CHAPTER XVIi. 

 WEANING THE PIGS, 



Several methods of weaning pigs are practiced as fol- 

 lows : First the pigs are allowed to run with the sow un- 

 til they either wean themselves or the sow by refusing to 

 allow them to suckle any longer weans them herself. 

 Second, at weaning time the majority of the pigs are 

 taken away from the dam and put into a place by them- 

 selves where they are fed, while a few of the smaller ones 

 are left with the dam gradually to drain the udder, thus 

 allowing the sow to dry up without any difificulty. Third, 

 the pigs are all taken away at the same time, or rather 

 the pigs are left in their pen and the sow is taken away. 



SELF WEANING. 



According to the first practice two litters per year can- 

 not be produced, as the pigs will not be weaned suffi- 

 ciently early to allow a second litter to be produced be- 

 fore the close of the year. This method, as well as any 

 other, has its advantages and disadvantages. The ad- 

 vantages are that the pig is not weaned so early and his 

 demands for milk, which is the natural food for young 

 animals and is always the best, are satisfied for a longer 

 period than when the pigs are weaned earlier. The dis- 

 advantages are. that the pig may depend too much upon 

 this source of food supply, and therefore may not eat 

 enough outside to develop as well as he should. Then, 

 too, as the pigs get older, the larger ones of the litter may 



(236) 



