Care and Feeding of Sow and Litter 73 



attitude of the man in charge should be that of " watchful 

 waiting." With a large number of sows to farrow, he 

 should be at his post constantly during the day and every 

 three hours at night, especially if the weather is severe. 



It is sometimes desirable to remove the pigs as they are 

 born to a half-barrel or basket lined with straw. With 

 a six-tined manure fork or long-handled shovel, this may 

 be accomplished without annoyance to the sow. If the 

 weather is very cold, a few warm bricks or a jug of hot 

 water may be placed in the basket, or the pigs may be 

 taken to a warmer room until dry, when they should be 

 put back to the sow for nourishment. If the sow is 

 nervous and irritable, it may be desirable to keep the pigs 

 away from her for several days, giving them the oppor- 

 tunity to nurse every two or three hours. 



Gilts which are not in good breeding condition frequently 

 have trouble in giving birth to their pigs. As soon as it is 

 evident that protracted labor is of no avail, help should 

 be given promptly. A small hand and arm, thoroughly 

 cleaned and smeared with vaseline, is the best instrument. 

 In fact, the unskillful use of pig-extractors is usually un- 

 successful and often a cause of injury to the organs of the 

 sow. Without some knowledge of the positions of the fe- 

 male parts, she should have the attention of a veterinarian. 



The after-birth should be removed as soon as the sow 

 has cleaned and be burned or buried. If allowed to 

 remain in the pen she may eat it, which many believe will 

 encourage the development of the pig-eating vice. Dead 

 pigs also should be removed promptly for the same 

 reason. The next day after farrowing the pen should be 

 cleaned thoroughly and fresh litter supplied. Air-slacked 

 lime or gypsum scattered on the floor has a cleansing and 

 drying effect. 



