20 



danger of .n:::ry to the little pigs, which often find the space under the guard 

 rail a very convenient refuge. A little cut straw or chafif makes the best bed- 

 ding, as the little pigs are apt to become entangled in long straw, and find 

 difficulty in keeping out of the way of the sow when she moves about. The 

 sow should be handled, more or less, before she farrows, so that she may 

 become accustomed to the presence of the attendant in the pen. A sow 

 treated in this way, is less likely to become irritable and excited when the 

 attendant enters the pen after she farrows. If everything goes well, she will 

 require but little attention after farrowing, and the less she is interfered with, 

 the better, except when it is absolutely necessary. 



Many sows will take the boar a few days after farrowing. To breed a 

 sow at such a time is a bad practice. No sow can do justice to herself and 

 two litters of pigs at the same time. The sow usually comes in heat a few 

 days after her pigs are weaned, and may then be bred again, if not too much 

 pulled down by nursing. If she has raised a large litter and is very much 

 emaciated, the chances are that she will produce a very small litter the next 

 time, if she is bred immediately after her pigs are weaned. In such instances, 

 she should be given three weeks or a month of liberal feeding to enable her 

 to regain her lost strength and vitality before she is bred. Many a man has 

 been puzzled to know why his sow, which had raised a fine, large litter, should 

 drop down to only four or live puny pigs the next time. The reason is not 

 far to seek. To produce a large, vigorous litter, the sow must be strong and 

 full of vitality at the time of service. 



In feeding the breeding sow during the period of gestation, the feeder 

 should aim to keep her in good, strong condition, without having her become 

 extremely fat. Many go to the other extreme, and keep their sows thin; 

 and the thin sow either will not do justice to her pigs, or will become a 

 mere wreck herself during the time she is nursing her litter — in fact, the chances 

 are that both these things will happen. A sow may be kept in pretty high 

 condition and still produce satisfactorily, provided she takes plenty of exercise. 



When on good pasture, particularly clover pasture, sows require very 

 little meal. As a rule, however, it is well to give them a light ration of ground 

 oats and bran or middlings. It is well to avoid the heavier and more heating 

 kinds of grain. If used at all. they should be used very sparingly. In winter, 

 roots should take the place of the green food; and when the sows are fed out- 

 doors as recommended, it is best to feed the meal dry. They will require little 

 water outside of that supplied by the roots, during cold weather. In cold 

 weather, a little corn, wheat, or rye may be added to the oats and bran ration 

 when the sows are fed outside, as they can stand rather more heating food 

 under these conditions. It is, perhaps, just as well to omit barley from the 

 ration of a breeding sow. 



When the sow goes into the warm farrowing pen, it is advisable to feed 

 the meal in the form of a thick slop, and a moderate ration of roots should 

 be continued. _ This system tends to prevent constipation, and a more or less 

 fevered condition, which may result from changing from outdoor life to con- 

 finernent. After she farrows, there should be no hurry about feeding her. If 

 she lies quiet for ten or twelve hours, so much the better. At first, she should 

 have little more than a drink. A very thin slop of bran and middlings, given 

 m small quantities, will answer very well. The food mav be gradually in- 

 creased, and in the course of a week or ten days she will be on full feed. A 

 good mother with a large litter requires very liberal feeding. If the litter 

 'S 5"?^''- 't "."y be necessary to reduce the quantity of food. 



Many different rations are used for nursing sows. A verv good ration 

 can be made by mixing two parts of finely ground oats with one part of bran 

 fil^ °" A ^:^^^ '"^^''"^ middlings, and allowing the food to soak between 

 leeas. A tew roots should also be fed. Sweet skim-milk is good. Some feed 



