43 



relation to value as a sire. Important as is breeding it must always 

 be backed by good feeding, health and vigor being the goal one is 

 seeking. 



Care at Farrowing Time, 



The evils and troubles of pork raising can, in the great majority 

 of cases, be traced directly to want of proper food or care. Es- 

 pecially is this true at farrowing time. If, in every pen where 

 brood sows are kept, there is a small box constantly supplied with 

 1 bushel of charcoal, I/2 bushel of ashes, 1 peck of salt and 4 pounds 

 of sulphur, mixed together, there will be little danger of trouble at 

 this critical period. 



Sows eat their pigs because of an unsatisfied craving, the result 

 of unbalanced and improper rations. When the time comes to 

 separate the brood sows and place them in pens, with guardrails 

 all around, the time has also come to change the feed, and from 

 now on middlings should form the bulk given, with some vegetables 

 to keep the bowels in good condition. Not until close to farrowing 

 should excess of sloppy food be given. If the sow has been handled 

 gently all along she looks upon her care-taker as a friend. Not a 

 day should pass without a visit to the pens and a few moments 

 devoted to scratching her back. Then, when the little pigs come, 

 she will not be disturbed by your presence, and many accidents 

 will be avoided. It is these seemingly trivial steps which tell 

 mightily in profitable pork production. 



Care of Pigs. 



In every pen there should be a slatted partition arranged, to be 

 lifted up and dropped easily. After the pigs have had their break- 

 fast, lift this and drive them under, then drop in place. They are 

 with their mother, yet separate from her, and the exercise sure to 

 follow an attempt to get with her will do much to ward off disease 

 and promote vigor and strength. Rej^eat this again in the after- 

 noon, but surely allow the family to be together overnight. 



Before two weeks old a small trough should be provided, into 

 which pour a little fresh milk at frequent hours, being careful to 

 thoroughly cleanse each time before filling. Gradually a little mid- 

 dlings may be added, and when the time comes for weaning, the 

 process is simple and there will be no loss. Instead of taking the 

 pigs away from the sow, when six to eight weeks old, remove the 

 sow from the pigs and they will hardly miss her, because they are 

 in the only house they have ever known. It means a big, big loss 

 to put a litter of pigs in strange quarters and have them squeal 

 and starve for a couple of days, when a little thought would save 

 all this. Look well to the teeth of the little fellows, but don't 

 hunt for black ones as the cause of all earthly ills. If any are over 



