386 THE AMERICAN FARMER 



may be clean when they are fed again. Some farmers do this by letting in a sow from the 

 yard to eat what the pigs may leave. Little and often is the best rule for feeding young 

 pigs. The younger the pigs the oftener should they be fed. When they are weaned at six 

 weeks old they should be fed five times a day for the first two weeks following. If the sow 

 has no milk at first, the pigs must be fed by hand until the mother is able to supply them. 

 If she is fed with sloppy food she will be likely to have milk in two or three days, if not 

 before. In such cases the little pigs must be fed several times a day; give them all they will 

 eat, but no more. Milk from a cow that has recently calved is best. It may sometimes be 

 necessary to add a little molasses. As the pigs increase in size, the quantity of food given 

 should be correspondingly increased. &quot;When pigs are weak at birth, it is generally because 

 one or both of the parents were too young to breed, or were diseased, not well mated, or 

 because the sow had not been properly fed or cared for. 



Young pigs thrive best that can have a yard or lot to run in, when the season is such 

 that it is practicable; those that are closely penned for any great length of time cannot be 

 expected to thrive well. The pigs should always be kept as clean as possible, and well 

 ventilated. Dry earth is one of the best and most effective absorbants and disinfectants for 

 pens; it absorbs the liquid manure, and adds much to the comfort and health of the pigs. 

 The troughs should be scalded with boiling water occasionally. Pigs of the same age and 

 size should be kept together as far as possible, but when this cannot be done, there should be 

 an abundance of troughs provided, as the stronger ones will crowd the weaker ones away, 

 and prevent the latter from getting a sufficient supply of food. 



One important fact is clearly established in feeding animals, and that is, that the young 

 of swine, as well as all other animals, will make a very much better gain from the food 

 consumed, than older animals. Pigs at from ten to twelve months of age, if properly 

 managed, will give an average of one pound gain in weight per day. This is a larger gain, 

 in proportion to food consumed, than would be averaged in the next ten or twelve months. 



Weaning PigS Pigs are usually weaned from six to ten weeks old. At the age of 

 two months their teeth are in a suitable condition to grind food. Spring pigs can generally 

 be weaned a little earlier than those coming in the fall or early winter. As previously stated, 

 they should be fed with milk and buttermilk, mixed with corn mush, ground wheat, and rye 

 screenings, etc., before this period, in order to be kept growing well, and to obviate too 

 sudden a change in food at the time of weaning. They should have grass also as soon as 

 they will eat it. At the age of three months they may be fed on clover, and whole soaked 

 corn. A breeder of swine, of several years experience, gives his views of weaning pigs as 

 follows : 



&quot; The time of weaning depends somewhat upon circumstances, but generally at from 

 eight to twelve weeks. If they have been early taught to eat, and have grown well, they 

 may safely be taken from the sow at eight weeks old; but if they are small and poor, they 

 may well be permitted to follow the sow two to four weeks longer. The sow will scarcely 

 suckle them longer than eleven or twelve weeks. The time of weaning is simply a matter of 

 convenience to the breeder. With proper care and attention a pig may be raised without 

 ever sucking the sow at all, and they may be taken off at any age, provided that food of a 

 suitable quality and quantity be furnished them.&quot; 



It is a good plan to leave one or two of the smallest pigs of the litter with the sow for a 

 few days after the others are taken off, in order that her udder may not become swollen or 

 caked by the collection of too much milk for which there would be no escape, if all of the 

 pigs were removed from her at once. 



Castration. Pigs not designed for breeding purposes should have this operation 

 performed when about four weeks old, or at least two or three weeks before they are 



