236 FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



Variations in Cost If the cost of maintaining the dry 

 sow were placed at $1.00 per month, it would bring the cost 

 of the young pigs to $1.44 each at six weeks old. It is probably 

 a safe statement, therefore, that young pigs can be raised to 

 the age of six weeks at $1.50 each, making some allowance 

 for items not considered in the experiment described. 



J. H. Grisdale, Central Experimental Farm, Canada, 

 estimates that a breeding sow can be maintained during a 

 whole year at from $12.00 to $15.00, under careful manage- 

 ment, and produce two litters during the year. This ap- 

 proximates, very closely, the Ontario results, which, omitting 

 service fee, make the cost of maintaining a sow half a year, 

 and one litter of pigs for six weeks, $7.24. 



Since the above calculations were made, there has been a 

 very material increase in the cost of feeds, but if we add 

 50 per cent to the cost of maintenance, all round, the cost of a 

 pig six weeks old is about $1.85, which is a very moderate cost. 



REVIEW. 



1. Give a plan of keeping new-born pigs warm in very cold weather. 



2. Tell of the importance of the first milk soon after farrowing. 



3. Tell of the management of apparently lifeless pigs when first born. 



4. Give plans for teaching sucklings to eat. 



5. How may young pigs be induced to exercise? 



6. When is the best time to wean pigs? Give reasons for variation. 



7. Give suggestions regarding best feeds after weaning. Why avoid 

 giving corn only? 



8. What is the cost given for pigs six weeks old? How is it 

 calculated? 



9. What variation in these figures would be necessary for the present 

 prices of feed? 



