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MISC. PUBLICATION 194, V. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Brush all loose litter and mud from sides of sow, wash the udder thoroughly 

 with warm water and soap, and then place the sow in the clean farrowing pen. 

 This is done 3 or 4 days before farrowing. 



Confine the sow and pigs to the farrowing pens for about 10 days and then 

 haul — do not drive — them to clean pasture. A clean pasture is one that has 

 been plowed and jjlanted since it was used by hogs. \\'ater and feed should be 

 provided in the clean pasture, as the young pigs must not, under any cir- 

 cumstances, be permitted to go back to the permanent hog lot for feed or water 

 until they are 4 months old. 



After being placed on a clean pasture, the pigs are sooner or later exposed to 

 the danger of swallowing some roundworm eggs that may be passed by the sow. 

 However, the scattering of the infection over a large, clean pasture diminishes 

 the chances of infection. 



The pasture should be located some distance from the permanent hog lots and 

 fenced so that the young pigs cannot get back to the hog lots. It is important 



Figure 23. — In emergencies, as after severe damage by storm, small grains such as wheat and rye may be 

 harvested to advantage by hogs. 



also to avoid locating a clean pasture where the wash from rain on infected ground 

 will contaminate the clean area. 



The foregoing directions apply particularly to spring litters of 

 pigs in the Central States. Also washing is not usually necessary 

 in areas where the soil is sandy and does not adhere to the sows. 

 In the case of fall litters, sows kept on clean pastures may be allowed 

 without previous washing to farrow there when weather permits. 



The swine-sanitation system frequently increases the number of 

 pigs raised per sow as much as 50 percent. Farmers may also get 

 pigs ready for market from 4 to 8 weeks earlier with a saving of both 

 feed and labor, an increase in uniformity, and a reduction in the num- 

 ber of runts (fig. 24). 



A modification of the swine-sanitation system for the South has 

 given very satisfactory results in controlling kidney worms and other 

 parasites as well as roundworms. The modified system involves 

 keeping the ground bare in corners and along fences where the hogs 

 defecate and urinate. Under such conditions sunlight and drying 

 kUl the parasites before they can complete their life cycles. More 

 complete details concerning the method of controlling kidney worms 

 may be obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C. 



