The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-11-30

How to Care for Breeding Sows and Pigs.

How TO care lOr breeOlnS SOWS anu rigs
The best modes of treating sows before
and after narrowing is believed to be to give
them food that would create a supply of
milk for the young.
A very common mistake with many
farmers is to move the SOW to another pen
shortly before she litters. This is very ir
ritating to her. She should be separated
from the others, and moved to her new
quarters several weeks before her time is
out. She must be sheltered, and week
before she filters, supplied with all the
straw she will want, which will be better
for being short
After this her nest must not be modest
ed, and she ought not to be disturbed in
any way, as it is the nature of all animals
to seek privacy at this period. Hogs are
and rarely vary more than a day or two
Immediately after narrowing but little food
should be given, except some simple drink,
and for several days thereafter judgment
should be used in feeding, giving food in
moderate quantities until tho pigs are
week old when more liberal amount may
be given, and continue to increase it in pro-
portion to the wants of the SOW, always
teaching young pigs to eat as soon as pos
sible.
To enable the SOW to maintain full flow
of milk, she should have green food which
is usually scarce at this season; you ought
to provide for the emergency by saving
roots to feed them. Formerly used po-
tatoes for this purpose, but since the pota-
to rot commenced have used sugar beets,
and always have some on hand to feed to
nv sows for several weeks before they
come in. They are very fond of them and
eat them greedy raw. A half peck or more
a day with but little other food will keep a
SOW in the finest condition.
Potatoes are as good; and carrots, pars-
nips, mangel-wurzel, or turnips will do,
but it may be necessary to boil them and
mix them with other food. If you have
no roots of any kind, you must resort to
sulphur, and give large tablespoonful
two or three times week for several weeks
before littering. Give also little charcoal
occasionally, and always be kind and gen.
tie to them, and they will never attempt to
kill their pigs.
Young pigs, after weaving, should have
the best of care, and the best food should
be given them. Milk, sweet or sour, with
a little meal, or oats and corn ground to-
gether would be excellent, if properly fed.
Young pigs will thrive we'll upon this kind
of food, allowing them plenty of exercise.
A fine and successful breeding animal was
probably never reared by keeping it con-
tinually confined to small pen. 1t is be-
lieved that more profit could be realized by
turning pigs into market at the age of
from nine to fourteen months, than at any
other age.
The farmer next wants to know what
plan of feeding should be adopted to Sc
cure the greatest amount Of profit? This
will depend upon circumstances. First,
the price of grain; Second, the expense
ofgrinding; Third, the cost offeed. If the
two latter requirements can be cheaply
done, it may be made source of profit
If too expensive, shelled and soaked corn will
pay much better than to feed corn in the
ear. Ground aud cooked feed will make
more pork for the amount of corn consum-
ed than if fed in it's raw state, or in the
ear. But there may be instances, where
corn is very cheap and grinding and cook
ing expensive, that it will not pay. Upon
these questions every farmer or pork-rais
er must be his own judge, as the circum-
stances which surround him in different
localities differ so widely.
Every farmer should also exercise his
own judgment in regard to housing and care
ofhis swine. It should also be remembered
that good buildings do not always indicate
good care. A pen well covered with coarse,
wild hay, and kept clean, where the pigs
are regularly fed and watered, will do more
to forward the growth of pork than all the
fine buildings you can put over them.