222 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



laiiy, a little corn and middlings, the amount depending upon the 

 amount of food gathered by them, and a couple of roots per day. 

 Sows may be wintered very cheaply in this manner, and forced 

 to take a great deal of exercise. After removing them from the 

 yards just previous to farrowing time give them laxative foods. 

 The demand upon the sow for the latter half of the period of ges- 

 tation are great. If the food is of the right nature there is but 

 little danger from over-feeding; the danger is more often from 

 underfeeding. Sows are more often under-fed than over-fed. The 

 ration should not consist of too much carbohydrates or fat-building 

 materials, but should be properly balanced with proteid feeds of a 

 bulky nature. 



Fig. 2. Hog cot used by Missouri Experiment Station. 



If the brood sows be too great in number to permit of the 

 plan suggested select a site for wintering them that is dry, with 

 good drainage, and use the hog cot system. This system will neces- 

 sitate the feeding of more grain. Give a ration of corn 3 parts, 

 shorts 3 parts, oilmeal or tankage 1 part, and also some alfalfa meal 

 or hay. Of the grain ration, feed on the average about 3V-> pounds 

 per day. If the sows have been summered on alfalfa the previous 



