LEAFET N. 21JANUARY 1945
GROWING and FATTENING HOGS
W. F=. SP-WELL,
Animal I-Iusbandman
qAII\IEIS NN7II() pr oduce a scir-
Plus oif such fattening crops as corn
andc peanuts can mai ket them to ad-
xVantage througrh hogs. Somue of the
Ircilerl bo)(-raisiili practices that haxve
been focuncd successful hy thce Alabdiuna
Agrrieuultural Experiment Station at its
lain Station, Substations, auicl Experi-
ment Fields ai e surmnau 1/ed hice.
FITTING HOGS INTO THE
FARM'S OPERATIONS
Hog procduction for marlket fits logi-
cally into the sy stems (it opeirationi on
those farms that can eeoiimieallv groxx
more corn and peanuts thani are eus-
tomnarilv used bN7 other lix estoek on the
I armn. On a lar'ge no ol mber of f arms in
the State, added cash income is made
lbx marketing surplus fattening feeds
througrh hsogs. The possibility ofi-
creasing the income frIon this source,
hoxxexver, is indicated by experiments
wxhich Shcxx that the ax erage x ielcls of
peancuts and corn can lie im-creased conl-
sicleralx hbx use, ol 1(21tilizers or soil-
improx jug practices, as well as by ro-
tations in whic iiiei hoggred peanuts are
followed lby corn.
The nmb er of' 10ogs kept on a gis en
farm should lie adjusted to the amnount
of fattening cirops to 1)0 used. Ala-
hamna Agi iltuiial Experimnut Station
results showx that, undler a grood s stem
of mranagement, a sowx pioducing oin the
axverage two litters of six pigs each per
xyear ean be fed and the pigs fattened
to mairket xxeighit on abiout 17t) bushels
of coin or on 115 bushels of corn and
3,000ff Pounds of peanuts.
The acreage of fattening crops re-
cpired aniuuallx for each sow and for
finlishingT the 1I pigs she produces mnax
he estimated on the basis of y ield per
acre. For exaonple, where corn is the
fatteningT feed and a vield of 28 to
3t) budshels per acre is obtained, one
sowV and her pigs finishedl to mairket
xweight, will use, the corn from 63 acres.
If both corn and peaInuts are to he used,
4 acres (if coin and 2 acres oif peanuts
x-will be needed, based on per-acre
x ields of 30 bushels of corn and 1,500
A GR IC UL TU RA L E XP ER IM EN T S T A TION
of the ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
M. J. Funchess, Di'rector Auburn, Alabama
LEAFLET No. 21
pounds of peanuts. Results of this
Station show that yields of 30 bushels
of corn can be made in most areas of
the State and 1,500 pounds of peanuts
can be obtained in adapted areas, pro-
vided good practices are followed.
YEAR AROUND HOG
MANAGEMENT
The most income from hogs is ob-
tained from planned systems of year
around operations. Such systems in-
volve the timing of feed crops and
litter farrowing. The proper number
and size of hogs must be available to
use the crops when they are ready.
Likewise, planned breeding is important
in order that the litters are farrowed
when weather conditions are favorable
for saving pigs. Management of this
kind requires planning a year ahead.
When Corn Is Fed
Where corn is the chief feed, the
sow is bred in the fall to farrow in
March. When the pigs are about 2
months old, they are weaned and the
sow is re-bred to farrow in September.
Like the spring litter, the fall pigs are
weaned at about 2 months of age, and
the sow is bred to start another year.
The sow or sow and pigs are kept on
grazing crops as much of the year as
possible. The feed is so regulated as
to have the sow medium fat when the
pigs are born, and medium thin when
the pigs are weaned. Between the time
the sow is bred and the time of farrow-
ing, she is fed 1 to 2 pounds of shelled
or two to three large ears of corn per
day. While suckling the pigs, the sow
is given about 1 pound of shelled or
two large ears of corn daily for each
pig in the litter.
Both spring and fall litters are kept
on grazing crops and are fed all the
corn they will eat until ready for mar-
ket. Pigs do better if some protein-rich
feeds are fed until they weigh 50
pounds, but none is required thereafter
if the grazing includes legumes. The
fall-farrowed pigs will reach market
weight by March or April, the spring-
farrowed litter by September or Octo-
ber. When it is necessary to wait for
the new crop of corn to finish the
Sspring pigs, they may be grown through
the summer on good pasture and about
1 pound of shelled or two to three ears
of corn per pig per day.
