EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI. 233 



the sow. It is far better to underfeed than to overfeed for the first few- 

 days, but you must feed enough to l^eep the sow quit. After the second 

 day if the weather permits, coax the sow away from her litter and induce 

 her to talie a little exercise each day. I generally call her out by the 

 use of a little feed and when it is needed, clean out the pen and put 

 in fresh bedding. Watch the pigs closely and if they begin to get too 

 fat feed the sow less, but if they are not gettinng enough milk increase 

 the feed. I keep the litters separated until the pigs are at least four 

 weeks old, at which time there is little danger of them robbing one an- 

 other. As soon as they are old enough I make them a feed pen where 

 they can eat by themselves and then gradually shut off the feed on the 

 sow and increase the feed for the pigs. A good clover pasture is one of 

 the best things we can have for our pigs in central Iowa, for it gives 

 us a protein in the cheapest way. Be careful about feeding the pigs 

 too much corn. We have found the best feed is sweet milk, oats, mill- 

 feed, some dry corn and whenever possible, good clover pasture. Too 

 much corn makes the pigs fat and they do not have the bone that they 

 should have to make a good desirable hog. 



After the reading- of Mr. Stewart's paper everybody wanted to 

 tallv. Discussion ran riot, bringing in points with but remote eon- 

 ueotiou with the subject-matter. E. Z. Russell of Blair, Nebraska, 

 at once jumped on dangerous ground by objecting to Mr. Stewarts' 

 advice on feeding corn. He believed that suckling pigs, running 

 on good clover pasture, could not be given too much corn. 



On the point of reducing the feed of the sow at time of weaning 

 the pigs, Mr. Munson said: "Pigs should be weaned gradually. 

 I put my sows on dry oats and increase the feed of the pigs, and 

 by this means naturally wean them away from the sow. Dry 

 oats seems to give the milk a flavor that the pigs do not relish, 

 and at the same time reduces the flow. If I am fitting a pig for a 

 show, or fininshing it for market, I think it cannot be given too 

 much com. But if I am developing it to use as a breeder, then 

 the less corn the better. If you will stop to think of what corn 

 develops you will fed less of it. On good pasture corn is of course 

 less objectionable, but if the pig is confined to an exclusive com 

 diet it does not develop but puts on fat. Corn is a fat producer 

 alone, and cannot develop bone or muscle. ' ' 



Responding to a query as to what was the proper condition of a 

 brood sow, Mr. Russell said: "My method of feeding sows before 

 farrowing is simple. I feed meal, bran, shorts when I can get it, 

 and com the re.st of the time. In feeding com I put it in the 

 wagon and take it to the top of the hill, making them go after 

 it and so take exercise whether they want it or not. I am not par- 

 ticular how much corn I leave in the field and thej^ get a good 

 deal there, but have to take exercise to get it. Exercise is one of 



