436 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



feed should be somewhat reduced, without any sudden change, and 

 her bowels kept loose. She should have dry, sunny shelter, free 

 from draughts. The sow should be petted so that she will like to 

 have her feeder handle her. (Colo. Bui. 146.) 



To produce good, strong, healthy pigs they must be looked 

 after before they are born. The mother while pregnant must be 

 cared for and fed properly if she is to give birth to a good litter of 

 pigs. As a rule the mother is neglected during the period of preg- 

 nancy, the owner seeming to think that the application of care and 

 feed after she has farrowed is all that is required. But we should 

 know that a poorly nourished pregnant mother means a weak, sickly 

 Utter of pigs. (Wis. Bui. 184.) 



Hogs require attention, regardless of condition, age, or sex, but 

 the management of the brood sows is the surest test of the breeder's 

 skill. If sows are carelessly fed during pregnancy, trouble of some 

 kind is sure to ensue at farrowing ; if overfed after farrowing, losses 

 may occur among the pigs from scours and thumps. At no time ia 

 the development of the pigs so easily influenced as while they are 

 dependent on the sow's milk the first month of life. Excepting 

 the ravages of epidemics, perhaps the greatest death losses in the 

 herd occur during this time, including farrowing. The accidents 

 during farrowing, an attack of scours due to the milk of the dam, or 

 a chill while following the sow in pasture on a wet day may stop 

 growth temporarily, leaving a permanently stunted pig, or may 

 result fatally. On the other hand, the results of good management 

 during pregnancy are as marked as the unfortunate consequences 

 of careless methods. (F. B. 205.) 



Farrowing Time. Record should be kept of the date of service 

 of the sows, so that it may be known when they will farrow. Sows 

 vary very little in their gestation period. The period is 112 days 

 from the date of breeding. If the date they are due to farrow is 

 known and they are running out in sheds or outbuildings, they 

 should be given a pen in the piggery at least a week before the date 

 of farrowing. This will give the sow an opportunity to become 

 acquainted with the new surroundings and also make it possible to 

 give her better care during farrowing time. If farrowing takes 

 place during cold weather, it is necessary to have a warm place such 

 as a reasonably well constructed piggery will provide. If a stove 

 can be provided in a small room to warm the pigs when it is found 

 necessary, it will prove helpful. 



The bedding of a sow at farrowing time should not be too 

 abundant, but just enough for cleanliness. Chaff or very fine straw 

 is best. If a deep bed of coarse straw is provided, the pigs are liable 

 to burrow into it and' smother or be crushed by the sow. The writer 

 realizes that many farmers do not have a good piggery, or any barn, 

 to farrow the sows in. If this is the situation, the sow can be penned 

 temporarily in a shed previous to and for a short time after farrow- 

 ing and good results may be had in saving the pigs unless the 

 weather is too cold, 