When Corn, Peanuts Are Fed
Where both corn and peanuts are
grown for feeding hogs, the acreage of
peanuts is divided into about one-third
Spanish and two-thirds runner peanuts.
Spanish peanuts mature early and run-
ners late. Thus, a longer grazing period
is obtained by the combination of the
two. The sow and fall litter of weaned
pigs are managed and fed the same as
in the corn-feeding system. The wean-
ed litter in the spring is grown during
the summer on a good pasture and a
limited corn ration (described under
corn feeding) until August when pea-
nuts are ready for grazing. At this
time the pigs should weigh 
about 75
pounds. The shoats are first grazed on
the Spanish peanuts, finished on run-
ner peanuts, and sold about December.
Pasture Is Part of System
Such feeds as corn, peanuts, sweet-
potatoes, shorts, and garbage are not
complete rations. Deficiency troubles
are likely to occur when hogs with no
grazing are fed only these feeds in a
dry lot, floored pen, or harvested peanut
field. Under such conditions, young
pigs become "runty" and grow off slow-
ly. Weak, "knotty" legs sometimes
occur, and the hogs become crippled.
or blind. Conditions referred to as
"down in the hindquarters" and "down
in the loins" are common. Sows some-
times fail to breed, and pregnant sows
may "slip their pigs." Those that finally
farrow may fail to give enough milk
for their litters.
These troubles are usually the re-
sult of hogs not receiving enough min-
erals (bone-building foods), vitamins
(health-building foods), and proteins
(muscle-building foods). If these sub-
stances are given hogs in addition to
corn or corn and peanuts, about half
of the fattening feeds will be saved and
troubles caused by unbalanced rations
will be avoided to a great extent.
It is best to keep a mineral mixture
constantly before the hogs. The other
needed food substances (proteins and
vitamins) can be supplied largely by
permanent pasture and temporary graz-
ing crops (see "Protein-Rich Feeds).
For each sow and her litter, about 1
acre of some locally adapted crop, such
as crimson clover, bur clover, alfalfa
(light grazing after first year), or oats,
should be grown for winter grazing.
One acre of permanent pasture made up
of such legumes as white clover and les-
pedeza will usually furnish enough sum-
mer grazing for a sow and her pigs. If
the permanent pasture is not composed
largely of legumes, about 1 acre of
alfalfa, kudzu, or other legume is
needed for temporary summer grazing.
These acreages are based on good
pastures. All pastures, especially on thin
lands, should be well fertilized.
Hogs grazing pastures 
should have
rings in their noses to reduce damage
to pasture plants by rooting.
Minerals for Hogs
A mineral mixture should be kept in
a box before the hogs at all times.
Leaching of the mixture by rain may be
prevented by putting a roof over the
box, or by placing the box under shelter.
A mixture of ground limestone, bone
meal, and salt (equal parts by weight)
has been found satisfactory. If bone
meal cannot be bought, hardwood ashes
or hardwood charcoal can be used in
its place. Basic slag 3 parts and salt I
part may be used as a mineral mixture.
However, to prevent the slag from be-
coming hard, only a week's supply at a
time should be kept before the hogs.
Protein-Rich Feeds
Protein-rich, or muscle-building, feeds
are not needed y hogs when grazing
peanuts in the field or when grazing le-
gume crops. However, all pigs be-
tween weaning and 50-pound weight
grow-off faster if fed protein supple-
ment. Hogs fed corn without access to
legume grazing crops will require pro-
tein-rich feed. Shorts and some similar
feeds commonly fed with corn as pro-
tein supplement are better than corn
fed alone, but they do not give the best
results. Some protein feeds that have
given good results, and the proportions
in which they should be fed with corn
are as follows:
MIXTURE No. 1 (by weight)
Shelled corn, 9 pounds; and tankage,
1 pound, or
If fed separately (by measure):
Ear corn, 1 bushel; and tankage,
4 quarts.
