Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-10-14
AGRICULTURAL.
srl@catNg AIMED AsessrihK Brood
c.6ssy3.

ESl@catgsg atMG Ascasrahk fSrOOl
t!@W3.
a brood SOW should be good milk
e.. However good in other respects
iif'aeAcient in this she should hardlj
be retained as breeder. An album
dance dfmilk for the first eight or ten
weeks Of 'tLeir existence is the best
preparation young pigs can have to
fit them for profitable growth in after
life. 1t is'not "lways possible to ee'
eide with certainty whether or not
Young SOW will prove to be good
milker;'btt as with cows, so with pigs,
We uey learn from observation and
tridlro Rsnow 10 some degree, judging
from '.heir general appearance, what
to expect Much will depend upon
,.he dam and grand dam IN this re-
gard. Milking qualities in swine are
IT. surely transmisaible to progeny as
IN cattle. Thus it is as true of swine
asdc cattle that this trait may be
greatly improved by retaining only
good mixers for breeders, as VIC, as
by feeding them when young wiz
view to their development as milk.
producers, rather than as fat-produc'
ers. For this reason spring and eur
" summer litters are usually the best
from which to select young brood
sows. They can be kept through the
summer almost entirely on grass,
which, if abundant and in variety.
will make them grow nicely, and at
the same time the exercise required
in grazing will keep them in good
health and thrift. BY the time cold
weather comes on, and corn is to be
fed, they will have become nearly old
and large enough for service. But
even after this, coal ioued care must be
taken that to-, much corn or other
fat.ptoiucins food should not be CIV
en- them.
We must, however, bear in mind
that at thi, period all animals natu.
rally lay up fat which afterwards goes
10 enrich the milk. Hence. while
they should not oe allowed to become
over.fat, they should yet be 20 fat as
TO supply this demand Of nature, and
to retain the general health and vigor
OF the system.
When they have dropped their first
litter, the most they will need for the
first five or eight days will be cooling
drinks and very little rich food. Wheat
bran scalded and then thnned with
cold water, to which may he added a
handful of ship.stutf or middlings,
may be given. In ten days or two
weeks the richness Of the food may be
gradually increased, great care being
taken, however, that both as to the
quality and quantity, that these chan
gss may not injure the health Of the
sow, or 80 affect her milk as to cause
soourp in the pigs. 1t is very COM
mon mistake in feeding sows having
young pigs to give them too much
strong food when the pigs are quite
young.
1t is not until the pigS are three or
four weeks old that they really begin
to tax the SOW heavily. Then it is
that the SOW should be literally and
regularly fed on good, nutritious
milk.producing food, and at the same
time the young pigs should be taught
to feed by themselves at trough out
of the reach of the SOW. Ifthus man
aged both SOW and pigs are benefited.
The strength Of the former is kept up,
and her disposition to produce an
abundance Of good, rich milk is SO
encouraged as to fix this as one Of the
best traits Of her nature; while the
pigs, by the extra feed given the n,
make corresponding rapid growth,
and that at comparatively small
cost.
Young sows brought up in the man
ner suggested, aud thus cared for with
their first filters, may be depended
upon to do as we'll or better with
their next, provided they have any
thing like fair treatment. In case,
however, SOW fails to prove herself
good mixer, after fair trial, she
should be replaced by one Of better
promise, unless for some special pur.
pose it is thought best To retain her.
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Chauving Seed.