PART IV THE HOME PROJECT NOTEBOOK

Pig Raising Project Record

Year

Name

P. O. Box Route

County

Name of Club

School Dist. No

Teacher

Club Leader

Pig Project Study Outline[9]

The following outline may serve as a guide to each pupil in the study of his project, or it may be used by the class as a whole in their discussion of the subject: (Each pupil should write the answers to the questions.)

I. Shall I raise pigs for my project?

1. Do I like pigs?

2. Is this section suited to the profitable production of pork?

3. Do pigs fit in well with our farm management plan?

4. Is cholera or any other disease likely to prevent profits?

II. What shall be my aim in raising pigs?

1. Shall I feed one or more pigs during the summer to market in the fall or winter?

2. Shall I aim toward building up a pure-bred herd for breeding purposes?

3. Shall I make a combination of the aims above?

III. How shall I get a start?

1. Shall I buy one or more young pigs?

2. Shall I buy a sow which has been bred?

3. Shall I buy pure-bred pigs or grades?

4. What breed shall I buy?

5. Do I know the points of a good pig?

IV. Can I give breeding animals proper management?

1. Do I know how to manage the boar and sow at breeding time?

2. Can I give a brood sow the proper care?

3. Can I manage sow and pigs properly at farrowing time?

V. How shall I care for young pigs?

1. What attention do they need before weaning?

2. What care and feed shall I give them after weaning?

3. What is the best method of weaning?

4. Shall I allow my pigs to run in a pasture, or shall I feed them in a pen?

5. What crops shall I raise for my growing pigs?

6. What special care will my pigs need in summer?

VI. How shall I fatten my pigs for market?

1. What records shall I keep that I may know how much the pork I am producing will cost?

2. At what age will fattening for the market be most profitable?

3. What is the most satisfactory ration I may feed for fattening?

4. What methods of feeding shall I use?

VII. How shall I care for my pigs during the winter?

1. What is the most satisfactory method of feeding for maintenance during the winter?

2. What special care will my pigs need in winter?

VIII. What kind of hog house shall I build?

1. What factors shall I keep in mind in building a hog house?

2. Can I afford an elaborate house?

3. Can I make a plan for such a house as I need and build it?

IX. How can I prevent disease?

1. Do I appreciate the importance of cleanliness and sanitation?

2. Will I give the pigs a chance to keep clean?

3. Do I know how to prevent such common ailments as scours, worms, and lice?

4. Do I know the nature of hog cholera, how to handle a case of infection, and how to prevent such infection?

The pupil is urged to answer all questions, make all records, describe all operations, and give all results called for in the calendar of monthly activities on the following notebook pages.

1. Breed of hog

2. Sex

3. Name of hog

4. Is it pure-bred?

5. Is it registered?

6. If so, give its number

7. Date record started

8. Age of hog at that time

9. Value at that time

10. Weight at that time

11. About how many minutes did you spend each day caring for your pig?

12. How many hours does this amount to for the whole project?

I state upon my honor as a Pig Club member that I have answered all of the questions as correctly as I am able.

(Signed)

Date when record is finished:

Registration Record

Sow Service Boar Date of Service Date of Farrowing No. of Pigs Remarks

Name No. Name No.

Queen’s Model 13271 Big Lad 2683 Jan. 1, ’18 Apr. 22, ’18 10 All O.K.

History and Description of the Breed Selected

Feed Record

Each time any feed is weighed out the kind and weight should be entered below. By weighing out a sack of feed or several bushels of grain at a time, this can be simplified. (Use the standard prices in figuring cost of feed, pasture, grazing crops, and waste.)

Date Kind of Feed Pounds of Feed Value

Dollars Cents

Totals

Give Record for Wastes in Space Below.

Kind of Waste Average No. of gallons per day Total No. of gallons per month Value

Dollars Cents

Totals

1. What kind of pasture did you use?

2. For how many months did your pig run on pasture?

3. Did you cut green feed for your pig?

4. If so, for how many months?

Dollars Cents

Total value of pasture

Total value of green feed

Record of Weights by Months

If scales can not be obtained, all except the first and last weights of the pig may be estimated.

Month Weight in Pounds Gain in Pounds

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Seventh

Eighth

Ninth

Tenth

Eleventh

Twelfth

Total

Standard Prices of Feeds to Be Used in Keeping Records

Write to your state club leader for the standard prices to be used for feeds. If such are not available, use local prices which may be obtained from elevators, feed stores, or local papers. For purposes of comparison feed prices should be uniform for a club or class.

Financial Statement and Summary

Note.—Do not fill this page until the project is finished.

EXPENSES

Value of pigs at beginning $

Value of pasture

Value of green feed

Value of feed

Value of kitchen or other wastes

Amount of labor, ____ hrs.

Value of labor at 10 cents per hour

Total expense

RECEIPTS

Note.—Use only spaces that apply to your pig.

Final value meat hog, ______ lbs., at ____ per lb. $

—or—

If a pig for breeding purposes, its weight in lbs. ____ and value $

Total receipts $

SUMMARY

1. Weight at beginning lbs.

2. Weight at end of project lbs.

3. Total gain in weight lbs.

(Subtract answer to No. 1 from answer to No. 2.)

4. Number of days fed

Average daily gain lbs.

(Divide answer to No. 3 by answer to No. 4.)

5. Cost per pound of gain $

(Divide cost of feed by total gain in weight.)

6. Final net profit $

(Subtract total expenses from total receipts.)

7. At what fairs did you show your pig?

8. Did you win a prize?

9. What were they?

Answers to Notebook Questions

The Story of My Pig

Note.—Write your story on sheets the size of these and correct it carefully before copying it into this book. Insert a picture of you and your pig together, if possible.

Use the following questions as suggestions in writing your story. Use some other title if you prefer:

Why are you a Pig Club member?

How did you get your pig?

What did you name your pig and why?

Why did you select this breed?

Why are pastures or green crops important in pig raising?

Did your pig drink much water?

How did you weigh your pig?

How did you feed your pig?

When did you feed your pig?

What did you feed your pig?

How did you spend your time with your pig?

Did your pig become a pet?

Who visited you and told you how to care for your pig?

What did you see and learn at the pig show and prize contest?

Why are well-bred pigs better than scrubs?

What are you planning to do in the Pig Club work next year?

What have you learned about pigs?

What kind of a boy makes a good Pig Club member?

The Story of My Pig

Reference Reading I Have Done

(References are numbered on last page of this book.)

Reference No. Pages Read Your Opinion of the Matter Read

No. 1 12-26 Good, etc.