The Mahnomen Pioneer

Spring is the hope season. New chicks, calves, pigs, lambs or colts arouse a hope for profit during the coming year. County Agent Walter L. Beneditz relates that in the past these hopes have all-too-often been shattered by worms and disease that cause large losses of animal and investment. Much-needed dollars are spent each year on concoctions and "quick cures" of doubtful value, so Walter L. Beneditz has secured tips and advice on this subject for Mahnomen County farmers from W. A. Billings, extension veterinarian, University Farm, St. Paul.

Billings says that in another month or so the letters start coming to him from all directions, asking what to do about pigs that have scours, worms, necro or mange. Baby chicks are reported dying from such diseases as coccidosis and worms. By and by the lambs may show signs of intestinal worms too.

In an effort to forestall heavy losses, the owners often resort to innumerable cure-alls designed to cure or eradicate these diseases. Their record, however, is far from impressive. If they did only half what is claimed for them, we would all get on the band wagon and preach their acceptance. The fact of the matter is, thousands of dollars are squandered each year on fly-by-night concoctions. One advertising leaflet claims that if this particular stuff is used the hog raiser will have absolutely no losses, besides that, it would decrease feed costs at least one-half and still more, it is a sure preventive for hog cholera.

Folks, there is no medicine that will ever take the place of common sense sanitation, Billings says. About now, thousands of little pigs are being turned out into the old hog lot which has started pigs for 25 years. Here the little fellows play in the disease and worm-laden manure of their great grandmothers, and in a few weeks the runts begin to show up. When this takes place the owner looks around for something to put in the slop, the drinking water or the feed. Someone has said that about one-third of the little pigs each year never live to reach four months of age, another third live, but become unprofitable runts and the owner must make whatever profit he can from the remaining one-third.

The 1940 crop of little pigs should not be permitted to run in the old hog lot adjacent to the hog house. They should range in clean pasture or on a clean cement sun-porch alongside the farrowing house. No medicine is as helpful as a good start.

The poultry raiser is beset with all sorts of patent medicines to cure or prevent white diarrhea (pullorum disease), coccidosis and worms. Some put a lot of stuff in the drinking water, hang up smudge pots in the chicken and brooder houses and even put drugs in the chick starter, thinking that this will prevent chicks from becoming infected with worms even though they run on the old disease-laden soil about the house.

It's far better to use a moveable brooder house, set it up on clean ground at some little distance from the buildings or use a sun-porch to keep the birds off the ground. There is not much excuse in the failure to take advantage of the modern chick sun-porch. They are almost worth their weight in gold.

Each year farmers spend lots of money on expensive mineral mixtures for cows and pigs. Of course, most of these are all right, but the man who wishes to make his own mineral mixture can easily and cheaply do it and accomplish good results.

A simple home mixture that has stood the test of time is the old 40-40-20. This consists of 40 pounds of good grade of bone meal, 40 pounds of oyster shell flour and 20 pounds of ordinary salt. Mix this carefully and put it out in a self-feeder. It won't increase the number of pigs per litter, or make the lame walk or the blind see, but it will supply all the ordinary needs of livestock.