1 Frp,, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 95 
WHY SOWS EAT THEIR PIGS. 
Mr. J, g, Woopwanp, writing in National Farmer, U.S.A., says :— 
i Why does a sow sometimes destroy and eat her pigs? ‘There are a good 
wand, reasons given for this habit. Among them the following :—Hysteria, 
; methine similar to puerperal mania in the human family; an unnatural 
‘ving produced by an unhealthy condition of the body; an acute thirst due 
9 too much grain being fed and an insufficient sup ly of water. 
th [ might give a half-dozen other reasons, but if investigated to the bottom 
ey will all be found to be due to one cause—improper feeding of the mother 
uring pregnancy. No sow when farrowing in summer, running in good 
Pasture with plenty of water to drink, ever eats her pigs. 
th It makes me tired to read, as I did a few days ago in a paper devoted to 
© Sine industry, such advice as to be sure to “feed a pregnant sow for a few 
et 8 before farrowing a piece of fat pork daily, and if costive to give a dose of 
yuts sufficient to move the bowels and cool the blood.” What nonsense! 
i Y not he sensible and tell the owner to feed the sow, not only for a few days 
ea before farrowing, but during the whole period on a succulent, cooling 
“f I will stake my reputation as a farmer that no sow kept in a roomy 
Tas m pen, and fed liberally on roots, wheat middlings, with a little linseed oil 
al added and plenty of skim milk, will ever eat her pigs. 
ae i course, it is better not to meddle with the sow at farrowing time unless 
4 ; Ance is absolutely necessary ; but every sow, from her youth up, should | 
i andled and made so tame that the presence of her owner will not annoy 
she So that he may be around, but if she be fed properly, as above indicated, 
papi need nothing until she is through, when in a short time she should be 
of | ae drink of quite warm water, and then left until she comes from her bed 
ate Own accord, which will sometimes not be for a full day or more. Where 
Ree Sows eat their pigs it is evidence that they are not in right condition. 
wy tkely they are costive and feverish. If they had been fed a pint of linseed 
*Dout twice a week for two weeks before farrowing, it would have prevented 
oy tom desiring to destroy their young. An old sow that has once formed 
a labit of eating her pigs is persistent in it, and it is difficult to turn her from 
risk oP 8. She should be prepared for the bacon-curer sooner than to run the 
SK of her continuing in her wickedness. 
f HEALTHY PIGS. 
Every farmer interested in preserving the health of his pigs—and every 
raerould be—finds cleanliness one of the standard essentials. Filthiness and 
Roatety) methods were the foundation cause of the plague among human 
2 S8 in older. times. In this age, every city is alive to the best sanitary 
‘Sulations for the protection of the health of its citizens. It is considered of 
livey pepo enice to look after the cleanliness of a city as a means of saving the 
should ae inhabitants from epidemic, pestilence, and plagues. Every farmer 
ney ook after the quarters, pens, and houses occupied by his herd of swine, 
out of ns at least. All manure and excrement should be thoroughly cleaned 
R nd hauled into the field, where it will more than pay the expense of the 
ur in taking it there, besides contributing to the healthiness of the swine. 
One 
; TREATMENT OF SICK PIGS. 
aes are about the hardiest of all farm animals. Considering the rough 
hich <2’ Some of them have to live in, it is surprising that the death rate is not 
“ *. Nevertheless, pigs do die now and again. A. little watchfulness and 
Ughtfulness right at the start may save trouble and loss later on. If you 
* pig with hard, dry, feverish skin standing round as if he did not want to 
cq tbed, speedy action is needed. Generally the pig will be constipated. 
the ae dose of Epsom salts should be given in sweet milk, Separate it from 
eT and put it in a dry, comfortable pen. If the pig should be chilly, 
1 good hot slop or milk, with some cayenne pepper in it, and get up a 
