The Breeding Herd 397 



few slaps on the sides or blowing in his nostrils will usually 

 start respiration if he has any life in him. 



The after-birth is usually passed in two installments, 

 the passage of the first portion marking the emptying of 

 one horn of the uterus, while the remainder is ordinarily 

 passed after the last pig has come. The after-bjrth should 

 be immediately removed from the pen, and buried or 

 burned, or at least placed where the sow or other hogs can- 

 not eat it. If this is not done the habit of eating pigs may 

 be acquired. 



After the pigs are all born and the sow is quiet, all the 

 pigs should be placed to the sow to suckle, if they have not 

 already done so. It is well to squeeze each teat a little 

 to make sure that milk can be drawn from each one, and 

 if there are more pigs than there are good teats, it is ad- 

 visable to give some of the pigs to another sow, if this 

 can be done ; and if not, kill them or raise them by hand. 

 The value of the pigs will determine \^'hich is the more 

 desirable course to pursue. If this is not done there is 

 great danger that the pigs may bite the sow in their ef- 

 forts to possess themselves of the teat, and cause the sow 

 to mash some of the best pigs in the litter. 



When the pigs have sucked until, they are satisfied, 

 they should be removed to their box again, and fed every 

 two or two-and-one-half hours until they are forty-eight 

 hours old. Very little bedding is allowed the sow at far- 

 rowing time, or for several days afterward, if the pigs are 

 left with her ; and such bedding as is provided should be 

 finely chaffed, so that the pigs cannot become entangled 

 in it. Troughs and other objects which the sow can move, 

 and which are heavy enough to injure the pigs if rooted 

 upon them, should be removed from the pen when the 

 sow and pigs are left alone. A sow which experience has 



