OVER-FED PIGS.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 958, 13 November 1882, Page 4

OVER-FED PIGS.

........ o There has never been a time when the question of over-feeding live stock of every character has received so much attention (observes the Farmer) at the hands of breeders as in now the case. Pig breeders are at present considerably exercised on account of the fearful losses sustained by cholera, and it has slowly dawned upon the minds of many of these gentleman that perhaps the evil practice of over-fattening has something to do with these losses. Science has yet to prove the truth of this assumption, but practical feeders and breeders are coming to that conclusion, and in many localities are governing themselves accordingly by discontinuing the practice of crowding their stock. Of all domestic animals, the pig goes it upon his cheek, and at the ordinary fair or fat stock show his very fulness of cheek is too apt to govern the awards. Consumers however, do not endorse these pounchy,,round, over-fed and stuffed porkers, knowing that good pork cannot generally be found where animals are seemingly fed for lard purposes and that alone. What is required both at home and abroad is the long bodied hog, which affords a deep shoulder, lean ham, and sides upon which meat instead of fat’is the rule. There has be' n a growing disposition to stop the practice of over-feeding hogs, and so generally has the demand become for good lean poyk, that, notwithstanding the universal practice to. feed to the utmost capacity, breeders are now changing their views, and sending to market pigs that will guarantee good-paying block qualities. It is reasonable to suppose that an animal overloaded with great masses of absolute fat and grease cannot be as healthy as the one which is sufficently fed, is not burdened with a mass that is only profitable ■to the lard manufacturer. Foreign dealers in .American pork do not hesitate to assert that the stock of Britian is over-fed and it is to ; these exporters that the American breeders are indebted for the change that cannot but result to the benefit of the. feeder, the dealer,.and the consumer.