238 SWINE 



dition that it may upset their digestive apparatus to the 

 extent that they may die. 



REMOVING ALL THE LITTER. 



The third method cited for weaning pigs is considered 

 the best. By this means all of the pigs of a litter, as well 

 as all of the litters of the particular time of the year, are 

 taken from their dams at the same time. They can all be 

 put on feed at the same time, they will be of the same 

 age, and can be fed to better advantage in lots, and will 

 develop so as to produce an evener bunch of hogs which 

 will sell to better advantage. The sows also being 

 weaned at the same time will come in heat during a com- 

 paratively short period and, having sufficient boars avail- 

 able, they may be bred again to farrow the next series of 

 litters within a comparatively short time, so that this 

 process can be continued indefinitely. Furthermore, it is 

 thought that a sow will breed more readily immediately 

 after weaning the litter than she will at any other time. 



This system of weaning pigs is put into practice as fol- 

 lows : At weaning time all the sows, together with their 

 litters, are brought to their respective places and not 

 given any feed on the morning of the day that the pigs 

 are to be weaned. The pigs are allowed to drain the 

 udders thoroughly and the sows are then taken away to a 

 dry lot or pasture without much grass. They are given 

 free access to water, but no feed during the first day and 

 only a little feed on the second day. By this means the 

 sows' are made to dry up, and then they are put on full 

 feed to get them in the best condition for breeding. The 

 pigs are kept in their respective places or divided up 1 into 

 Jots and taken to their regular feeding pens where they 

 are immediately put on feed as outlined in Chapter 13. 



