The Breeding Herd 399 



sucks. In this way the pig is receiving extra feed without 

 knowing it, and without losing the habit of sucking the 

 sow. It is very difficult to get pigs to suck after they have 

 been hand-fed; so that hand-feeding should be resorted 

 to only in cases of the absolute failure of the sow. If the 

 sow has more milk than the pigs can take during the 

 first few days, a husky, hungry pig from another sow may 

 be allowed to suckle out the teats which the little pigs 

 do not empty; this is the best way to prevent caked 

 udders, and at the same time keep the teats in good con- 

 dition, so that they will be available for the little pigs 

 when they need them all. If the sow has an insufficient 

 quantity of milk, the pigs are likely to follow her around 

 the pen, and some of them be trampled upon. 



After a week or ten days, or sooner if the pigs are 

 taking all the sow's milk, she should be put on full feed 

 of a milk-forming ration. The aim should be to main- 

 tain the sow's flesh, although this is almost impossible if 

 she is a heavy milker. Since the gains on young pigs are 

 the most economical which they make, it is desirable that 

 as rapid gains as possible be secured during the milking 

 period. In late spring or early summer the sow should 

 be turned into pasture if at all convenient, but care 

 should be taken to prevent the pigs from contracting 

 pneumonia when first turned out into pasture. Sows with 

 fall-farrowed pigs should be given abundance of succulent 

 feed along with their grain feed. 



CASTRATION 



Castrated pigs will make more satisfactory gains them- 

 selves and will allow other pigs to gain more satisfac- 

 torily. The meat from castrated pigs, or barrows, is more 

 palatable than that from boars, and the reproduction of 



