47 



the quantity of meal, the feeder must be guided entirely by the condition of the 

 sows. 



Meal may be fed either wet or dry. When roots are fed, a good plan is to mix 

 the dry meal with pulped roots, though the feeder has wide latitude in regard to the 

 methods he may see fit to follow. 



In Cold Weather, when sows are fed out-doors, very little water shoud be used 

 in mixing their feed. It will be found better to furnish them with water separately, 

 should they require it. If they are fed roots, they will take very little water in 

 cold weather. It should be seen to, however, that they have water when they need 

 it, and in hot weather an abundant supply of fresh water is very important. 



A record should he kept of the date of service of each sow, so that the date of 

 farrowing will be known in advance, and due precaution taken. A week or two 



Fig. 14. — Large type Berkshire sow, representing the type popular in Canada. 



before farrowing, the sow should be placed in the farrowing pen, so as to become 

 accustomed to her surroundings and changed conditions befor^e the pigs are born. 



Constipation is the bane of the swine breeder, and if the sow becomes con- 

 stipated before she farrows, the chances are that she will lose her pigs, and possibly 

 her own life. Constipation, therefore, is one of the main things to be guarded 

 against at this time. When it once occurs, very little can be done to overcome it 

 and save the pigs, so that it is almost altogether a matter of prevention. If a sow 

 is taken directly from a pasture field, shut up in a pen, and fed upon an exclusive 

 meal ration, trouble is almost sure to occur. Eadical changes in feeding are to be 

 avoided, and the ration should be kept practically the same after taking the sow 

 into the pen as it was before. If anything, the feed should be made rather more 

 sloppy, and the green feed or roots should be supplied the same as they were before 

 the sow was taken in. A small amount of linseed meal (oil meal) or ground flax- 

 seed added to the ration is also helpful in preventing constipation. The wisdom 



