Hog raising at Lagangilang

Title

Creator

Wright, James A.

Language

English

Year

1916

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

HOG RAISING AT LAGANGILANG. By James A. Wright. Principal. Industrial School. Lagangilang. Abra, Ilocos Sur. There are very noticeable differences in native hogs. In most localities the owner pays practically no attention to his hogs. They are allowed to run at large, and are offered so little food that they are forced to forage. The pigs have a sickly appear ance and never develop into heavy, well-shaped hogs. Such hogs are not profitable. In some places the pigs are given enough substantial food to enable them to develop and grow into goodsized hogs in a short time. These bring profit to the owner. Lagangilang is a community where hogs should be at their best. Corn and legumes, the ideal foods for hogs, can be grown there in large quantities, much of the land being especially adapted to the raising of these crops. It is doubtful, however, if there is a community where a larger percentage, of poor hogs is to be found. At the industrial school located at Lagangilang, it was found impossible to obtain a good grade of pork for use in the mess which had to subsist about eighty pupils. It was evident that a part of the school’s work should be a campaign for better hogs. The firsi step was to secure a Berk shire male pig and to give him such care as would encourage perfect growth. The next step was to secure some native sows and to keep them in good condition for producing young. The Bureau of Education furnished the school with a good boar. As there were no funds with which to purchase sows for breeding, and as the improvement of hogs was a movement which was started for the benefit of the whole community, three sows were secured from their owners on the share basis. The litters were to be divided equally between the owners and the school. Although this plan would not be profitable to follow indefinitely, it served to give the school a start, not only in hog-raising, but also in securing the interest of the community. In order better to establish the idea that any improvement was meant to be shared by all, a second Berkshire boar was obtained from the Bureau of Agriculture for the township of Lagangilang. This helped to stir up a general interest in pigs. It will do much toward spreading an improved breed of hogs. The pupils do all of the work of constructing shelters, inclo sures, and troughs for the hogs. The selection of suitable sites 284 HOG RAISING AT LAGANGILANG 285 for the location of houses and pens, securing proper drainage, keeping the hogs free from lice, furnishing sufficient nourishing food, and weaning little pigs give the pupils practical lessons in hog raising. All the boys studying this subject have practice in caring for the school herd, each being assigned to the care of the pigs for a certain period under the direction of a teacher. Lack of sufficient land upon which to grow crops has made the problem of properly maintaining the herd a difficult one. Most reliance is placed upon legumes which are easily and quickly grown, and which supply an abundance of green, nutritious food. Cowpeas are the best for green food. A hardy variety of native The Berkshire boar of the Lagangilang Industrial School. The first well-bred hog to be taken into the Tlnguian country. bean known as “patani” is produced at the school, and the ground and dried fruit is used as a part of the ration. When corn is added to this, a very satisfactory diet is secured. Banana stalks and various weeds are made palatable by cooking, and offer variety. When sufficient papayas are available, they are also used. The school now has a herd of 64 pigs of various ages, 23 of which are grade. These are the progeny of nine sows which were bought by the school at about P8 each. Two sows taken on the share basis are soon to farrow, promising a further in crease of about 12 pigs. When these sows farrow and are bred again they will be returned to the owners, as the school will then have superior stock of its own. Pork forms a large part of the meat consumed by the people THE PHILIPPINE CRAFTSMAN and there are many hogs produced in Lagangilang, but in com parison with the number of hogs raised, the amount of pork produced annually is very small. This has been the result of breeding a degenerated type of hogs and giving them too little attention. Hofls in oowpeu. The way the boyi at Lagangilano are taimht to raiee hoot. The improved type of hogs is now available. It is becoming generally understood that hogs need attention. A knowledge of how best to care for them is gradually being attained by the people. So with the school as a center for supplying aid and advice, progress in better hog raising among the people of this community is assured. PAPAYA GUM. A study of the properties of papaya gum made from the latex of Garica papaya has resulted in improved methods for preparing this important commercial product. The results already ob tained show conclusively that gum may be made in the Phil ippines which is equal, if not superior, both regarding color and activity, to any now on the world’s market. The constantly increasing demand for papaya gum as a substitute for pepsin and the well-known fact that satisfactory gum is difficult to obtain, assure a steady market for a high-grade Philippine pro duct.—Philippine Trade Review.

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