402 Western Live-stock Management 



FEEDING THE WEANLINGS 



If the suckling pigs are induced to eat grain as early as 

 possible and have all they can consume, weaning brings 

 about little hardship. If two litters a year are to be 

 produced, ten weeks is as long as the pigs may be allowed 

 to suck, and at this age should have had five weeks in 

 which to become accustomed to artificial feed. If any 

 change from the ration on which the suckling pigs were 

 started must be made, it had best be done gradually and 

 before the pigs are weaned. In any event the change 

 must be brought about carefully to avoid digestive trouble, 

 waste, and pot-belly. The digestive tract of a small pig 

 is larger in proportion to his body than when he grows 

 older. Hence it is possible at this time to over-feed a pig ; 

 but the more common mistake is under-feeding. Another 

 illness which may result from over-eating is impaired efii- 

 ciency of the entire system, so that the gains in later 

 life are secured at greater cost than should be. Pot- 

 bellies result from the too long continued use of very 

 bulky or watery feeds. Little trouble of this kind, how- 

 ever, is likely to result from the feeding during the first 

 seven weeks, but where pigs suckle for as much as three 

 months, such troubles are not unusual. 



With little pigs both before and after weaning, care 

 must be taken that no feed be left in their troughs to 

 become sour, or scours will almost surely result. There- 

 fore but little should be given them and what is left re- 

 moved and given to their dams. Then their trough 

 should be thoroughly cleaned, and if possible, with the very 

 youngest pigs, scalded and set up in the sun. At all 

 events the trough must be left clean, and should be so 

 when feed is put into it again. A good start makes 



