SPECIAL LEAFLET
Hogs As a Cash Crop on Sand Mountain*
The cash income of the Sand Mountain farmer can be sub-
stantially increased by the use of hogs as a cash crop to supple-
ment cotton.
This can be done by following three simple rules:
1. Increase the yield of corn on the land now being planted
to corn.
2. Sow 3 acres of lespedeza and white clover for each 25
acres of cultivatable land on the farm.
3. Raise enough pigs on each farm to consume the surplus
corn.
The corn yield can be increased 20 to 25 bushels per acre
above present average yields by planting vetch after all the
cotton for part of the corn next year and fertilizing the remain-
der of the corn with commercial nitrogen according to the rec-
ommendations of the Alabama Experiment Station.
If you are interested in this simple and easy way to increase
your income, you will find instructions in the following pages
which will help you turn corn into money through hogs.
RAISING PIGS ON YOUR FARM
Several thousand dollars of good cotton money are sent
off Sand Mountain every year for pigs to fatten for meat
hogs. You should stop this practice as soon as possible. If you
have 25 acres of cultivatable land and will farm it as outlined
above, you should have a brood sow and raise two litters of pigs
each year. You will have better pigs at less cost and will not
have the risk of getting diseased hogs which you now have.
The only man who can afford to buy pigs, is the one who has
only surplus corn enough to fatten his meat hogs. This man
should be able to buy pigs from his neighbor instead of buying
pigs trucked-in from other areas.
*Although this leaflet was prepared especially for the Sand Mountain area, it is also
applicable to other areas in the State where the average yields of corn can be increased 20
to 25 bushels per acre by proper fertilization, crop rotation and the use of winter legumes.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
OF THE
ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
M. J. FUNCHESS, Director
AUBURN
FEBRUARY 1939
GETTING A BROOD SOW
Brood sows are very scarce in the Mountain area. You prob-
ably cannot buy one. You can buy a sow pig, however, and
raise a brood sow. This requires time and you should get started
at once. It is very important that you get healthy, thrifty pigs
to start with. If possible buy these from your neighbor and
select pigs from sows that are raising 6 to 8 good pigs per litter.
If your neighbors do not have hogs, a group of you should get
together and consult your county agent or Smith-Hughes teacher
about buying some sow pigs for you. You will want good grade
pigs that will grow into mature sows weighing 200 to 250 pounds
when in good living condition.
RAISING THE SOW PIG
Keep the sow pigs on lespedeza-white clover pasture and
feed 3 to 4 good sized ears of corn a day for a 50-pound shote
or 5 to 7 ears a day for a 100-pound shote. In addition to this,
feed each shote about one-fourth pound of a mixture of tankage
and cottonseed meal daily. This mixture is composed of equal
parts of tankage and cottonseed meal. Use 60 per cent (protein)
tankage and 8 or 9 per cent (ammonia) cottonseed 
meal in
making this supplement.
If buttermilk is available it may be used instead of the tank-
age-cottonseed meal supplement. Keep a mineral mixture 
com-
posed of equal parts of salt, wood ashes, and ground limestone
(or air-slaked lime) before all hogs at all times.
If the sow pigs are fed as recommended above, they 
should
be well grown out at 7 or 8 months of age. They should weigh
175 to 200 pounds and have good frames, well 
fleshed but not
fat. They are then ready for breeding.
THE BOAR
Select a boar pig for each 12 to 25 sow pigs. Feed same
as for sow pigs. He will be ready for service at 
6 months of age.
Keep boar on good pasture and feed a few ears of corn if neces-
sary to keep in good condition.
FEEDING GILTS AFTER BREEDING
After gilts are bred keep on good pasture and feed 4 or 5
ears of corn and one-fourth to one-half pound of tankage-cotton-
seed meal supplement per day for each gilt. 
Regulate amount
of corn to keep gilt in thrifty living condition but not fat.
CARE OF SOW AT FARROWING TIME
A gilt or sow will farrow 112 to 115 days after breeding.
She should have a cheap individual house to farrow in and 
some
3
leaves, hay or straw for bedding. See the hog houses at the
Sand Mountain Substation. It will pay to watch each sow after
she begins to build her bed. Pigs frequently crawl out of the
house and may chill to death if the weather is cool or rainy.
The most successful hog men stay with the brood sow after she
begins to farrow until she is through. Remember! The year's
profits from hogs depend on getting large litters of pigs raised.
FEEDING THE SOW AND PIGS
Feed sow lightly on corn for a few days after farrowing,
gradually increasing to 10 to 14 good sized ears of corn (5 to
7 pounds of shelled corn) per day for each sow by the second
week after farrowing. Sows that are extra good sucklers and
have large litters (8 or more pigs) may require 16 or 18 ears
of corn a day. The suckling sow will lose flesh but should never
be allowed to become "skin and bones".
In addition to the corn, feed each sow one-half pound of the
tankage-cottonseed meal supplement per day the second week
after farrowing and increase to one pound per day the third
week. A half gallon to a gallon of buttermilk per day for each
sow can be used instead of the tankage-cottonseed meal supple-
ment. It is preferable to give the milk to the pigs and use the
tankage-cottonseed meal supplement for the sow.
