406 Western Live-stock Management 



RINGING 



'\yhen the weanling pigs are run on pasture, as is 

 usually the case, both they and their dams will probably 

 re.quire ringing. Ringing consists of inserting pig rings in 

 the cartilages at the top of the pig's snout to prevent 

 rooting. Fish-hook rings are most satisfactory for larger 

 hogs and should be placed in the nose so that the loop 

 is at the front of the snout, and the point protruding 

 forward through the loop. Pigs still sucking should not 

 be rung with fish-hook rings since these rings injure the 

 sow's udder, so if rung at all, the plain rings should be 

 used. Small pigs will require but one small size ring, 

 while old sows wiU require two or three larger size rings. 

 If two rings are used, they should not be over one-half 

 inch apart, and should be at either side of the middle. 

 The necessary apparatus for holding the hogs and for 

 inserting the rings has been described under equipment. 



