166 THE HOG. 



These pigs were all got by one boar, but the sows were of differ, 

 ent breeds. 



TREATMENT OF THE SOWS WHILE SUCKLING. 



More depends upon this than many persons seem to have the least 

 idea of, both as regards the mother and the young ; and many a fine 

 sow and promising litter have been ruined for want of proper and 

 judicious care at this period. 



Immediately after farrowing, many sows are apt to be feverish ; 

 where this is the case, a light and sparing diet only should be given 

 them for the first day or two, as gruel, oatmeal-porridge, whey, and 

 such-like. Others, again, are very much debilitated, and require 

 strengthening ; for them strong soup, bread steeped in wine or in a 

 mixture of brandy and sweet spirits of nitre, administered in small 

 quantities, will often prove highly beneficial. 



Gradually the rations must be increased and given more fre- 

 quently ; and they must be composed of wholesome, nutritious, and 

 succulent matters. All kinds of roots carrots, turnips, potatoes, 

 and beet-root well steamed or boiled, may be given, but never raw ; 

 bran, barley and oatmeal, bean-flower, Indian corn, whey, sour, skim, 

 and butter-milk, all are perfectly well adapted for this period ; and, 

 should the animal appear to require it, grain well bruised and mace- 

 rated may also be added. Bean-flour is considered by many persons 

 to create an abundance of milk ; and there are many who deem 

 barleymeal too stimulating, and advise that it should never be used 

 alone, but always one-third oatmeal to two-thirds of the barleymeal. 

 Whenever it is possible, the sow should be turned out for an hour 

 each day, to graze in a meadow or clover-field, as the fresh air and 

 exercise and herbage, will do her an infinity of good. The young 

 pigs must be shut up for the first ten days or a fortnight, after which 

 they will be old enough to follow her and take their share of the 

 benefit. 



The rations should be given regularly at certain hours ; small and 

 often-repeated meals are far preferable to large ones, for indiges- 

 tion or any disarrangement of the functions of the stomach vitiates 

 the milk, and produces diarrhoea and other similar affections in the 

 young. 



The mother should always be well, but not over-fed ; the better 

 and more carefully she is fed, the more abundant and nutritious will 

 her milk be, the better will the sucking-pigs thrive, and the less will 

 she be pulled down by suckling them. 



When a sow is weakly, and has not a sufficiency of milk, the 

 young pigs must be taught to feed as early as possible. A kind of 

 gruel, made with skim-milk and bran, or oatmeal, will be the best 

 thing for this purpose ; or a soup composed of potatoes, boiled, and 



