CAEE AND MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 863 



Feeding. — The question of feeding may conveniently be 

 considered with the pregnant sow, which unlike the ewe 

 requires during the last month to be kept in better than 

 store condition, owing to the drain of from fifteen to twenty 

 foetuses which require nourishment. The food during the 

 fourth month should be nitrogenous rather than fatty : 

 barley, wheat, maize, and peas, in the form of a meal fed 

 as slop night and morning. It is here important to re- 

 member that even in this matter breeds of pigs vary. The 

 better bred pig is less tolerant of a rich stimulating diet 

 than one of little breeding; in the former the rich milk 

 appears to react unfavourably on the progeny, so that 

 indigestion and diarrhcsa are said by men of experience to 

 follow on its use, while this is not observed to follow with 

 underbred pigs. Spencer tells us that so much is this the 

 case, that he has for many years ceased to give barley or 

 other meal to suckling sows until the pigs are at least a 

 month old ; in the meantime they receive twice a day 

 sharps and bran, as much as they can clear up at once, 

 and a month after farrowing a little meal composed of 

 wheat, barley, maize, and oats, given three times a day, 

 while a grass run and food like tares, lucerne, etc., are 

 invaluable. 



The winter feeding in the absence of green fodder is 

 generally kohl rabi passed through a cutter. This is 

 followed by mangels, while as the spring comes on grass is 

 once more available. Cabbage is given frequently, but 

 Spencer tells us it is liable to produce constipation. 



During the winter beans or maize both crushed as a 

 meal may be given. 



After farrowing the food of the suckling sow may be 

 gradually increased, and she should daily be permitted to 

 take a turn in a grass field for an hour or so, as a relief 

 from her family, and a means of assisting the action of the 

 bowels and bladder. It also affords an addition to her diet 

 of green stuff, and enables her to take such earth as she 

 requires. 



The litter should be encouraged to pay a visit to the 



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