Equipment 381 



TROUGHS 



With reference to the initial cost, the cheapest troughs 

 are made of wood, oak being the most durable and fir 

 the least. The fir, however, is by far the cheapest in 

 the first cost. If troughs are made of wood, the shape 

 may be either flat-bottomed or V-shaped. The flat- 

 bottomed troughs are preferable for sows with small pigs, 

 and for all pigs on dry feed. The V-shaped troughs are 



Fig. 34. — The Most Common Type of Hog Trough. 



preferable for feeding slop or wet feed and when small 

 pigs are not to be fed with their dams. V-shaped troughs 

 are too high to permit of small pigs eating from them 

 with ease and they will not begin eating so soon. On 

 the other hand, the flat troughs are harder for pigs to 

 clean and more waste results from their use. Cement 

 as a trough material has not been tried out on any large 

 scale, but is entirely satisfactory if a system of flushing 

 can be used. It is impossible to turn the troughs, hence 

 a drain must be provided. A slatted door or lid, hinged 

 at one side of the trough, may be raised and hooked 

 when troughs are to be cleaned. Iron troughs are highly 

 satisfactory, except for the initial cost, which is almost 

 prohibitive. They may be of any shape, but they are 

 usually made with an oval bottom. 



