CHAPTER ELEVEN. 



FARROWING TIME. 



It is presumed that all breeders of pure-bred stock keep 

 a record of the date sows are due to farrow. If this is not 

 the case trouble is sometimes the result. As farrowing time 

 approaches no unusually special care need be given to the 

 brood sow if she has been fed along lines laid down in this 

 book, and' if she has had sufficient exercise during the gesta- 

 tion period. It is only necessary that she be placed in a 

 quiet, warm, dry place in winter and cool in summer, a 

 week or two previous to the date of f arrow. This should be 

 done so that she may become accustomed to the new sur- 

 roundings. 



As the time approaches for the coming of the litter, see 

 that the sow gets out of her sleeping place daily and takes 

 plenty of exercise, otherwise she will become more or less 

 constipated. If such is the case, two ounces of Epsom Salts 

 should be given her in the slop daily until her bowels are 

 in a laxative condition. See that the place where she is to 

 farrow is pro\'ided with a guard rail around at least three 

 sides of the pen, to protect the young litter being overlaid 

 by the sow and crushed. 



If everything is going right with the sow at farrowing 

 time, let her alone. If oile finds that after several hours of 

 labor, there are no pigs in sight, it is well enough to investi- 

 gate. Often by oiling the hand and entering a few inches, 

 one will find either the leg of the pig or its head can be 

 reached, when a slight pull results in an immediate de- 

 livery. 



If the sow is unduly fleshy and seems closely built, it is a 

 very good plan, when she is ready to farrow, to inject a 

 little oil — either sweet oil, cotton seed oil, or any that is 

 clean and pure — that the passage may be made easy. 



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