676 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



with your hogs that you should, has been accomplished without running 

 or unduly exciting the sow. 



She should now be giA^en a light diet of slopi^y feeds until the litter 

 arrives. It is conceded by experienced breeders that for the first three 

 days of the pig's life its dam should be fed very moderately on thin 

 slop. Heavy feeding at this stage will produce a greater flow of milk 

 than the little fellows can consume, leaving the surplus to fever and 

 curd in the udder, which in turn will prove disastrous to the life of the 

 pig. The feeding of sour swill while the pigs are young will also produce 

 evil results, usually causing dysentery, and when this trouble once as- 

 sumes an aggravated form, it is most sure to claim some of the best 

 of the litter as shining marks. It is probable that more pigs are lost 

 by improper feeding of the sow diiring the tirst w"eek of the pig's life 

 than from any other cause. About a week will- be required to bring 

 the sow up to full feed, and then rush the whole family along till weaning 

 time. 



It has been my practice to allow the pigs to run and feed with their 

 dams till about ten weeks old, at which age they will practically have 

 weaned themselves. At this period a separate pen should be provided 

 in which to slop and feed the shoats, leaving the old sow to weep and 

 wail on the oiitside. A couple of ears of corn would be good for the old 

 sow, but if it is intended to keep her over for another litter her principal 

 food should be grass. It has been my practice to clean out the sleeping 

 apartments at least once a week and oftener if the bedding becomes 

 damp and soiled. Damp bedding is about as disastrous to the thrift of 

 the pig as cold drafts. I have also made it a business to feed salt and 

 ashes freely, which will serve as an appetizer and conditioner of the 

 digestive tract. A good All of slop once a. day made of shipstuff and bran, 

 with a little oilcake added, a lil)eral feed of corn night and morning 

 on a stone floor or clean dry ground, access to pure Avater and the range 

 of a good pasture for variety of feed and exercise, will All the h\\\ for 

 a balanced ration. 



This formula of course applies to summer conditions, but may . be 

 approximated in the winter care of SAvine )jy a little forethought. But 

 no matter Iioaa' fine the food or how expert the care, the razor-back 

 or scrub can neA'er be fed to produce the model hog. 



As the final success of the litter in the sale or show-ring is the prin- 

 cipal inspiration for the extra care of the litter, good blood becomes a 

 paramount factor. Good form and quality are ahvays at a premium and 

 ready sale, and to achieve the greatest success good blood, selection and 

 proper mating should be counted as prime factors in the care and ultinuite 

 success of the littcn-. 



