358 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



other time will feed go so far or give such large returns. Good moth- 

 ers with large litters will usually lose flesh in spite of the most liberal 

 feeding. 



Feeding the litters. — When 2 or 3 weeks old the unweaned pigs 

 should be encouraged to eat with the mother by providing thin, sloppy 

 food in a shallow, low-set trough. Because the sucklings cannot fully 

 satisfy their hunger by such a provision, there should be further pro- 

 vided a separate, low trough which cannot be reached by the dam: 

 For young pigs dairy by-products, in combination with various ground 

 grains and milling by-products, are easily the best of all feeds. For 

 very young pigs there is nothing better among the grains than ground 

 oats, with the hulls sieved or floated out, and red dog flour. Corn, 

 barley, kafir, and milo meal, dark feeding flour, flour wheat middlings, 

 and ground emmer with the chaff removed, etc., may all be freely used 

 for sows and pigs as the young things come on. Soaked whole corn 

 thinly scattered over a feeding floor gives feed and enforces exercise. 

 Pigs well fed before weaning grow faster and draw less on the sow — 

 a matter of importance where the litters are large. 



Where 1 litter of pigs is raised a year, the pigs may run with their 

 dams 10 or 12 weeks, or the sow may be allowed to wean her pigs her- 

 self. However, when 2 litters are to be raised, the pigs must be 

 weaned at the age of about 8 weeks. The sow should be separated 

 from the pigs, and only returned 2 or 3 times long enough for them 

 to empty the udders. On weaning, pigs of the same size should be 

 placed in groups of not over 20 in order that each may receive its 

 share of feed and proper care and attention. 



The growing pigs. — Good pasture should always be provided for 

 spring pigs after weaning, for this not only makes them more vigorous 

 but also greatly reduces the cost of the gains made. In addition to 

 such pasture as alfalfa, clover, or rape, at least 2 lbs. of concentrates 

 daily per 100 lbs. live weight should be fed, except where pasture is 

 unusually cheap compared with grain, and the allowance of concen- 

 trates should never be less than 1 lb. daily per 100 lbs. live weight. 

 Pigs should gain at least one-half to three-fourths pound per day. 



In winter the pigs should be liberally fed the finer parts of some 

 legume hay, such as alfalfa or clover. Roots are also an excellent 

 addition to the ration. These feeds are not only cheap but also help 

 to develop a roomy digestive tract capable of utilizing a large amount 

 of feed when the fattening period arrives. Moreover, legume hay is 

 rich in protein and lime, needed in large amounts by young animals. 

 But roughage alone is not sufficient for the growing pig, and therefore 

 a reasonable supply of rich concentrates containing but little fiber 



