Equipment 381 
TROUGHS 
With reference to the initial cost, the cheapest troughs 
are made of wood, oak being the most durable and fir 
the least. The fir, however, is by far the cheapest in 
the first cost. If troughs are made of wood, the shape 
may be either flat-bottomed or V-shaped. The flat- 
bottomed troughs are preferable for sows with small pigs, 
and for all pigs on dry feed. The V-shaped troughs are 
Fic. 34. — The Most Common Type of Hog Trough. 
preferable for feeding slop or wet feed and when small 
pigs are not to be fed with their dams. V-shaped troughs 
are too high to permit of small pigs eating from them 
with ease and they will not begin eating so soon. On 
the other hand, the flat troughs are harder for pigs to 
clean and more waste results from their use. Cement 
as a trough material has not been tried out on any large 
scale, but is entirely satisfactory if a system of flushing 
can be used. It is impossible to turn the troughs, hence 
a drain must be provided. A slatted door or lid, hinged 
at one side of the trough, may be raised and hooked 
‘when troughs are to be cleaned. Iron troughs are highly 
satisfactory, except for the initial cost, which is almost 
prohibitive. They may be of any shape, but they are 
usually made with an oval bottom. 
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