Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-05-12
Care of Breeding Saws,

During the latter part of this month ard
throughout Auril large number of pigs
will be farrOwed, and few words relating
to the care Of brood sows is not out Of plaza
at this time, especially in view of the un.
excepionable severity of tao present
season. The necessity of providing dry,
warm quarters orsuch sOws, if not already
suppl was never more urgent than this
spr ng. Inc heavy falls ofsnow have made
1t nearly impossible for swine to move
about much. They are imprisoned, SO as
to speak. confined in barns, sheds and pens
and unable to get much exercise aside than
what can be obtained in tic cir qua tiers. and
il too much crowded the brood sows can
not do well. While carrying her young
the SOW should have opportunity to exer,
else, and be generously fed. but none on
too rich food. During considerable por-
ton of ordinary winters in the latitude of
tbs central Western States, the weather
admits of turning sAine out on pasture
where they may occasionally get at blue
grass or other green vegetable matter.
Since the middle Of November last the
severity Of the season has preeIuded this
course, and hence the necessity of feeding
swine liberal supply Of vegetable food, ,
such as sugar baets, turnips, mangolds,
potatoes, apples, artichokes, Sc, and this
applies especially to brood sows. Sugar
beets are admirably suited to this purpose.
Besides being very productive and easily
kept unipjured I'll winter in pits, they are
highly relished by swine, and indeed, by
all kinds Of live sto k and their effect upon
domestic animals are very SOLITARY as they
AID IN keeping them in healthy condition.
Thus fed, sows scarcely ever devOur their
own young, and is often the case when
feverish from being fed on corn for cons
siderable length Of time.
An experienced farm 3r isawtre thaE it ! 8
-,
tichokes, turnips. pumpkins, apples and
other vegetable products of this character,
and he knows, too, that when they are fed
with judgment he will be abundantly re-
paid for the labor and cost of raising them !;
but the fact remains that many f. rmers
give this natter little attention. 1t we'll,
therefore, to ell a tention to it now AID
/ hen, and to suggest that those who fail to
provide such ve5etab 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 Prairie
Farmer, therefore emphasizes the impor>
tance of more iudciOus course IN the
selection of their food.
Another thing that is worthy of mention
in this conn ection is the bad habit of per-
hitting brood sows. when heavy and Vk>
ward, to run among horses and cattle,
| whereby numerous and annoying accidents
occur. Littters Of very fine pigs are often
lost, and sometimes the sow herself dies
from kick or other injury received by
reason of this unwise policy. .....
From various sources and sections we
learn that few pigs are being wintered over
THIS season. Wherever corn has been
scarce and high the shoats and many
Dreeolng animals also were disposed OF. In
such places it is the more necessary that
extra care be given to the brood sows that
are left. so as to raise as many pigs as pos
sible.-[P Prairie Farmer.