GENEEAL SWINE MANAGE JIENT 19 



ing in diarrhea may be caused by B. suisepticus, B. suipestifer, B. 

 paratyphoid, B. enterititis and colon bacillus, and probably also 

 some other microbian agents. In some isolated cases, scour in pigs 

 has been found to be due to digestive derangement of the sow. This 

 disease will also be discussed elsewhere in detail. 



Scour due to various infecting microbian organisms may be largely 

 prevented by providing sanitary surroundings for the brood sow and 

 her litter. If the infection gains a foothold, the various indicated 

 biologies combined with proper feeding and sanitary measures will 

 be found to be of considerable value. 



Parasitic pneumonia has been found to be a very potent factor in 

 the loss of pigs. Losses incidental to this disease occur in pigs ten 

 days of age and from that up to two or three months of age. The 

 majority of cases of parasitic pneumonia in suckling pigs are due 

 to the larval form of the ascarid. The life history of this parasite 

 will be found detailed in the chapter on Intestinal Parasites. 

 This loss in pigs can be prevented by elimination of parasites from 

 the intestines of the brood sow prior to farrowing. It seems prob- 

 able that these parasites may exist in a latent form for a consider- 

 able time in the soil. Hence, the successful breeder provides for a 

 frequent change of lots. 



Defective development of the thyroid gland has been found to be 

 an important factor in some of the losses of the annual pig crop, 

 particularly in some of the northern states. The exact cause of this 

 condition has not yet been determined but it seems probable that 

 the food of the brood sow is deficient in some necessary nutritive or 

 growth element. This condition can be prevented by the adminis- 

 tration of iodin or some of its salts to the brood sow, during the 

 period of pregnancy. Because of the recurrence of this condition 

 in succeeding years on the same farm, it seems justifiable to recom- 

 mend iodin salts to the pregnant animals on that farm. 



Brood sows while suckling pigs should be given a good ration, 

 containing the elements that stimulate the fiow of milk and provide 

 sufficient bone and muscle-forming ingredients. A breeder can not 

 expect a sow to produce a good litter of pigs on a ration insufficient 

 to maintain her in good living condition. 



The age for weaning pigs depends somewhat on the development 

 and condition of the pigs. Generally speaking, pigs should be 

 weaned at from ten to thirteen weeks of age. Most breeders diminish 

 the milk-producing foods for the sow a few days prior to the time 



