21 



11 ^„ontUv of nil cake and no doubt it is beneficial in the mixture. The 

 Llvi'er Tainf should be f^d.^ry sparn.gly. if at all; and barley should be 

 omitted, as it is not a good milk former. 



After the pigs are weaned, the food should be cut down to check the secre- 

 tion of r^ik. Dry oats are a safe food for a few days after the pigs are taken 

 away If the udder gets very full, it is a good plan to turn the sow in with 

 the pigs once a day for a few days. 



Feeding and Management of Young Pigs. 



When the little pigs are born, the attendant should be on hand and see 

 that they are placed on their mother to suck as soon as possible Some preier 

 to put the pigs in a box or basket, for the first day or two, taking them out 

 at short intervals to suck. If the pigs are strong, however, and the sow is 

 a reasonably good mother, it is better to leave them with her. 



By the time the pigs are three weeks old, they will have learned to eat. 

 If at all possible, they should be given access to another pen, in which is kept 

 a small trough. Here they can be fed a little skim-milk, with a very little 

 middlings stirred into it. The quantity of middlings can be gradually increased 

 as the pi^s grow older. If they can be taught to nibble at roots during this 

 time all ""the better. A little whole wheat, or soaked corn, scattered on the 

 floor of the feeding pen, will cause them to take exercise while hunting for it. 

 Exercise is very important for young pigs; and every possible means of 

 securing it. should be adopted. If they are kept m a small pen with the 

 mother, some of the best of them are apt to become too fat, and are ikely 

 to sicken and die. Pigs that come in the spring, however, or early fall, are 

 more easily managed than winter litters, as they can be given outdoor exercise. 

 If the sow is turned out with her pigs, it is not well to give her a large range, 

 as she is likely to travel too far and tire the pigs too much. 



The pigs may be weaned at six weeks old. If skim-milk is not available, 

 it is generally better to defer weaning until eight weeks old. If they hav« 

 been taught to eat as described, they will go right on eating and suffer but 

 little from weaning. Skim-milk and middlings make about the best food for 

 young pigs at this time. The middlings should be soaked a few hours before 

 feeding, or, better still, scalded. If fed freshly mixed, they are likely to cause 

 indigestion. A few finely ground oats with the hulls sifted out, make a good 

 combination with middlings. When the pigs are first weaned, it is better^ to 

 feed four times a day. feeding only what they will eat up clean before leaving 

 the trough. When well started, they may be changed to three feeds a day. 



When the pigs are three months old. a little ground barley may be added 

 to the meal mixture. At first, the barley should constitute not more than a 

 fifth of the total ration; and it can be gradually increased as desired, or other 

 foods added as indicated under notes on foodstuflfs. 



It is important to teach young pigs to eat a few roots as early as possible; 

 or, if it is too late in the spring for roots, some form of green food should be 

 supplied every day. 



