The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-10-13
YOUNG PIGS.


The first three months Of a pigs existence
Is the most critical, aud, to it's owner, i'm.
portant period of its life, fnr it is during
tbis time that its constitution is either es
tab''shed, weakened OF destroyed. Every
impedlment to growth and strength of the
pig tells on the future hog. C.ld. damn.
uncomfortable quarters a, any time are a
detr'ment, and especially so while the pig
Is as sensitive as it necessarily must be at
the time of farrowing Clean, comfortable
bedding should replace that which may be
damp and hard. 1t is the practice of good
breeders to clean out the pen about the
second day or SO after the sow has tarrowed
ana put IN neS and clean bedding, increas>
.!ps taesa9ansity, for the pigs evidently Gu
9cy& emg up idthe fresh litter. AZ no
stage IN the life of the animal, as above in
t'ma,ed, will good care yield better return.
That perfect comfort is the highest profit is
well understood by every successful raiser of
swine. If straw is used for bedding land
nothing is much better), it is bes; to pass it
through acuttiug. box; it is then much better
than leaves or anything else that we know of
1t used the natural length there is some
risk that tie pigs may get cntanglcd and
te laid upon by tie mother. If the SOW has
warm comfortable bed she will lie quiet
until she gets hungry. She should have
all the food she wants so that she can sup.
ply her pigs with an abundance of milk
AS during the first few weeks of the life
OF her offspring her milk is their only food
1t Is OF course important that she shall sun
ply 1t in ample quantity and of quality suit
able to their digestion. She should have
generous feed not less than three ,imos
day. Sl"ps of ground feed, grass or clio
yer, as well as corn. together with roots
sufficient to keep her digestion complete
WILL enable her to supply her young with
sufficient food but this point should bc
emphasized, and we repeat that she must he
well fed and cared for if she is cxpected tn
give an abundance of milk and keen nm her
own condition. 1t is far easier to do This
than to build her up after being run down
by the tax upon her, when not fed in suck
ling her yoluS. Another thing A huns
cry SOW will cat any sind of slop or other
food, however unwholcsome, but she cannot
consume such food aud supply pure whole.
some milk, On this point an intelligent
swine breeder says In seasons when
mlllers are grinding poor and sprcuted
wheat We do not fuG mill feed safe or profit.
able. Mill feed at all seasons, and especially
such seaso IS, is an uncertain qulntity and
we prefer to know what we feed if we cx.
Pect To get good results ; consequently we
nave found our best results from mixinu
clean, sound corn, two parts, clean, sound
oats, three parts, and having them gro md
very tne, aud adding wheat, bran and oil
cake meal according to the season If we
nave no grass or roots, we supply more
bran and oil cake meal. They are our renul,.
tors Sl"p thus made and fed sweet has pro
ven most satisfactory to us. After the MOS
get to be three or four weeks old we arran%e
trough and feed for them, where thew n,v
eat and not be disturbed by the SOW. and 81
that they will not be teasing the mother for
supplies, which she cannot always afford. be
she never SO willing. The little fellows eniov
such sde,tablc, aud ifthey have trouyi
OF milk the better they like it, Milk for pirs
after four or five weeks until thew are os
many months old, will make pound of pork
'or every gallon consumed. And then to
this value we may add the unknown but i'm.
mense gain in improved condition of the
pgs."l
The SOW should have grass, if possible,
aud while she is enclosed, cut and feed it
to her In a few days, if she can have the
run OF good pasture, it will be what she
needs in addition to her other fare. Thus
cared for, your SOW will keep in good con
dltion herself and meet your wishes and
reasonable expectations in rearing a thrifty
vigorous litter of pigs --Prairie Farmer.
.