134 SWINE IN AMERICA 



cost of the gTowth of pigs before weaning is no greater 

 than it is after weaning." 



Tlie practical farm fact to be gained from the chem- 

 ist's showing is that the sow needs food which will aid 

 her in manufacturing nourishment for the pigs, m?de up 

 in about the foregoing proportion and furnishing suf- 

 iicient protein and enough, but not too much, fat. The 

 nutritive ratio — that is. the ratio of digestible protein to 

 digestible carbohydrates — should be preferably i :5 or 

 1 :6. In corn it is i :<).J \ in barley, i 17.9; in oats, i :6.2; 

 in clover and alfalfa it is practically the desired ratio. 



For making an ample supply of healthful milk, wheat 

 bran, shorts and skim milk mixed are excellent, and no 

 careful breeder anxious to do the best by his pigs should 

 neglect to have in so far as he may a supply to use 

 when his sows are suckling. Extremely favorable re- 

 sults are secured by feeding chopped (coarsely ground) 

 rye, with half its weight in wheat bran added, soaked 

 from 24 to 36 hours, but not allowed to become more 

 than slightly sour before feeding. This makes a most 

 palatable, nutritious mess for the sow, and her pigs soon 

 learn to eat greedily of it, to their great advantage. 



INJURIES TO THE SOW'S UDDER 



When the sow carries her pigs longer than the usual 

 period, or otherwise, their teeth sometimes attain an 

 unusual development, and on account of their length and 

 sliarpness injure the sow's tender and swollen udder. 

 In consequence the sow's suffering may cause her to 

 withhold her milk, and she may be so disturbed as to in- 

 jure her pigs. In cases of this kind the pig should be 



