The Question Box. 155 



SOME THINGS ABOUT PIGS. 



Question. — What is the Lest food for a brood sow? The best 

 way to feed grain, wet or dry? 



Mr. Chapman. — The most rapid growth I ever knew in pigs 

 was from a ration of corn meal and skim milk. As to feeding 

 grain wet or dry to hogs, I do not think there will be found much, 

 if any, difference in results. We grow many turnips, but, as they 

 are a cold, watery food, conditions must be made good, and the 

 turnips well balanced with protein foods. 



Mr. Goodrich. — Mr. Theodore Lewis of Wisconsin, knows more 

 about hogs than does any dozen men I ever saw. He feeds dry 

 meal to his hogs. 



Question. — At what age should pigs be weaned ? 



Dr. Smead.- — I hate a hog above all farm animals, but I think 

 that four or six weeks would be the right age. 



Mr. Chapman. — I should not wean a pig at all. Just as soon 

 as pigs are big enough, we sprinkle a little wheat in a compartment 

 .where the mother cannot get it. By degrees the pigs learn to eat 

 it, and, therefore, suckle the mother less each day, until they desert 

 her. This allows the mother's milk to dry up. But we may feed 

 the pigs up to the age of eight weeks just as cheaply, through the 

 mother. The difference in results will be found after weaning 

 them. 



Question. — Are wood ashes or bone meal good to feed to pigs? 



Mr. Iillie. — We always give as many wood ashes as the pigs 

 will eat. If the ration which is fed is too wide, we feed some 

 bone meal. As a rule, however, we do not have to feed it to our 

 pigs. 



Question. — ■ What is the best ration for pigs after they are two 

 months old ? 



Mr. Smith. — Mr. Lillie of Michigan, who has been with us a 

 part of the time this winter, and who feeds many pigs, uses, for 

 pigs two months old, a ration made of 100 pounds of skim milk, 

 50 of wheat bran, and 20 of corn. 



Question. — ■ How much salt is a dose foT a hog? 



Mr. Stevens. — About half as much as for a cow. Put it where 

 the hog can get it when it wants it. 



Question. — What ails the pigs? At three months of age they 

 become stiffened and eventually all the legs are affected; skin 

 very red, and it is with great difficulty that they get upon their 



