THE SOW : SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT I 25 



some sows will show plainly that they wish to he left 

 alone, as is natural, and generally is best, if the weather 

 is not severe and the presence of an attendant is not 

 necessary to take care that by neglect the pigs do not 

 become chilled or perish of cold. 



If the sow is of the ill-natured kind that positively 

 resents the presence of a herdsman she should be bred 

 so she can deliver her pigs in weather that will permit 

 her to be isolated or to make her nest in the orchard or 

 woods. In an extreme case of this sort such an animal 

 should be early slated for the fattening pen. A young 

 sow bringing her first litter will probably evince more 

 nervousness than an older animal. If she has been 

 petted or kindly treated she will allow an attendant 

 to remove the pigs from the nest as fast as they appear, 

 thereby saving some that might otherwise be crushed 

 or trampled to death. 



Hie sow's bedding should not be great in quantity; 

 enough only to insure a clean and dry nest. In moderate 

 weather, if in a house with a plank flooring, little bed- 

 ding will be needed, but in cold weather, where the shelter 

 does not thoroughly protect, more will, of course, be 

 necessary. Care should be taken, however, to make the 

 place of farrowing so comfortable and sheltered that a 

 great nest will not be necessary to prevent the pigs from 

 being chilled. If the nest is so situated that the sun can 

 warm it during a portion of the day it is very comforting 

 and helpful. Many fine pigs, sometimes whole litters, 

 have been lost by permitting a nest too deep, forming a 

 sort of pit in which the pigs gravitated, to be smothered 



