Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-08-21

bran mashcs, and their clean straw
beds, but the hog may eat what fro
zen stuff he can find and sleep where
he can.
No wonder the hog becomes dis.
gustcd with life and takes the chol
era to terminate his abuse. Now, by
recognizing the following facts, on,
treatment Of swine will be radically
changed:
l. The principles of life in all
mammals do not essentially differ
2. In the hog we are growing an
animal chiefly for human consump-
ton.
3. Out Of every five pounds Of
food taken into the animal system
three pc ids pass out through the
pores of the skin, principally thrown
Oft by muscular exertion, consequent
~ more care should be exercised in
the management of animals with
omnivorous appetites and inclined to
Incidence and flesh, than in the man
agement Of animals like the COW or
horse, which are delicate in appetite
ard active in habits.
In word, treat the hog for growth
and health, upon principles well es-
tablished, for the care of the COW or
horse; but if it be impossible for the
farmer to give the attention necessa-
ry to secure protection. healthful food
and cleanliness, to all his animals,
and choice must be made, let not
the neglect always fall to the swine,
for the fibre of the animal, once vita
ted by scrotula-which is the neces-
sary sequence Of neglect-can never
be made, even by the most skillful
cooking, into a morsel fit for the hui
man stomach. Then, let us discuss
the subject Of swine breeding, not
from the standpoint of how to make
the most money, but solely with re-
gard to the production of the health
lest and finest animal with the fullas-
surance that this course will, in the
end, be the most profitable.
MANAGEMENT OF BROOD sOws.
Select in the fall, from the herd,
such sows as combine the greatest
number Of choice qualities.
Do not sell choice SOW because
she is easily tattened and converted
into money. Avoid the too common
practice of breeding exclusively from
gifts. Animals at maturity will
bring stronger pigs than at any prior
period, because vitality is at its high
est point, and because all the surplus
material digested can go to the
growth of the young, instead of be-
ing largely absorbed in the growth
of the animal itself. a SOW two
years old and under good manage
ment, is worth fifty per cent. more
than gilt for breeding purposes
Avoid another error. viz: that profit
lies in numbers. Let the rule b.
smaller numbers and better care.
said select them from the herd in the
fall. should have said in Septcm
Der, to be definite. Never allow
them with the tattening animals dur
ing fall feeding, for the treatment Of
the two is radically different.
In the breeding animal, we treat
and feed for a fine, thrifty develop
ment, but in the fattening animal the
glands, and all the secreting organ.
are rcpreSsed in action, to allow ma
terial to be piled mp in the system
In other words, the animal system in
tattening becomes unbalanced; tho
organs that supply the system witt
material being strengthened, while
the organs that remove material arc
weakened. l refer, of course, to
heavy breeding.
Turn the brood sows into pasture
grass abounds in nitrogen, which
build up the bone and muscle and
nerves, and gives vitality so neces-
sary to endure the strain of gesta-
ton.
Feed twice per day, oats and corn
of equal quantity, thoroughly soaked.
Feed sufficiently to keep the animal
in good condition, without accunu-
lating too much flesh. Corn is
cheaper than oats, why not feed all
corn? My reasons are as follows:
/. Oats aid digestion and tend to
keep the organs free from fever,
which is especially to be avoided in
question.
2. Oats contain large per cent.
Of phosphorus which is so essential
to the nervous system that it may be
called vital food.
3. 1t is Il mistake that corn is
cheaper food than oats for growing
animals. A bushcl of corn contains
but one pound of material that can
be made into bone, muscle, nerve or
any portion Of the animal frame, IA
bushel Of oats contains three pounds.
Thus for growth a bushel of oats
stands to bushel Of corn as three
to one; but corn is rich in material
for heat and fat, and is therefore
economical when used .judiciously
We are now feeding grass, oats and
corn; the animals are thriving finely;
but winter comes and we cannot
furnish grass. What shall be sub
stituted? In the winter l mix bran
and shorts till the weight is about
thirty pounds to the bushel and feed
in thin slop twice per day, giving
the oats and corn, cooked or soaked,
rs in the fall.
This system of feeding, with good
shelter and dry bedding, will keep
the SOW in splendid condition for
breeding, and in perfect health dur
ing the period of CESSATION. Treat
the male during the same period in
the same way. The result Of this
treatment is that there will be no
fever, no trouble in farrowing. The
pigs are large and even, the SOW
takes them kindly and suckles splen.
didly. After farrowing, feed the
bran drink, and but little else for two
days till the milk flows freely, then
commence carefully to feed as be
fore.
Will it pay? I cannot say 70,
others, it pays me better than any
system OF treatment | ever pursued
The past season my entire herd OF
Berkshire sows, that were year ole
or over at the time Of narrowing