THE SOW 229 



Sows which Eat their Pigs. Occasionally a sow will be 

 found which will eat her pigs. It is claimed by some that the 

 tendency to eat their young is sometimes caused by allowing 

 sows to eat the afterbirth. As a precautionary measure, the 

 afterbirth should be promptly removed from the pen. There 

 is little doubt that the trouble is generally caused by a fevered 

 condition in the sow, often induced by injudicious feeding be- 

 fore farrowing, or even after farrowing. A remedy that has 

 been suggested is to feed the sow salt pork, but the danger is 

 that once the sow has eaten her pigs she acquires the habit and 

 is likely to do it again. Unless she is a very valuable sow, it 

 is safer not to give her a second opportunity, but to turn her 

 into the feed lot and fatten her for the butcher. 



REVIEW, 



1. What is the advice as to age for the first breeding of sows? 



2. What is the effect of breeding again too soon after farrowing? 



3. What should her condition be when bred? 



4. Tell of the usual period of gestation and the probable causes of 

 variation. 



5. When are the best times for farrowing? 



6. Give the reasons for one litter a year; for two litters. 



7. Tell of the importance of exercise for brood sows during gestation. 

 How given in summer? 



8. Give methods of furnishing exercise for brood sows in winter. 



9. Describe the feeding of sows during gestation.: water supply in 

 winter and summer; pasture; roots; meal ration. 



10. What is the value of a breeding record? 



11. Tell of the bad effects of constipation for brood sows. How 

 prevented ? 



12. Tell how to place a guard rail in a farrowing pen and tell of its 

 purpose. 



13. Tell of the amount of bedding desirable at farrowing time. 



14. Tell of the need of pure air in the farrowing quarters. How may 

 it be provided without draughts? 



15. What are the main points to be observed in feeding the sow after 

 farrowing ? 



16. Give directions for treatment of inflamed udder. 



17. What cautions regarding feed of a sow when the pigs are weaned? 



18. Give directions to help prevent sows from eating their pigs. 



