520 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



pasture. Kitchen slops, skim milk, and 

 some roots furnish succulence and keep 

 the bowels in good condition. In addi- 

 tion, they may be given some bulky food 

 like clover or alfalfa hay, either cut into 

 short lengths or fed whole in a rack. 



Fig. 340 — INDIVIDUAL HOG HOUSE, TAKEN 

 APART 



A BOX OP CHARCOAL, ASHES AND SALT 



should be within reach of the brood sow 

 at all times, either summer or winter. 

 These materials act as a vermifuge and 

 preventive of disease and tend to meet 

 the craving of the hog for mineral mat- 

 ter in the feed. The use of these mate- 

 rials in connection with a varied ration 

 is one of the best means of preventing 

 the sow from eating her young at pig- 

 ging time. 



Before the pigs come — The condition 

 of the bowels should be noted carefully 

 as the farrowing time approaches, since 

 at this time sows are likely to become 

 constipated. A good feed of bran will 

 usually overcome this. About a week 

 before farrowing time the sow should be 

 separated from the other hogs and put in 



a pen by herself. It is extremely de- 

 sirable that during this period and, in 

 fact, all during her life, she should be 

 accustomed to being handled. A small 

 amount of bedding should be given her 

 and the farrowing pen should have a 



10xl2-inch plank running round the sides 

 of it, 6 or 8 inches above the floor, as a 

 protection for the young pigs, so that 

 the sow cannot crush or smother them. 

 The pigs soon learn to creep under this 

 protection when the sow lies down. 



At farrowing time the sow will 

 seldom need any attention. In cold 

 weather, however, it may be necessary to 

 take the pigs as fast as they are born, 

 and keep them covered up and warm un- 

 til the last one is born, when they should 

 be at once put back with the sow and 

 placed at the teats. Sometimes a 

 blanket thrown over the sow will suffice. 

 The afterbirth should be taken and 

 burned. If the sow is allowed to eat 

 this it may be the beginning of the 

 habit of eating her pigs. 



After farrowing, for the first 24 hours 

 the sow will require little, if any, food. 

 If she show signs of hunger, however, 



Fig. 342 — hog cot 



she may be given plenty of water and 

 a thin slop of bran or shorts, or oatmeal 

 gruel. Tepid or warm water should 

 always be given in winter. The laxative 

 effect of a little oil meal will be found 

 beneficial at this time. For the first 

 three or four days, the rations should 

 be light and the sow put on full feed 

 very gradually. 



Feeding the sow_Within a wee* or 

 10 days the sow should be getting a good 

 ration of nutritious milk-producing 

 foods, such as skim milk, middlings, 

 shorts, ground barley, or peas, pasture 

 or roots, but she should not be put on 

 full, heavy rations before three weeks. 

 During the whole after period in which 

 the sow is giving suck to her pigs she 

 should be fed heavily. At the Wisconsin 

 station, Henry found it profitable to feed 

 suckling sows so heavily that they 

 gained in weight. The gains thus pro- 

 duced in the suckling pigs indirectly 

 through the sow, were cheaper and more 

 economical than later gains. 



