GENERAL SWINE MANAGEMENT 



33 



globules of sow's milk are only one-fourth as large as those of cow's 

 milk, which renders sow's milk more readily digestible than cow's 

 milk. On investigation, Wall found that a mature sow produces 

 7 7/10 lbs. of milk in twenty-four hours on a ration composed of 

 4 lbs. each of corn meal and wheat middlings and 8 lbs. of skim 

 milk. The sow's ability to convert feed into milk ranks favorably 

 with that of a good dairy cow. 



Pigs when farrowed weigh from V/^ to 3 lbs. each. Those from ma- 

 ture sows are usually larger than those from gilts. There is constant- 



Fig. 7. Pigs getting their rations at a self-feeder. 



Agri., U. of Wis.) 



(Cir. 119, Col. of 



ly increasing gain in weight when proper conditions are provided 

 for pigs from the time of farrowing until weaning. The average 

 weight of pigs at weaning time is from 35 to 50 lbs. This develop- 

 ment in suckling pigs depends not only upon the supply of mother's 

 milk, but also upon other foods. 



About 1 per cent of the weight of the sow is required in con- 

 centrated foods to support her and a litter of pigs during the first 



