The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-04-07
Care of Breeding Sows.

During the last part of this month and
throughout April a large number of pigs viii be
farrowed, and n few words relating TO the care
of brood sows is not out Of place at this time,
especially in view of the unexeeptionable sever
ity of the present season. The necessity Of pro-
viding dry, warm quarters for such sows, if not
already supplied, was never more urgent than
this spring. The heavy falls of snow have made
il nearly impossible for swine TO move about
much. They are imprisoned, TO speak, con-
fined in barns, sheds and pens, and unable TO
get much exercise aside than what can he OBJ
tanned in their quarters, and if too much crowd
ed, the brood sOws can not do well. While car
rying her young the SOW should have oppOrtuni-
ty to exercise, and be generously fed, but not
on too rich food. During a considerable portion
of ordinary winters in the latitude of the cen-
trail Western States, the weather admits of turn
ing swine out on pasture where they may occas-
ionally get at blue grass or other green vegeta-
BILE matter. Since the middle of November last
the severity Of the season has precluded this,
and hence the necessity of feeding swine liber-
al supply of vegetable food, such sugar beets,
turnips, mangolds potatoes, apples, artichOkes,
etc., and this applies especially to brood sOws.
Sugar beets are admirably suited to this purpose.
Besides being very productive and easily kept
unniured all winter in pits, they are highly rel
ished by swine, and indeed, by all kinds of live
stock, and their effect upon domestic animals is
very salutary, they aid in keeping them in a
healthy condition. Thus fed, sows scarcely
ever deyOur their own young, as is often the
case when feverish from being fed on corn for a
considerable length of time. An experienced
farmer is aware that it is an easy matter to raise
and store beets, artichokes turnips, pumpkins,
apples, and other vegetable products of this
character, and he knows, too, that when they
are fed with judgement he will be abundantly
repaid for the labor and cost of raising them;
hut the fact remains that many farmers give
this matter little attention. 1t is WELL therefore,
to call attention To il now and then and to sug-
gest, that those who fail to provide such vegeta-
BILE food for their stock, stand very much in their
own light. That many valuable brood sOws are
utterly ruined by constant corn and meal diet,
does not admit of doubt, and the Prdire Farmer,
therefore, emphasizes the Importance of more
judicious course in the selection of their food.
Another thing that is worthy of mention in
this connection is the bad habit of permitting
brood sows. when heavy and awkward, TO run
among horses and cattle, whereby numerous
and annoying accidents occur. Litters of very
fine pigs are lost and sometimes the SOW herself
dies from kick or other injury received by rea-
son of this unwise policy.
From various sources and sections we learn
that few pigs are being wintered over this
son. Wherever corn has been scarce and high
the shoats and many breeding animals also were
disposed of. In such places it is the more neces-
sary that extra care be given to the brood sows
that are left, to raise many pigs as pos
sible-Irairie Farmer.