likewise true that hogs which do not have a dry warm place in which to bed during the winter will not make as much profit as those properly sheltered |