When the pigs are 2 to 3 weeks old feed them shelled corn
in a trough placed in a creep out of reach of the sow.
About the middle of the eighth week reduce the sow's ration
to 3 or 4 ears of corn per day, and at the end of this week remove
her from pigs and place in separate pasture.
REBREEDING AND FEEDING OF SOWS
Breed the sow as soon as she will take the boar; this is us-
ually about three days after the pigs are weaned, if sow is not
too thin in flesh. If sow is thin, feed liberally on corn until she
comes into heat.
If pasture is good (lespedeza or white clover), the sow will
get along for 8 weeks after breeding with 4 to 6 good sized
ears of corn per day. During the next 8 weeks (the last 8 weeks
of gestation period), feed one-half pound of the tankage-cotton-
seed meal mixture per day in addition to the ear corn. The
amount of corn should be governed by the condition of the sow;
she should gain back the flesh lost while suckling the previous
litter of pigs. Try to feed enough corn to keep in good living
order - neither skinny nor fat. Good pasture is very important
during this period.
FEEDING THE PIGS AFTER WEANING
After the pigs have been weaned at the age of 8 weeks, either
one of two methods of feeding may be followed. With either
4
method the pigs should be on good tender pasture, consisting of
lespedeza and white clover in the spring and summer, and crim-
son clover, or green oats and crimson clover in the winter. If
oats or crimson clover are to furnish any winter grazing they
must be sowed early - by September 1, if possible. Lespedeza
pasture for hogs must be kept short and tender by grazing 
or
mowing; it is not palatable when it is coarse and stemmy.
Method 1. Limited Feeding on Pasture. - In this method pigs
are fed a limited ration of corn to keep them growing until they
reach 75 to 100 pounds in weight They are then full-fed on
corn and supplement until ready for market. This method may
be used for the spring litter when a limited amount of old 
corn
is available. The pigs can be carried along on a 
small amount
of corn until the new crop is ready to feed in the fall. 
It is best
to feed shelled corn in troughs until the pigs weigh 
50 to 60
pounds; then ear corn may be fed. The amount to 
feed should
be governed by the amount of old corn available. 
For best
results at least two pounds of shelled corn or 4 to 5 good 
sized
ears of corn per day for each 100 pounds of pigs 
should be fed.
Although pigs may be kept on pasture without any 
corn, this
generally is not a profitable practice.
When the pigs reach 75 to 100 pounds in weight 
or when
new corn is available, they should be gradually 
increased to a
full feed. This means as much ear corn as the 
pigs will clean
up and about one-half pound of tankage-cottonseed 
meal mix-
ture per shote daily. Ear corn should be fed on 
good firm ground
in a fresh place each time. If the ground 
is wet and soft a
feeding platform should be used and cleaned 
off before each
feeding. Some people prefer to shell the 
corn and feed it and
the tankage-cottonseed meal supplement from 
self-feeders or
large troughs. This is more sanitary and reduces 
waste of feed
but it necessitates extra labor in shelling 
the corn. If this can
be done in off-season or on rainy days, 
it is not a serious item.
If self-feeders are used the pigs should be 
accustomed to
the tankage-cottonseed meal mixture by hand feeding 
for a few
days before they are given access to the mixture 
in self-feeders.
Also the self-feeders should be checked 
each day to see that
they are feeding properly and that the 
corn feeder is not empty.
If the corn feeder gets empty the pigs will 
overeat the tankage-
cottonseed meal and increase the costs 
of gains.
When Method 1 is followed the hogs will 
not be ready for
market when the next crop of pigs is farrowed. It will be neces-
sary, therefore, to divide the pasture into 
two fields. The di-
vision of the pasture is a good 
practice, however, regardless of
the method of feeding used.
Method 2. Full Feeding on Pasture. -
When there is enough
old corn on the farm to feed the pigs 
to market size, full feeding
from weaning to market will generally prove to be 
the most sat-
5
isfactory method. It is particularly adapted to the Sand Moun-
tain area where land is limited in relation to labor and good corn
yields are obtainable. Less pasture is required than when the
limited method of feeding is followed because the pigs eat less
forage and are ready for market sooner. As a result of earlier
marketing, the full fed pigs usually bring higher prices than
pigs which are carried through the pasture season on limited
rations.
In the full feeding method you may feed shelled corn in
troughs or self-feeders or you may feed ear corn. If self-feeders
are used, feed the shelled corn and the tankage-cottonseed meal
mixture from separate compartments, following the precautions
mentioned above.
If you prefer to feed by hand, feed shelled corn in troughs
until the pigs weigh 50 to 60 pounds, then change to ear corn.
Feed all the corn the pigs will clean up. Hand feed the tankage-
cottonseed meal mixture in troughs at the rate of one-fourth to
one-half pound per pig daily. One-fourth pound per pig daily
should be sufficient until the pigs average around 75 pounds
each; then increase to one-half pound. Keep mineral mixture
before the pigs at all times.
