pigs: weaning and growth 151 



two or three clays more, by which time the flow of milk 

 will have been so gradually diminished that no injury 

 will result to the sow by keeping them entirely away 

 from her. This extra supply of milk helps also to push 

 the smaller pigs along in growth and put them more 

 nearly on an equality in size with their thriftier mates. 



THE PIGS' TROUGH AND FEEDING 



By the time the pigs are three weeks old they are 

 likely to show some appetite for other food than the 

 sow's milk by trying the mother's feed, nipping at grass 

 and making an occasional effort at rooting. At this 

 period a small trough should be placed in a part of the 

 pen or lot inaccessible to the sow, but easily reached by 

 the pigs, and into this about three or four times a day, 

 for several days, a little sweet milk can be poured — 

 whatever they will drink up clean, but not more, in- 

 creasing the quantity as they grow older; then some 

 shelled corn, soaked in pure water 24 hours or longer, 

 should be given, and corn meal mush, scalded bran with 

 shorts, and other nourishing food to make a healthful 

 variety. The bran and shorts, scalded and made into a 

 thin gruel, may be given at first in place of the skim 

 milk. The pig's capacity is small, and he will Tequire 

 frequent feedings with fresh feed easy of digestion. 

 Feed should never be permitted to remain in the troughs 

 until stale, and the troughs should be kept clean. The 

 little pigs will quickly learn what the troughs are for, 

 and will utilize their contents more frequently as they 

 increase in age. As weaning time approaches the sow's 

 feed may gradually be changed to a sort that will make 



