The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-03-08


Swine are capable of propagation at
the age of eight or nine months; but
the boar should be at least twelve |
months Old before he is admitted to the |
SOW, which would also farrow a strong |
er and better litter IL she were kept to
the same age.
The period Of CESSATION Is from seven.
teen to twenty weeks, when from Ave
to twenty or more pigs are produced.-
One boar should on no account be al
lowed to serve more than twenty sows;
aud those sows are reckoned the best for
breeding strong pigs that have at least
ten or twelve teats.
Where swine are kept solely for the
purpose Of Breeding, it is necessary to
pay the same attention TO the principle
OF selection as in other articles of live
stock. Hence, whatever sort may be
required, the boar and SOW should be
chosen as perfect in symmetry and In
all other requisites as many be practica.
BILE. The value OF the progeny will
mainly depend on the qualities of the
sire and dam, and stock can never be
raised with 80 much profit from inferior
as from superior animals. They should
also be well kept; but, as with other
cattle, care must be taken that the sows,
when expected to be placed with the
boar, are not too fat, experience having
shown that, If they are in very high con.
dition, they will seldom produce con.
siderable litter of pigs.
AS most sows will produce two litters
in the year, the breeder will find it BEN
eficial so to arrange each time offarrow-
ing that 1t may take place about the
latter end of March or early in April
and towards the beginning or end OF
August; he will thus be enabled to rear
his pigs at less cost, and certainly with
less probability of losing them from
cold, than if the second lot had been
produced later in autumn. While the
sows are in pig, they will require to be
kept on nutritious food, in order that
they may be got in good heart at the
time of farrowing; but they should by
no means be allowed to get fat, and, after
they have Uttered, it is absolutely neces
sary that they beregularly and literally
fed. If the young pigs are deprived of
their proper nourishment while suck.
ing, they will never reach the weight
they would otherwise attain. They
should also be kept well Uttered and
clean. Too much litter should not be
allowed at the time of pigging, least the
sows should overlsy their young during
the first week.
In order to prevent such accident, an
open frame is sometimes placed on
each side of the sow, under which the
young pigs can run, and thus escape the
danger. A strong rail, elevated few
inches from the ground, will answer
the same purpose.
Attic end of week or ten days after
having farrowed, the little pigs may be
let out of their styes into their yard, for
three or four hours during the middle
ofthe day and the SOW should before
this, be allowed, If possible, exercise
and fresh air for an hour or TWO each
day. This will be far preferable to total
confinement.
1t sometimes happens, at the first far
rowing, that young sows devour their
progeny. In order to prevent this, they
should not only be narrowly watched,
but also we'll supplied with food for two
or three days before the expected time
arrives. Some persons are accustomed
to wash the backs of newly farrowed
pigs with sponge dipped in luke
warm infusion of aloes and water, in
order to preventtheso from destroying
her young ones. We have not much
faith in this, ano sho.Ild not be dis.
posed to run the risk of disgusting the
mSther with her offspring. Ifseveral
sows farrow at the same time, they
should be confined in separate pens or
styes, otherwise they will be liable to
lie upon, aud so destroy, the young
The sows should be supplied with plen-
ty of water at this time. which will rem
der them better satisfied and quiet, and
less disposed to do mischief While the
SOW is sucking she should have extra
food.
The best time for killing sucking pigs
is when they are about eighteen or
twenty days old. By this time the 9TH
ers will be able to follow thesow The
males may then be castrated, and the
spaying of the females deferred for an
other week.
When it is proposed to wean the pigs
(the proper age for which purpose is
two months,) they should not be taken
from the mother suddenly, but gradu
ally separated from her an increasing
number of hours each day, aud thus
starved into eating. They may be put
into styes, purposely prepared for them
and having a small yard in which they
may run; and both the yard and the
stye must be kept perfectly clean and
well Uttered.
Their food should be good, and they
should have as much as they will eat.
Boiled potatoes for a fortnight, and then
raw food, will prove useful, with one
feed of bruised oats every day for a
month; and afterwards, corn or beans,
barley or oatmeal; unless there is a
dairy, in which case skim milk or whey
may be substituted until the clover
field is ready for them, which will
be in the beginning of May. If the
pigs are three months old, they will
thrive we'll on that food. Lettuce and
cabbage, especially if boiled, have alsc
been found very serviceable, the latter
not only on account of the succulence
of the plant, but from its promoting ar
inclination to sleep, which is OF coisid
erable importance to the growth o.
the young animals.
In the rearing of pigs no kind offood
can bear comparison with milk, oil
butter-milk. During the weaving, espe
cial care should be taken to supply them
with plenty of sweet straw, and to keep