cheese flavors. Little or no cheese flavor appears in cheese until amido compounds are formed. The amount of amido compounds increases with temperature and with lapse of time, as shown by the following averages: Percentage of nitrogen in cheese in form of amido compounds. Amount of ammonia in cheese.-The formation of ammonia compounds in cheese may possibly be associated also with the development of cheese flavor. No ammonia is found in fresh cheese. It begins to be formed in appreciable quantities in about four weeks and increases with the age of the cheese. Its amount is greater at higher than at lower temperatures. The following averages give a good idea of the amount found in cheese under the conditions indicated: Percentage of nitrogen in cheese in form of ammonia. SOME DETAILS OF PIG MANAGEMENT. By GEORGE M. ROMMEL, B. S. A., Expert in Animal Husbandry, Bureau of Animal Industry. INTRODUCTORY. The climate and soil which will best favor the production of any kind of live stock are those in which the same kind of stock is found wild. In his native state the hog frequents those localities where vegetation is abundant if not luxuriant. The climate is usually one of only moderate severity. If extremes either of heat or cold are common, the environment provides shelter in the dense thickets in winter and shade and an abundance of water in summer. He is a heavy and promiscuous feeder, and, therefore, in his domestic state he thrives best where pastures are most luxuriant and grain crops, nuts, or roots are most abundant. The hog is not a ranger, nor does he thrive on grass alone; he can not endure a great amount of travel at a time; exercise he must have, yet he must be able to find his feed with only a small amount of searching, and water should always be easily accessible. During hot weather he craves a pool of water to reduce his temperature, for he perspires little; and in winter he wants shelter from storms. Owing to these requirements there are few hogs in the semiarid States of the West, and in that section hog raising is coincident with irrigation and alfalfa growing. The first place in hog raising in the United States is easily with the corn-growing sections, and here corn is the first grain thought of when the fattening of animals, especially hogs, is mentioned. It is, however, fallacious to argue that hog feeding will not give profitable returns outside of the corn belt. The corn belt has wonderful advantages for economical pork production, but it also has its disadvantages, one of which is the bad effect on fecundity of feeding too much corn to breeding stock. Any locality that will grow clover of any species, that is favorable to the production of alfalfa, peas, or beans, or where grains are readily grown-not only corn, but barley, wheat, oats, or rye--will be a favorable situation for the successful production of pork. If it is a locality where dairying is common, no better advantages are required; for, given leguminous pasture-clover, alfalfa, peas, beans, etc. as a basis, with a grain feed that can be readily grown and also dairy by-products, the very highest grade of pork can be produced at a minimum cost. Variety of feeds alone is an item of H. Doc. 743, 58-2-15 223 immense importance in feeding. An animal tires of a constant ration of one kind, and is more easily put "off feed" at such times than when he is occasionally supplied with a change to keep his appetite keen. Not only has variety of feed an influence on appetite, but it results in a better quality of pork. The few States comprising the corn belt are in reality the source of supply for a great amount of the meat product, especially hams and bacon, that is consumed in other portions of the country. Yet the advantages of many of these corn-belt States are little, if at all, superior to those outside of that district. The South has an abundance of vegetation. Cowpeas, velvet beans, and peanuts are leguminous crops that are peculiar to that section. Corn grows readily in all parts of the South, and in the subtropical portions the experience of feeders with cassava seems to indicate that it has considerable value for pork production. In addition, there is generally an abundant water supply; the climate is mild, and there is a long period during which green feed is available; the expense of shelter and winter feeding is very greatly lessened. These conditions, giving a long period of pasture and outdoor life, enhance thrift, and with proper management insure great freedom from disease. In the extreme West the alfalfa of the irrigated valleys and the clover of the coast districts give a splendid foundation for successful pork production. In most of these regions there is an abundance of small grain, particularly barley, that may often be fed economically, while in some localities corn is a successful crop. Barley is of so much interest and importance in the production of prime pork that it demands more than a passing notice. This grain has not been relied upon to a great extent in America as the principal part of a hog-fattening ration, but the practice of Danish farmers and the results of experiments can very well be studied with profit by American feeders. The Danish bacon, which figures so prominently in the English markets, is produced mainly with barley and dairy by-products. At the Ontario Agricultural College, Day has found barley so valuable in the production of prime export bacon that it is now used as