SWINE MANAGEMENT 165 



been fed separately from the sows, they will have ac- 

 quired more dependence on other feeds than the sow's 

 milk. And, if they have become gradually accustomed 

 to being absent from the sow, the weaning may be finally 

 consummated by permitting them to return to the sow 

 once a day for two or three days, meanwhile lessening 

 the sow's feed so that less milk will be produced. The 

 gradual weaning is as much for the sake of the mother 

 as the pigs. The sow may be expected to come into heat 

 a few days after the pigs are weaned and regularly 

 thereafter until bred. 



Care of the gilts. — After weaning the gilt will require 

 but little special care and attention up to the breeding 

 age. Ample grazing crops should be supplied, and she 

 should be forced, especially with roughages and bulky 

 feeds, as the middle will be developed in size, which will 

 be a distinct advantage later. She should not, however, 

 be fed so as to make her excessively fat. At eight or nine 

 months she may be bred, after which some further atten- 

 tion will be required. She should not be placed with 

 larger animals and the supply of proteins should be in- 

 creased. The gilt usually grows but little during the 

 later stages of pregnancy, which shows the importance 

 of late breeding and liberal feeding. 



Age at which to breed. — A mistake that is commonly 

 made is to breed too young. The result is that the gilt 

 is forced not only to nourish herself, but she must also 

 nourish the developing embryos. She cannot do both of 

 these perfectly. If pregnancy intervenes before the 

 growth process has advanced beyond a certain point, not 

 only will the final size of the sow be affected, but she 



