696 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



12 hours. Recording the breeding date is highly important where the 

 litters come before the weather is warm, for otherwise sows will often 

 farrow before they are expected, and their litters may perish from cold 

 or lack of proper care. The sow should always be allowed to exercise 

 each day after being put in the farrowing pen, as close confinement is 

 injurious. 



The farrowing place should be sufficiently warm so that a deep nest is 

 not necessary to prevent the new-born pigs being chilled, for they may 

 be crushed in a deep, bird-like nest. Cut straw or hay, chaff, and leaves 

 are the best for bedding, provided they are reasonably free from dust. 

 Long hay or straw may entangle the pigs. 



Every farrowing pen should be supplied with fenders to protect the 

 little pigs during and after farrowing. These consist of 2 by 8 inch 

 planks fastened as shelves about eight inches from the floor, along both 

 sides of the corner in which the sow makes her bed. This largely pre- 

 vents the sow from squeezing the pigs against the wall or lying on them 

 while they are small. If the farrowing pen has a concrete floor, a board 

 overlay in the nest corner makes the sow's bed warmer, drier, and 

 cleaner. 



As soon as the sow is put in the farrowing pen, her ration must be 

 reduced and also be made more laxative. A good general rule is to feed 

 only half as much concentrates as previously, with wheat bran forming 

 one-third of the ration by weight. Linseed meal is also a helpful addition 

 at this time, and the feeding of legume hay should be continued. Some 

 breeders prefer to feed the concentrates as a thin, warm slop. This may 

 satisfy the sow better and aid in getting her to take plenty of water. 



If brood sows are kept thrifty by feeding them well-balanced rations 

 and forcing them to get plenty of exercise, and if constipation is pre- 

 vented, little trouble will be experienced from sows failing to furnish 

 enough milk for their pigs or from being restless and irritable, which 

 may lead to their eating the young. If a sow has a feverish udder, which 

 often is a result of constipation, a light application of kerosene and lard, 

 well rubbed in, will relieve the pain. 



At farrowing time the herdsman should be on hand to render assistance 

 if necessary, but should otherwise not disturb the sow. In large herds 

 it has been found an exceedingly profitable plan to have an experienced 

 man near by during the night at this time to inspect the sows every three 

 hours. The farmer with only a few sows will find that a few night trips 

 to the hog house at farrowing time will save many a litter, and prove a 

 most profitable investment of his time and energy. 



In the case of heavy, clumsy sows, or those which are very restless at 

 farrowing time, it is a good plan to separate the pigs from the dam by 

 placing them in a warm box or half barrel as they are farrowed. Sows 

 properly handled before farrowing will not usually resent such sepa- 

 ration. When the sow has become quiet, and as quickly as possible after 

 farrowing is over, they should be, one by one, carefully replaced at a 



