72 Pork Production 



date due, of each sow in the herd, with blank spaces for 

 recording the date of farrowing, the number and sex of 

 the pigs, and the ear-notch number of each litter. 



Opportunity for some exercise should be given the sow 

 after she has been removed to the farrowing-pen. It too 

 frequently happens that she is shut in a pen with no 

 liberty to move about. This is certain to aggravate the 

 tendency to constipation as well as to make it difficult 

 to keep her quarters in a dry sanitary condition. If a lot 

 is not accessible to the farrowing-pen, the sows that are 

 up should be turned together in an open yard for a part 

 of the day to work over some clover or alfalfa hay. 



It is very important that the ration of the sow be care- 

 fully regulated in the days just preceding farrowing. 

 Two important changes should be made in her feeding ; 

 the ration must be made more laxative and the amount 

 reduced. She will need less food under the more restricted 

 conditions, and her recovery from farrowing will be more 

 prompt if her digestive system is kept well cleared. Any 

 tendency to constipation is dangerous. By feeding with 

 the grain a quantity of wheat-bran or linseed-oil meal, 

 her droppings will be kept in proper condition. A safe 

 rule or practice to follow at this time is to cut her grain 

 ration in half and add to it one-half its bulk in wheat- 

 bran. One pound, or about a quart, of this mixture to 

 the feed just before farrowing is sufficient. 



Care at farrowing time. 



The previous treatment of the sow will determine 

 largely the results at farrowing time. If she has taken 

 plenty of exercise during the preceding months, has been 

 fed properly, and is in a strong active condition, she will 

 cause little concern. With all preparations made, the 



