380 Missouri Agricultural Keport. 



bulletin has the following to report concerning hay as a brood sow ra- 

 tion : In a test thirteen brood sows averaging 258 pounds each were feci 

 a ration of two pounds of corn meal and six pounds of alfalfa hay 

 throughout the winter. At the end of the fifth week, when the sows be- 

 gan to farrow, the average weight was 264 pounds. ' ' These sows kept in 

 fine condition, farrowing during February. and March, and saved large 

 litters in every case." 



For hog feed hay should be rather fine and consist as largely as pos- 

 sible of leaves. The last cutting of alfalfa is eaten up without waste, 

 but for coarser alfalfa and cowpeas and clover the coarse stems are left. 

 Clover or cowpea hay from which the leaves have been lost, is of little 

 value as hog feed, and should not be relied upon. The best method of 

 feeding hay to hogs is in racks set in shallow troughs about 4 inches deep 

 and 24 inches wide, to catch the shattered leaves, so the hogs can get 

 them. 



Care of the Sow at Farrowing Time. — The care of the sow" during the 

 farrowing period, one of the most critical stages in the whole manage- 

 ment of the hog, is most important. The care at this time depends very 

 largely on the animal and the weather conditions. If the sow is in good 

 health and vigorous, there is usually no trouble to be feared. She 

 should be placed in her quarters where she is to farrow a few days before 

 she is due to farrow, in order to let her get accustomed to things. The 

 feed should be limited a few days before farrowing, and should be of a 

 laxative nature. Ordinarily it is better to leave the sow to herself than 

 to try to help her, which, in her feverish condition, excites her and often 

 causes her to trample upon or mash the pigs. 



In reply to the question as to the most serious factor in raising 

 young pigs, six out of sixty-four said that the sow mashing the pigs is the 

 most serious one. Of course, it is impossible to entirely prevent this loss, 

 but the conditions that will reduce it to a minimum is to have the sow in 

 good physical condition, and receiving a small amount of warm laxative 

 feed for a day before farrowing. In the farrowing pen. from which the 

 other hogs should be excluded, there should be a rail set eight inches from 

 the floor and out six or eight inches from the wall. This prevents the sow 

 from lying too close to the wall, and gives the pigs a chance to creep 

 under the rails for protection. With these precautions, and a small 

 amount of clean bedding, the sow should do well at farrowing time. If 

 the weather is not too cold the sow should be left alone. But if the 

 weather is very cold, it often proves profitable to have a warm blanket 

 with a jug of heated water or a hot stone wrapped in a blanket. The 

 pigs can be placed in this basket and covered with the blanket until 

 the sow has finished farrowing, when all the pigs can be placed to the 

 teats without having been chilled or injured by the sow's restlessness in 