MARKETING THE HOGS
Sell the hogs when they average 200 to 225 pounds in weight.
Due to market preferences and more expensive gains it is gen-
erally unprofitable to feed to heavier weights.
Cooperative shipments or local sales can be initiated where
satisfactory local markets are not available.
In hauling hogs to market in trucks, do not have them full
of feed.
SICK HOGS
If your hogs or your neighbors hogs get sick notify your
county agent at once. It may be cholera.
Do not buy hogs unless you know their past history and are
sure they are free from worms and disease. Hog trucks often
spread cholera.
Do not waste money on patent medicines, tonics, complex
mineral mixtures or expensive supplements. The best medicines
are a good pasture and a balanced ration. Keep your hogs
on clean pasture, feed them well, raise all your hogs on your
own farm and you should have little trouble with parasites and
diseases.
Hogs become overheated easily and often die as a result.
Provide shade of some kind for all hogs in summer. Also
provide plenty of clean drinking water, close to the feeding
place especially for fattening hogs. Water is the cheapest
hog feed you have.
If your hog pasture becomes infested with worms, 
you should
make a new pasture and transfer the hogs to it. 
Then plow-up
the old pasture and plant it to corn.
Cottonseed meal is dangerous if fed to hogs in 
excessive
quantities. It is a good feed when used right. 
Be sure to fol-
low instructions for its use as given in this 
leaflet.
CASTRATION OF BOAR PIGS
Boar pigs should be castrated when six or seven 
weeks old.
This gives them time to recover before weaning.
Select a clear day and castrate the pigs early in the 
morning
while it is cool. Do not feed the pigs the night before 
and have
them in a pen in the shade so they will not 
have to be chased
around and overheated.
Wash the sack with creolin 
or liquor cresolis compositus 
in
water. Make the cut to the bottom of the sack to provide
drainage.
The following outlines show how typical Sand Mountain
farms may be planned for the efficient production of cotton and
hogs as the main cash crops together with adequate feed for the
livestock, food for the family and a surplus of eggs to sell.
Farm 1. - 25 Acres Cultivatable Land
Crop
Cotton*
Corn
Corn
Lespedeza sericea
Pasture (lespedeza-
white clover)
Garden and patches-
Acres
6
6
6
2
3
2
Fertilizer per Acre
600 lbs. 6-8-4
Following vetch
Equivalent to 225 lbs.
1 Ton basic slag
1 Ton basic slag
Get recommendations
soda
Livestock
1 Mule
1 Milk Cow
1 Calf
I Brood sow (10
pigs per year)
50 Hens, (150
chickens per year)
Farm 2. - 50 Acres Cultivatable Land
Crop
Cotton*
Corn
Corn
Lespedeza sericea
Pasture (lespedeza-
white clover)
Garden and patches-
Acres
12
12
14
4
6
2
Fertilizer per Acre
600 lbs. 6-8-4
Following vetch
Equivalent to 225 lbs. soda
1 Ton basic slag
1 Ton basic slag
Get recommendations
Livestock
2 Mules
2 Milk cows
2 Calves
4 Brood sows (40
pigs per year)
50 Hens, (150
chickens per year)
*Follow entire cotton acreage with vetch fertilized with 400 pounds basic
slag per acre. Rotate cotton so that each field will have vetch every third year.
1 1 - n
IIV~SI.I)I~K- 111()11 11~1~ 1.111-? lif.lllllV il.l
Farm 3. - 70 Acres Cultivatable Land
Crop Acres
Cotton*
Corn
Corn
Lespedeza sericea
Pasture (lespedeza-
white clover)
Garden and patches_
17
17
20
4
8
4
Fertilizer per Acre
600 lbs. 6-8-4
Following vetch
Equivalent to 225 lbs. soda
1 Ton basic slag
1 Ton basic slag
Get recommendations
Livestock
2 Mules
2 Milk cows
2 Calves
6 Brood sows (60
pigs per year)
100 Hens (300
chickens per year)
*Follow entire cotton acreage with vetch fertilized with 400 pounds basic
slag per acre. Rotate cotton so that each field will have vetch every third year.
The following amounts of feed should be fed to the livestock:
Each mule
Each cow
Each calf
Each brood sow
Each 225 lb. hog-
Each 50 hens
Each 60 pullets
raised for replace-
ments of hens_
Corn
Bushels
70
30
5
25
12
50
32
Cottonseed
meal
Pounds
300
500
100
75
50
Tankage
Pounds
75
50
acre-
Poultry
supplement
Pounds
1,000
500
Hay
Tons
2
1
;ch -
eld -
In addition allow the following average amounts of food for
each person on the farm (excluding children under 1 year of
age): milk 365 quarts, butter 15 pounds, eggs 20 dozen, hogs
for meat and lard 150 pounds live weight, corn meal 2 bushels;
also allow 2 acres garden and patches for each family.
W. D. SALMON, Animal Nutritionist, Alabama Experiment Station
R. C. CHRISTOPHER, Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation