16 The Colorado Experiment Station. 
to come in March or in the first half of April on account of storms 
and winds. February is a good month for farrowing. The weather 
may be cold, but there is usually little wind and the yards are not 
muddy. 
The period of gestation is 112 days, and the sow may be bred 
three days after the pigs are weaned. When mature sows are to 
have two litters a year, the sow, if bred October 12th, will farrow 
about February 1st. Allowing the pigs to suckle nine weeks, they 
will be weaned about April 4th, and the sow bred the second time 
three days later. The second litter will then be born about July 
28th, and if suckled ten weeks, will be ready to wean about October 
7th. 
EEED AND MANAGEMENT OE THE GROWING PIG. 
Pigs should not be weaned until they are at least eight weeks 
old, and if the sow is not to have a second litter, or if there is time 
enough in case she is, it is better to let the pigs suckle until they 
are ten or twelve weeks old. Farmers often get in a hurry and 
wean pigs when six weeks old; but unless' there is an abundant 
supply of milk, and especially good care is given, the pigs are likely 
to become stunted, sometimes so severely that they never recover. 
The cheapest way to put gains on young pigs is through the 
sow. She has a strong digestion and can turn coarse grains and 
pasture into easily digested milk. 
The sow should be fed to produce a high yield of milk, and 
the pigs should be kept with her until they get to eating a full 
feed of both grain and pasture. 
Pigs will begin to nibble at feed when they are about three 
weeks old. At this age they should be given a little milk in a 
trough separate from the mother. After they get to drinking the 
milk freely, add a little soaked whole grain—barley, wheat, peas, 
milo maize, or corn. Do not give more than they will eat up clean 
at one time, and clean the trough well before each feeding. 
The boars should be castrated before being weaned. 
When the time comes to wean the pigs, cut down the sow’s 
ration to water and alfalfa hay. She will dry up without injuring 
her udder. When she is giving a large supply of milk and all the 
pigs are taken away at once, her udder is often ruined and she be¬ 
comes unable to suckle another litter. 
When first weaned, feed the pigs from three to five times a 
day. While with their mother, they took their meals at least every 
two hours, and too sudden a change is detrimental. After they 
get to growing vigorously, cut down to two meals a day, and 
when they weigh 75 pounds each and are on good pasture, feed 
once a day, and that at night. 
