CHAPTER XXXVI 

 THE CARE OF SWINE 



The care of the sow and pigs at farrowing requires watch- 

 ful attention. The sides of the pen in which the sow farrows 

 should be provided with guards to prevent the mother from 

 lying on her pigs. This guard may consist of a plank or a 

 2x4 piece fastened about 6 inches above the floor, and 8 or 

 10 inches out from the side of the pen. But very little bed- 

 ding should be placed in the farrowing pen; for, if it is too 

 thick, the small, more or less weak newly born pigs may get 

 tangled in it, and have difficulty in getting about their mother. 

 The dam should not be disturbed while farrowing, and the 

 pen should be as quiet and comfortable as possible, and 

 protected from cold drafts and dampness. Some careful 

 herdsmen remove the pigs from the dam as fast as farrowed, 

 and place them in barrels or baskets partly filled with straw. 

 In cold weather a jug of warm water buried in the straw will 

 keep the little pigs at a comfortable temperature. The 

 young pigs should be allowed to nurse the mother every 2 or 

 3 hours the first day, and then after 24 hours be left with 

 her for good. If, however, she is nervous and irritable, it 

 may be well to keep the pigs from her 2 or 3 days, allowing 

 them to nurse at intervals. 



The separation of pigs into different groups, according to 

 sex, age, and condition, is important, if one is to care for them 

 properly. When the pigs are weaned, the gilts should be 

 separated from the boar pigs, and each group fed and cared for 

 separately. The older gilts should receive attention pre- 

 paratory for sale or placing in the breeding herd, while the 

 mature sows naturally must be fed and cared for by them- 

 selves. The service boar requires a strong pen or paddock, 



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