Oklahoma Farmer (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 20, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 1, 1910 Page: 1 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Mail us 10c for the Oklahoma Farmer for Three Months, a Trial Subscription
A
Vol. XX.
GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA, DECEMBER 1, 1910,
No. 13.
He Stire to Study t lie lilt:: Ffirmer Bargains on I
POLAND CHINA HOGS.
Of all breeds of hogs Poland Chinas
are the most numerous, at least in
the United States, and particularly
so in the corn belt. Having originat-
ed in southwestern Ohio they are well
suited to the needs of the corn belt
farmer, an dit is not surprising that
Poland China hogs are to be found
on almost every farm. These hogs
are fine of bone, neat of frame, ma-
ture early and fatten easily; yet they
are not toy pigs, adopted for show,
principally, but are a lusty lot, being
good rustlers, good feeders and of
good constitution.
A seven months old pig weighing
200 pounds is easily produced under
usual farm conditions, and at a good
profit, too, as pigs of such weight
bring the highest market prices.
During 3 910 hogs of any weight
mm
are more easily and quickly cured.
Such a policy on the part of the
packers avoided having to hold high-
priced meat long with a risk of a
slump in price. With prospect of
more pigs coming on farmers were
many breeders for a considerable
number of years has been to develop
quality, early maturity, ajid smooth-
ness of form. The show yard set the
standard for this type ana the breed-
ers have followed to the extent that
the Poland China in this particular
strain became so much reduced in
very good. It is, however, primarily
a fat-producing hog and does not
have relatively as much lean meat
as is required for bacon purposes.
The snout is medium in length, ex-
tending forward and downward at an
angle of about forty-five degrees,
quite straight and tapering. The ears
are fancy, being two-thirds upright
and «'ne- thhvi drooping. The neck is
sJwt, well filieA, deep and thick,
«*rrying the upper lififc well forward
toward the head. The back is broad,
the sides are full and deep, and th;
fencinR must be planned topromote
this one end. Esthetic considerations
need not. of course be wholly ignor-
ed; a hog house, even, may often be
made to ornament, rather than dis-
figure the landscape, and without ex-
tra cost. But the "shining mark" in
hog-raising is the adjustment of
all conditions to thq production of the
greatest possible number of pounds
of pork.
In the selection of breeding animals
more attention should be paid to the
Individual qualities of boar and sow
than to the particular breed. Breed
alone does not determine good breed-
ing stock. A pure-bred boar is to be
preferred, and both boar and sow
should be rather of medium than an
extreme type of the breed represent-
ed. Under present conditions, farm-
ers find it most generally profitable
quite willing to sell light-weight hogs
at the good prices they commanded,
and the Poland China and other small
types of hogs peculiar to the corn
belt made such a policy possible and
profitable. A fault of the Poland
China is the smalt litters. However,
statistics show that Poland China lit-
ters average but two less than Du-
roc Jersey litters, the numbers being
about seven and nine respectively.
The small races of hogs are as free
from disease as are the larger ones,
and so-called immunity from cholera
is a myth unless that immunity has
been secured by the proper adminis-
tration of cholera serum; "the breed
or type is of no importance so far
as disease is concerned.
The Poland China is a typical
American breed developed under ideal
American conditions. The former
Poland China was a very prolific
large spotted hog of good quaiity. At
present there are two distinct types
in the breed. The principal aim of
have sold at good prices, but fat
pigs weighing from 175 to 200 pounds
sold for a good premium oer heavier
ones, the reason being that hams and
sides from such pigs, being small,
nrJt .;<4V?V'
ft -^*V
„
•• , fc • . .
«• < . .2 . *v - N^T.' V. '
CHAMPIOiV POLAND CHINA HOAR
size, in length of body, and prolific-
acy, that the usefulness of the
breed for pork production was some-
what impaired. Prom the spotted hog
which originally existed this strain
was deeloped with solid black color
except six white points.
Many of the breeders having recog-
nized the fact that this strain of
Poland China is not as large or as
prolific as it used to be, have develop-
ed the other extreme, they have re-
fused to follow the standard as given
above and are breeding hogs with
size, growthiness, and proliflcoacy,
irrespective of many of the fancy
points. These hogs develop enormous
size, but are somewhat lacking in
quality. Nevertheless they arc pro-
lific and good feeders.
The fine quality st...in of the I'o! •
and China is what mav lie rallod an
extra fancy type, being : :.i ioth
throughout, with thick, broad, hoivy
sides, smooth shoulders, bro.iri, 1;j:i .■•
plump hams, the hams extending \\ 1;
down onto the fcocic, with short legs
and upright puste.-ns. The bone is
fine throughout, ti e tail fine, the
head ami ears very neat and attrac-
tive, and the quality of the flesh is
the body smooth throughout.
The large type of the Poland China
has more length of body, but is also
longer in the legs, and has heavier
ears, it has more size but is coarser
grained in flesh, hence is not as good
In quality.
PORK PRODUCTION.
(By D. A. Gaumnitz, Minnesota.)
From a business point of view, the
hog is described as "a great national
resource, a farm mortgage lifter and
debt-payer, the most generally profit-
able domesticated animal in Ameri-
can agriculture." He merits this de-
scription, of course, solely from his
capability of being converted into
pork. His destiny is implied in his
proper name, '•porker.' To the pro-
duction of pork, then, in the largest
amount, in the shortest time, and
with a medium expenditure of money
and labor, all the details of the hog-
mlslng industry are directed. This
o' jcot must guide the selection of
'lit:-: stock, the feeding and man-
•' - ion! of the brood sow, the care
■ f rawing pigs, the fattening of
«!:■' ive litters till they reach
inar!:v ; proportion*. Shelter and
to raise the larger breeds of hogs;
the sows producing more pigs at a
litter, and growing more rapidly in
weight than the others.
the sow chosen for breeding should
be selected from the best animals in
the best available herd in the farmers
neighborhood. The first of all con-
siderations is that she should be of
the best type of meat; thick wide and
growthy. If she is the progeny of a
mother known to be prolific, with a
littei of eight at a time, regular in
her "coming in" season, a good nurse
and a good mother, it is altogether
probable that she has inherited these
qualities. An active rather than a
sluggish animal is to be desired, since
the pasture is to furnish a large por-
tion of her food. It is not the price
paid for the sow, but what she can
do, that determines her value as an
investment. A good sow should be
retained as long as she does good
work. The selection and development
of a good breeding herd is a matter
of time. With due attention to the
points named, the hog raiser will
e\entually find himself the possessor
of sows that are reliable as prolillc
producers of high class stock.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Greer, Frank H. Oklahoma Farmer (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 20, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 1, 1910, newspaper, December 1, 1910; Guthrie, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc88309/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.