EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS, 



273 



posts. This permits pigs to be driven out or in, or the cleaning of the 

 pens from the alley. In this case doors connecting the alley and pens 

 were purposely omitted. 



The troughs are made of two-inch hemlock constructed in a V 

 shape, one side being two-by-ten inch material and the other 

 side and ends two - by - eight. These troughs are simply toe - nailed 

 in between the division posts so that they can be removed easily and 

 replaced when necessary. We like the V shaped troughs in preference 

 to any flat bottomed sort, in the piggery, because the pigs can clean 

 them more readily and tlioroughly and there is practically no contact 

 at the floor except for the short end pieces; as a result filth and mois- 

 ture do not accumulate beneath them. On the under side of the V 

 shaped trough, next the alley, the floor is always dry and on the pen 

 side it can be cleaned thoroughly and is always exposed to the air. 

 Hemlock troughs last from two to five years, or even longer, particularly 

 if protected by a strip of band iron on the inner edge. Sloppy feed does 

 not chill or freeze in wood troughs as readily as in cement or metal. 



Fig 44. 



We like flat bottomed troughs for out door feeding where they are 

 moved about frequently, they are not upset so readily as the V shaped 

 ones. We also like low sided, flat bottomed troughs for weanling pigs. 



Hog Cots. — Reference has already been made to the desirability of hog 

 cots to use in connection with the piggery. When climatic conditions 

 are not too rigorous, cots only are employed for handling the entire 

 herd. In general, the climatic conditions in Michigan are too extreme 

 to permit the use of cots for all classes of hogs for all purposes during 

 the entire year. They are especially desirable, however, for dry brood 

 sows and young males and females being reared for breeding purposes; 

 it is in this way we are using them. They are desirable because an 

 abundance of fresh air, sunshine and exercise are provided. During the 

 summer season cotting and yarding nearly all classes of pigs cannot be 

 excelled. 



Figures 45, 4G and 47 represent three forms of cots now in use at the 

 Michigan Agincultural College. Figs. 45 and 40 are forms which have 

 been in use at the institution for some years. The form of cot shown 

 by Fig. 45 is desirable in that it is warm in winter but objectionable in 

 that it provides little protection against the extreme heat of summer. 

 It is also considered a good form of cot for the brood sow to farrow 

 in in moderate weather as she cannot lie down close enough to the 



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