Care and Feeding of Sow and Litter 85 



In addition to unhygienic conditions, however, there are 

 many other causes of this ailment : as running in the wet 

 grass; cold damp weather; too much succulent feed, 

 especially when skim-milk or buttermilk is fed ; irregular, 

 careless feeding ; and sour filthy troughs. Any modifica- 

 tion of the mother's milk, resulting from feeding fermented 

 rotten slops, or a feverish condition of the sow, is also 

 frequently responsible for the trouble. The first step in 

 the treatment of scours in young pigs is to remove the 

 cause. The second is to cut down the mother's ration, 

 and also that of the pigs. (See Chapter XXII.) 



Weaning. 



The pigs usually should be weaned when eight to ten 

 weeks of age. If they have had up to this time the advan- 

 tage of a creep and good rations, they will scarcely miss 

 the mother's milk, which is secreted in rather limited 

 amounts at this time. Those sows which are to raise 

 fall litters should be taken from their pigs at eight weeks, 

 since sows usually do not come in heat while suckling 

 their pigs, and early fall litters are desirable. On the 

 other hand, sows which are extremely heavy milkers 

 and which it is not the intention to breed, may with 

 profit be allowed to nurse their pigs for twelve weeks, 

 provided they are liberally fed. A few days before the 

 sows are removed from their pigs, their rations should be 

 reduced materially. This precaution will tend greatly 

 to eliminate the conditions which favor inflamed udders 

 and caked teats at weaning time. It is commonly more 

 convenient to remove the sows than the pigs. Some 

 recommend that the sows be put back the next day and 

 the pigs allowed to nurse partially. This may be de- 

 sirable with individual sows, but, as a rule, it should be 



