14 The Coeorado Experiment Station. 
sow has been given ample exercise. Under feeding is extremely 
detrimental. The pigs from a half-starved sow are weak and un¬ 
dersized at birth, and are stunted while suckling from lack of 
sufficient milk. 
Constipation in the sow while she is pregnant, or suckling, 
must be avoided. Pig eating is often caused by constipation. Laxa¬ 
tive and bulky feeds, such as pasture or alfalfa hay, will prevent 
this trouble, and should form part of the daily ration. Exercise 
is necessary to keep the bowels in good condition. Small feeds of 
roots are good. Heavy feeding of roots is often the cause of weak 
or dead pigs at birth. Feeding frozen roots is likely to cause 
abortion. The pregnant sow should be fed, sheltered, exercised, 
and handled in such a way as to keep her in good flesh and health. 
Everything that facilitates this condition tends to secure pigs with 
greater vigor and more profitable as feeders. 
A blow or a strain of any kind to the belly of the pregnant 
sow is likely to result in pigs dead at birth, or pigs born the wrong 
way, with the consequent injury to the sow, or her death. Sows 
had to step over a six-inch board in passing through an opening 
between their yard and pasture. There were many dead pigs at 
farrowing, and some of the sows died from trouble while giving 
birth. The ground next to a hog pen was eight inches lower than 
the floor, and the brood sows had to climb over this step—dead 
pigs and dead sows at farrowing time was the consequence. Po¬ 
tatoes were dug with a plow, and the land left in ridges. Pregnant 
sows had to travel over these to get to a pea field. At farrowing 
time there were many dead pigs, and two sows died. A boar al¬ 
lowed to run with sows that are bred will frequently knock them 
around and bring the same trouble. Horses or cattle running in 
a lot with brood sows will often injure the sows the same way. 
Not over five to ten bred sows should be allowed to sleep together, 
as crowding in cold weather may result in losses at farrowing 
time. Pregnant sows should not be allowed to run with fattening 
hogs. 
A breeding record should be kept, and two weeks before the 
pigs are expected the sow should be placed in a farrowing pen 
connected with a dry yard large enough to allow her to exercise. 
The feed should be somewhat reduced, without any sudden change, 
and her bowels kept loose. She should have dry, sunny shelter, 
free from draughts. The sow should be petted so that she will 
like to have her feeder handle her. 
It is best to have the sows farrow at nearly the same time 
and then the owner can watch them day and night during far¬ 
rowing time. There should be just enough bedding for comfort 
and dryness. Cut straw or chaff is best. Little pigs often get 
