498 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



lukewarm water. Never give her ice-cold water. In a few 

 hours she will show signs of wanting to eat, when she should be 

 given a little thin mash or gruel made from shorts, bran, or oat- 

 meal. This should be given warm, in cold weather. For the 

 first week the feed should be light, consisting mainly of mashes, 

 but no corn should be given at this time. Milk-producing foods, 

 such as skim-milk, shorts, bran, oat meal, and a little clover or 

 alfalfa hay, should be given, while fattening foods, such as corn, 

 are to be avoided. 



Occasionally the sow's udder is injured on account of an 

 unusual development of the pig's teeth. This condition causes 

 the sow to withhold her milk, produces a bad temper, and 

 often excites her to injure the pigs. When such is the case, take 

 the pigs under the arm and hold the mouth open with one 

 hand while the sharp teeth are broken off with small pincers. 

 To do this remove the pigs out of hearing distance from the 

 sow, as she is likely to object and create a disturbance. 



THE PIGS 



The pig that is safely born and within a few minutes gets a 

 firm hold of a teat full of milk, has made a good start in life. 

 Not all pigs are so fortunate, and many perish for want of care 

 at farrowing time. When at all convenient, one should be near 

 by to give assistance if need should arise. Often pigs must be 

 assisted to find the teat, especially in cold weather. Sometimes 

 the sow is nervous, and the pigs should be removed as farrowed, 

 otherwise she may crush them ; and sometimes it is necessary to 

 help dry the pigs to keep them from chilling. 



The first meal. — It is important that the young pig get his 

 stomach full of the first milk of the sow. This should be accom- 

 plished within a few minutes after farrowing, otherwise the pig's 

 strength will rapidly decrease. If for any reason the sow has 

 no milk for the pigs and it is desired to raise them by hand, they 

 should be given a very small quantity of cow's milk warmed to 