a standard with which other grains are compared. In his experiments to determine the nature and causes of "soft" pork, Shutt found that the best bacon produced was by a ration in which barley was at least one-third of the whole amount. Farmers in those parts of the country where barley is a prominent crop can well devote attention to their opportunities for pork production; besides, in addition to this grain, some of the leguminous crops can often be grown for pasture, thus furnishing materials for a well-balanced ration. The grain-growing districts of eastern Oregon and eastern Washington are instances of such localities. Corn is raised there to a very limited extent, but barley is an abundant crop and can be produced at minimum cost, and often wheat may be utilized. In nearly all parts of this section there are irrigated valleys where alfalfa grows abundantly. Yet every town and city in this section imports immense quantities of pork products from the corn belt; indeed, it has been stated that 75 to 90 per cent of all the hams and bacon sold at Spokane are shipped in from the East; and when one remembers that this city feeds a very great territory it is readily seen how great is the dependence on the corn belt. Recent investigations, the results of which have been published by Elliott, of the Washington Station, and Withycombe, of the Oregon Station," show a greater feeding value for wheat than for barley. They seem to indicate that, under those conditions, it may be necessary to test barley further before its value is definitely determined. The grains were crushed in all cases. It would be interesting to note the effect of eliminating the hulls of the barley or feeding crushed bald barley in comparison with wheat or a mixture of wheat and corn. The bad effect of oat hulls on young pigs is well known. Possibly barley hulls had an injurious effect on the digestion in these tests. The purpose of these remarks is not to minimize the value of corn in meat production of any kind. Corn is, perhaps, with a favorable climate and soil, the most economical grain that is at the command of the stock raiser and feeder of the United States. It is nutritious and highly palatable. Without its use it is difficult to imagine how the animal products of the United States could have attained their present position in the world's commerce; and so long as meat products are a factor of American agriculture corn will probably be a leading factor in meat production in this country, and the corn belt will naturally continue to be more or less the center of feeding operations. On the other hand, the condition is ever present that farmers in localities where corn is a limited product have their own wants to supply. If, in addition to their own needs, the farmers of these localities can supply a share of the export demand, great strides will have been taken in their agricultural development, for "live-stock husbandry is the foundation of successful agriculture." A market for the surplus is, of course, essential, but where a supply is available the market will probably grow up. HOUSES, INCLOSURES, AND FENCES. THE HOUSE AND ITS LOCATION. Hogs are notably affected by extremes of heat and cold, and the character of their shelter will therefore depend on the locality. If the locality is one of severe winters, warm quarters are a necessity a Bul. No. 80, Oregon Expt. Sta., and Bul. No. 58, Washington Expt. Sta. and an extensive piggery may be erected. Four things should be especially considered in its construction-(1) light, (2) ventilation, (3) warmth, and (4) cleanliness. Under cleanliness, ease of cleaning and dryness must be regarded. A well-drained location should be chosen; one that will give the hogs a good climb to reach it will provide needed exercise. The house should be on a north and south line, so that both sides may receive direct sunlight during a part of the day. Mr. John Cownie," of Iowa, recommends a house with a wide driveway, with pens 6 or 8 feet square on either side opening into the driveway, and each pen provided with a window for light and ventilation. Mr. L. N. Bonham,' of Ohio, recommends a house with a row of sleeping pens on either side of a cement-floored alley, opening into feed pens floored with cement. The sleeping pens are floored with boards laid in gravel or cinders. Paving brick costs about twice as much as cement. $ FIG. 1.-Hog house for Northern latitudes, end elevation. Figure 1 shows a rough sketch of a house arranged on plans similar to these. Figure 2 shows the floor plan of the same house. The pens are 8 feet square. Each pen has two doors and a window. One door opens into the driveway and the other into the feed pen. If it is desired. to protect the hogs from visitors, it may be found well to dispense with the door into the driveway, in which case the latter need not be wider than necessary to permit driving through with a wagon. The windows open downward. Ventilators are provided in the roof. The feed rooms are located in either end of the house. They should be at least as large as the pen, and may be on either side of the driveway or extend entirely across the end of the house. In the latter case the driveway should be dispensed with or made wide enough to enable a wagon to turn around in it. The width of the driveway will therefore depend on the presence or absence of this middle feed room. « Thirteenth Biennial Report of Kansas State Board of Agriculture, p. 695. |