MIXTURE No. 2 (by weight)
Shelled corn, 7 pounds; and tankage
and cottonseed meal mixed in equal
parts, 1 pound, or-
If fed separately (by measure):
Ear corn, 1 bushel; and tankage
and cottonseed meal mixed in
equal parts, 6 quarts.
MIXTURE No. 3 (by weight)
Shelled corn, 5 pounds; and peanut
meal, 1 pound, or-
If fed separately (by measure):
Ear corn, 1 bushel; and peanut
meal, 8 quarts.
Meat and bone meal, or fish meal
may be substituted for tankage.
Peanut meal may be substituted for
cottonseed meal.
A mixture of equal parts of peanut
meal and cottonseed meal may be sub-
stituted for peanut meal.
While there are many commercial
mixtures on the market, most of which
are satisfactory for feeding with corn,
usually they are more expensive than
the foregoing home mixtures.
Hogs not accustomed to protein feeds
may be slow in beginning to eat such
feeds, particularly tankage. However,
if the feed is kept before the hogs, they
will start eating within a few days.
MARKETING TO GET
TOP PRICES
Hogs finished to weights of 180 to
240 pounds usually sell for top prices
on the market. Monthly changes in
prices are similar from year to year.
The highest prices for hogs usually are
paid in March and April, and in Au-
gust and September. As a rule low
prices occur in November, December,
and January. Wherever the crops and
methods used to finish hogs will per-
mit, the farmer should plan to sell in
those months of highest prices. In so
far as possible, this principle of timing
production to the periods of highest
market prices was applied in develop-
ing the systems discussed in this pub-
lication.
SICKNESS AND OTHER
TROUBLES IN HOGS
While the most common cause of
unhealthy hogs is lack of proper feeding
and management, there are other
sources of troubles, such as diseases
and parasites, which reduce the possi-
bility of making economical gains and
even cause death losses. Hence, affected
hogs should have immediate attention.
Diseases
Common ways of spreading disease
are: moving hogs from farm to farm or
from sales points to farms, grazing hogs
on open range, or allowing hogs the run
of streams and creeks. Diseases also
may be spread by people, trucks, or
wagons passing to and from disease-
infested farms.
By following a well-planned system
of pasture and feed crops, the chances
of sickness in hogs are greatly lessened.
When hogs become sick from unknown
causes, it is best to see one of the agri-
cultural workers in the county, or local
veterinarian as soon as possible.
Worms, Lice, and Mange
The three most common parasites of
hogs are worms, lice, and mange mites.
Practical controls are given here.
WORMS. Hogs are more likely to
have worms when kept in muddy lots
or in the same pastures year after year.
For this reason the plan of handling
hogs on pastures and fields, as given
in this publication, will largely prevent
worms.
While there are several kinds of
worms that affect hogs, the large round-
worm causes the most damage. Most
affected are pigs from suckling stage
to 75-pound weight. Affected pigs have
a general unthifty appearance, the hair
becomes wiry, and they develop pot
bellies. Coughs are common and
"thumps" 
usually develop.
Treatment consists of keeping the
pigs off feed for 24 hours, and dosing
them with a worm medicine. Ready-
prepared worm capsules may be pur-
chased from local stores or from mail
order houses, or capsules may be pre-
pared by local drug stores according to
veterinary formulas.
LICE. Lice do more damage than is
usually thought. They are present on
most hogs, especially on the belly and
between the legs where they are not
easily seen. Rubbing or spraying hogs
on the underside as well as on the top
of the body with used motor oil will
kill all adult lice. However, the treat-
ment will not affect lice eggs. Thus,
repeated treatments at 10-day intervals
are necessary to kill those that hatch
later. A herd of hogs may be kept
reasonably free of lice by applying three
treatments in the spring and repeating
them in the fall.
MANGE. Although mange is not as
common as worms and lice, it spreads
rapidly among hogs and causes con-
siderable damage. Mange is caused by
a mite, which is too small to see with
the naked eye. The mite burrows into
the skin, causing the hair to fall out
and the skin to become thick, rough,
and scabby. Mange usually begins be-
hind the ears and on the neck.
An effective treatment consists of ap-
plying used motor oil, which should be
scrubbed vigorously and thoroughly in-
to the affected areas of the skin with
a brush. Two or three treatments at
weekly or 10-day intervals are usually
necessary to cure affected hogs.