BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 



183 



FIG. 82. A food 



chute as shown in 



figure 80. 



In the breeding pen it is advisable to have a small weaning pen in 

 the position shown in the figure. Food for little pigs can be 

 placed in this enclosure to which they can get access, but which the 

 sow cannot reach. 



The Food-Trough. This should be placed on the side of the 

 pen next to the passage as indicated in the 

 plan. For convenience in feeding where a 

 large number of pigs is kept, the trough 

 should be so constructed that feeding can be 

 done from the passage without having to 

 enter the pens. This may be effected either 

 by means of a chute, as shown in figure 77, 

 or by having a swing shutter. There are 

 several types of swing shutters on the market 

 made of cast-iron. Though excellent in 

 principle, they often cause a deal of trouble 

 owing to the ease with which they get 

 fractured and out of order ; if made suffici- 

 ently strong and heavy they may be usefully 

 employed. A feeding chute, however, is 

 preferable to a swing shutter. It should be 

 situated at a proper height to discharge 

 cleanly into the trough, and the angle of 

 deflection should be about 45 degrees. A 

 suitable size is 12 inches by 7 inches. Flaps, 

 lids and projections which are sometimes 

 attached to the chutes are not necessary. 

 The chutes may be of iron or of fireclay. 

 The food-trough may be of fireclay, cast- 

 iron or cement concrete. Cast-iron troughs 

 are very liable to get fractured. Fireclay 

 makes excellent troughs that are easily 

 cleaned. Cement troughs are often built in 

 situ with a hole left at the end next to the 

 door and fitted with a plug which can be 

 removed when the trough is washed out. 

 Cement is a suitable material for food- 

 troughs if it is finished smooth and given a 

 hard face, but many local tradesmen fail to 



FIG. 83. Another 

 type of food chute. 



FIG. 84. A pig's 

 trough designed to 

 prevent pigs foul- 

 ing their food. 



FIG. 85.--A shallow 

 type of trough. 



do this and leave the trough so rough that it is impossible to clean 

 it out properly. Some troughs are fitted with a number of cross 

 bars to prevent pigs, when feeding, from stepping into and urinating 

 in them. Movable troughs must be given a wide base, othenvise 



