CHAPTER IV 

 NECESSITY OF PLENTY OF PURE WATER 



The question of water for swine at all times is one that I fear 

 is not looked upon with as much importance as it should be. For 

 instance, many feeders men who are really good feeders, too 

 seem to think that when feeding pigs or older animals on a mix- 

 ture of wet feeds, containing more or less water, the animal is get- 

 ting all the water it requires in eating a half pail or more of nicely 

 mixed wet feed. To prove that this is not the case generally, let 

 the feeder pour a little pure water into a separate trough and nine 

 times out of ten the pig will take a drink of it while he is eating 

 his wet feed. Of course it is sometimes rather discouraging to 

 water a large number of hogs in separate troughs, and an hour or 

 so after they have been fed a wet feed notice that in several of the 

 lots or yards some of the pigs do not seem to drink any of it, but 

 just remember some of them will drink heartily. For this reason 

 it is far better, where possible, that a drinking fountain sheuld 

 be used where the pigs or hogs can go at will ; this, of course, where 

 there is no natural spring or water flowing through the yards or 

 pasture lots. 



I know personally that I drink and enjoy lots of good cold water, 

 and while it is claimed by some that the drinking of water during 

 the meal is injurious, I have always drunk all the cold water 

 and it is never too cold with my meal that I wanted. I am now 

 much over three score years and still drink water, and have never 

 felt any ill results, and weigh over 250 pounds. I have an attrac- 

 tive stenographer who is helping me on this book and a great 

 help, too who never drinks any water to speak of. She weighs 

 106 pounds, although not three score and ten, but I wish you to 

 note the difference in weight, and that water is a valuable thing 

 for producing flesh as well as satisfying a normal thirst. 



Systems of Watering. There are many ways of furnishing 

 water to the herd. If many are allowed to pasture together 

 or are yarded in 4he same winter quarters, it is an easy matter 

 by having self-watering fountains, as it would be necessary for 

 only one such fountain to be used in a covered shed or place 

 where forty to fifty animals were daily allowed to congregate. 

 Where animals are kept, .as has been our custom, in yards with 

 only a few in each, it is quite a serious matter, as each lot must 

 either have a drinking fountain, or the animals must be regularly 

 watered each day, and during the cold winter months no water 

 must be left over night in the trough to freeze. We have a self- 

 watering fountain which is connected with a forty-barrel supply 

 tank so arranged that a lamp can be safely set under the drinking 

 cup and fountain, always keeping the water warm. This is a very 



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