254 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo April, 1912. 



takes the prize at the leading shows that will give the best results at the 

 stud. This depends largely on its treatment. It is an old and true 

 saying that the young animal must never be allowed to lose its baby flesh. 

 As above-mentioned, we fed the mother in such a way that the little ones 

 have a good start, commencing life in good condition, and then not only 

 maintain that condition, but continually improve upon it. The sow is fed 

 on milk producing food, pollard and bran, with skim-milk if available, 

 or water, in a sloppy condition. When the little ones are about a month 

 old she may have barley or other meal in addition. Those that are 

 intended for show purposes are sometimes kept from the mother, but put 

 to her at regular intervals of two hours for a feed, and at the same time 

 given as much cow's new milk as they will take. This brings them along 

 ■evenly and rapidly, and is responsible for the wonderfully even litters that 

 we see in the show pen. For stud purposes this is not the best system to 

 work upon. Better to let the little ones run with the sow, and when about 

 three weeks old provide them with a little trough fenced off from the mother 

 so that they can run under the rail at will. In this provide them with 

 skim-milk at about body temperature, giving them little and often as 

 much as they will take. A few whole peas or wheat may also be given 

 them. A little pollard may gradually be worked into it. In this way 

 they will, by degrees, learn to eat, so that when weaning time arrives they 

 will hardly feel the loss of the sow, and it will also take a great amount 

 of the strain off her. It must be remembered that a pig has a com- 

 paratively small storage capacity, that is why it must be fed little and 

 often, and also of concentrated food. If allowed to become too hungry 

 it will feed ravenously, which will probably upset the digestive organs. 

 The food must be continued in a sloppy condition for the young pigs. 

 Injudicious feeding will often bring about feverish conditions. The first 

 indication of stomach derangement is almost invariably by the droppings 

 becoming hard and dry, like peas. This is followed by diarrhoea. Any 

 appearance of constipation must be corrected at once. A supply of a 

 condition powder, the composition of which is given below, should be 

 kept on hand, and a little put into the food regularly. It has been proved 

 that young pigs will keep in health and thrive much better when this is 

 done. Another great trouble in young pigs is a sort of rheumatic affection, 

 especially if they are not provided with suitable houses or shelter. What- 

 ever form this shelter may take, the most important points to provide for 

 are dryness, freedom from draughts, reasonable warmth, light, ventilation, 

 and convenience. Whatever is provided for a bed, it must be dry. In 

 warm weather a hurdle O'f close lattice providing for good drainage may 

 suffice, but in cold weather dry straw or similar material on the hurdle 

 will be necessary. On no account should they be alloAved to lie on damp 

 fermenting bedding. This is a frequent cause of pneumonia, which often 

 results in death in twenty-four hours. Witli young pigs in cold weather 

 at least, the food should be given to them warm, about 100° Fah. This 

 economizes a certain amount of food, and anything that increases the 

 comfort of the animals will favour more rapid development. After 

 weanmg, the food should be continued for some time about the same as 

 before. As they advance in age the proportion of barley or other meal 

 may be increased. If oats are used these should be husked, as the fibrous 

 husk often acts as an irritant to the stomach ot a young pig. A few whole 

 peas or a little whole wheat may be given to them at midday instead of 



