FEED AND CARE OF YOUNG FARM ANIMALS 



253 



5. Feeding the Pig. — In rearing pigs it is desirable to produce 

 rapid gain and a strong bony structure to support the body. 

 When they are born they may be kept away from the sow except 

 at feeding time, because they are liable to be killed or injured 

 by the sow laying on them. When they become lively this 

 separation will be unnecessary. At the age of two weeks the 

 pig may be supplied with a mixture of skim milk and middlings 

 in feeding troughs not accessible to the sow. At four weeks a 

 little corn meal may be substituted for part of the middlings, 

 which may be gradually increased until equal parts of corn meal 

 and middlings are fed. Ground oats, barley, and peas are suit- 

 able and may be used instead of corn meal and middlings. 

 Soaking or wetting feed for young pigs seems to be beneficial; 

 hence it is good practice to add the dry feed to the skim milk. 



The pig is generally weaned at the age of 7 to 12 weeks. 

 The Wisconsin Experiment Station found that late weaning at 

 the age of 10 to 12 weeks is profitable. Just as rapid gains were 

 made by feeding through the mother as to the pigs. The ad- 

 vantage of late weaning is that it affords the utilization of 

 cheaper feeds than can be fed to the young pig. The practice 

 of gradually drying off a sow by weaning the strongest pigs 

 first is a good one. 



The following table from^ Henry's "Feed and Feeding," is the 

 work of the Wisconsin Experiment Station and was conducted 

 to determine the gain of young pigs : 



Age of pigs 



Gain in 



7 days 



per cent. 



At birth 



First week . . ■ 

 Second week . 

 Third week . . 

 Fourth week . 

 Fifth week . . 

 Sixth week • • 

 Seventh week 

 Eighth week . 

 Ninth week . . 

 Tenth week-. 



76. 



59- 

 40. 

 28. 

 25- 

 19- 

 22. 



23- 



19- 

 16. 



