PREVENTION OF ROUNDWORMS IN PIGS 7 



Fall Pigs 



In the case of fall pigs, if not farrowed too late, the same system 

 may be followed with slight modifications. The permanent farrow- 

 ing house need not be used. If the sows have been running on pas- 

 ture and are not incrusted with mud and filth, they may be trans- 

 ferred directly, without washing, to the special pasture, and the 

 farrowing done in the individual houses in this pasture. In regions 

 not too far north the pigs, if farrowed at the very beginning of fall 

 or at the end of summer, will be past the age of greatest suscepti- 

 bility to worm infection before it is necessary to put them in winter 

 quarters that are likely to be more or less contaminated. This fall 

 farrowing system is suitable for both spring and fall farrowing in 

 the South. In order to control kidney worms, as well as ascarids, 

 certain modifications of the system outlined in this leaflet must be 

 used. These modifications are described in Leaflet No. 108, Con- 

 trolling Kidney Worms in Swine in the Southern States, issued by 

 the United States Department of Agriculture. 



Permanent Hog Lots Dangerous 



It is desirable to have yards that are much used by hogs so arranged 

 that a change can be made every year or two to fresh ground, plowing 

 under the surface infection on the old ground, sowing a crop, and allow- 

 ing a firm surface to become reestablished before using it again for hogs. 

 Hog yards in any case should be selected with the view to having 

 proper drainage, and to being able to keep them in a sanitary condi- 

 tion, as free as possible from the common type of mud wallow which 

 usually becomes a reservoir of concentrated infection that causes 

 disease. It is nearly always feasible to replace mud wallows at compara- 

 tively slight expense with shallow, concrete, wallowing tanks so con- 

 structed as to be maintained in a sanitary condition. Such a tank can 

 also be used to apply remedies for lice and mange. 4 



Skim-Milk Diet Supplements Sanitation 



Fluid skim milk or whey may be used to supplement sanitary 

 measures for keeping pigs free of roundworms. The milk or whey 

 may be fed once daily in lieu of a grain feeding, or may be fed in lieu 

 of all other feed and water for periods of 3 days at intervals of 2 weeks. 

 Pigs so fed either remain entirely free of worms or the infections 

 acquired are so slight as to be of little consequence. Furthermore, 

 pigs so fed make more rapid weight gains than pigs fed only grain. 



Benefits from the System 



The following benefits resulting from the use of the swine-sanita- 

 tion system have been reported by farmers: By its use the farmer 

 can raise as many pigs from two sows as are raised from three under 

 the usual dirty hog-lot conditions; the pigs are ready for market 

 from four to eight weeks earlier, and there is the accompanying 

 saving in feed and care ; and the, herds are of uniform size and 

 quality and practically devoid of runts. (Fig. 6.) 



4 See footnote 3. 



