HOG 



"Abundance of Light and Direct Sunlight Without sunlight we cannot 

 have a profitable swine husbandry. It is the great and universal germ 

 destroyer and kills disease-causing organisms. It promotes dryness, warmth 

 and ventilation, thus bettering hygienic conditions. Direct sunlight gives 

 suckling pigs vigor and strength. Direct sunlight should strike each part of 

 the interior of the house at some time during the day; and the pens should be 

 well sunned, especially in the farrowing months of February, March and April. 

 The forenoon sun has unusual value, coming as it does immediately after a 

 relatively long, dark, and ofttimes cool and damp night, so weakening to 

 young and suckling pigs. In the hot summer months some shade should be 

 provided to ward off the direct sun. 



"Shade The hog actually suffers more from the heat of summer than he 

 does from the cold of winter; he should be protected from both. Feed is 

 wasted in overcoming both extreme cold and severe heat. High temperature 

 dulls the appetite so essential for profitable pork production. Hogs ofttimes 

 die under the direct rays of the summer sun. 



"Ventilation The hog demands an abundance of fresh, pure air; this may 

 be easily provided without subjecting him to injurious drafts. Summer cool- 

 ness is dependent largely on good ventilation. The hog suffers much in a 

 closely confined, ill ventilated place because he is a productive animal that 

 usually works at 'top-speed'; especially is thus true when fattening, hence he 

 needs an abundance of untainted oxygen for his bodily functions. 



"Sanitation To clean and disinfect a hog house thoroughly is often 

 imperative; the building should be free from inaccessible cracks and openings 

 to permit this. Smooth walls and floors without crevices are to be empha- 

 sized. Crevices harbor filth, which encourages disease; bacteria that cause 

 hog cholera, contagious sore mouth, white scours, and other troubles; and 

 parasites, such as lice, worms and mange. Masonry construction offers 

 superior sanitary advantages. Freedom from dust is absolutely necessary for 

 successful sanitation. Dust encourages pulmonary afflictions, manifested by 

 coughing, wheezing, sneezing, general lassitude, and discomfiture. Dust pre- 

 disposes to pneumonia, so often fatal. Dust is likely to further worm infec- 

 tion of the lungs and alimentary tract, an avoidable bugbear of swine hus- 

 bandry. The regular removal of litter and manure is encouraged and 

 made easy by roof doors, and gable windows in small hog houses. The 

 more easily one can clean the house the more likely it is to be clean. 

 Bear in mind that the hog is more liable than all other domestic ani- 

 mals to gather disease infection from unsanitary surroundings; he is so 

 anatomically constructed that he always breathes, eats and drinks close to 

 the ground, where infection abounds. 



"Safety and Comfort High doorsills frequently cause abortion. Rough, 

 uneven floors cause much discomfort, particularly to the pregnant sow. Slip- 

 pery floors result in many accidents. Narrow or low doorways, through 

 which swine must squeeze or crawl, are objectionable. Fenders that save 

 the lives of suckling pigs are quite indispensable. 



"Convenience House details may be arranged to lessen the time and 



Six 



