Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-22
PLEASURE FOR PIGS.


Hon. James r. Mead, one of the
most prominent and successful hog
raisers in this section of Kansas, and
who has written many good articles on
the subject of hog breeding, in talk
with us the other day emphasized the
necessity of keeping pigs clean and
comfortable. Apropos to that subject
we publish the following well written
article:
We are pleased to see disposition
to improve the sanitary condition of
swine. 1t is only within few years
that swine hvve been supposed in
danger from any sort of filth. In fact,
some farmers have acted as though
they considered filth necessary to the
profitable thrift of the pig. A pig
yard must include mud hole for
their health and comfort. says writer
in the Stock journal.
There is, probably, no part of the
farmers education SO much neglected
as that relating to the sanitary effects
of air and water. He, himself, aud his
family have suffered everything, even
unto death, from the want of knowl-
edge. Ii the water has been clear and
sparkling, Ire thought himself most
fortunate, never dreaming that deaf h
might lurk in it from the teachings OF
the privy or slop-water sink. But as
to his pig-yard, he has usually sought
the lowest place, so that surface water
would settle there and furnish an ex-
cellent mud hole i'm dry time. This
is lust the place to breed animal germs,
which the pigs drink in with the fiji thy
water, and in their stOmachs they soon
quicken into life and activity. The
pigs become suddenly i'll, and the own
err wonders what can be the cause The
slime and filth in which the pigs wal
low suggest nothing to explain the
cause to him.
1t is SAID that the nature of the pigs
is to wallow in filth; but do those who
say this ever think how much man has
to do in educating the pig in his filthy
ways? Man has kept him filthy SC
many hundred generations, that il
might be expected to become an
hereditary instinct. We think il
would take but a few generations ia
teach the pig the better way of clean
illness and health.
Bnt the important question is, can
pigfeeders afford to keep their pigs in
such filth as breeds disease and death to
their herd? When pigs have such
foul wallowings, they seldom get an,
pure water. aud the foul water contain
mates the blood, and brings disease.
II would be considered gross misman-
agement for dairyman to allow his
COWS to drink foul water. 1t is known
that it passes through the blood of the
COW into the milk, which becomes un-
wholesome for butter or cheese. And
as we cat the flesh of the pig, why
should not as great care be taken &c
preserve his health rs that of the
COW!
For cattle, farmers go TO the trouble
ofmaking troughs and pumping water
into them daily, where there are moi
clear, running streams. or Of conduct.
ing water into them by pipes where 4
spring is possessed high enough to adj
nit oft Human dwellings are con.
sidcred more healthy when placed
upon an elevation. and so, likewise
should the swine house be placed high
enough TO lave all foul matters run
from it, instead of toward it.
Weon tried an experiment to see
ifpigs would use clean water in pasture
in warm weather, to cool themselves
and keep off flies. We constructed a
shallow vat, ten iuches deep, and sunk
it six inches in the earth, so that the
pigs could easily walk into it. This
was filled halffull of clean, clear water.
The pigs would go into this vat and
lie down with The appearance of great
comfort. This water was drawn of
every two days, and fresh wafer sup
piled. The pigs not only used this
water-vat, but abandoned a wafer
hole some fifteen rods from it, clearly
showing their preference for clean
water. This val was used for several
seasons, and always successfully. And
it would be entirely feasible to use
such watts for large herds, the expense
being very little.
Modern Improvements in farm man
agement will also make il the best
economy to have pig-pens so con-
| structed that the manure, liquid and
solid, shall all be most scruDulousiy
saved and this is best done by a
Slated floor that allows the droppings
to 90 through, thus always keeping
the pen clean. We have used these
self-cleaning pens, and find them a
great saving in labor, besides afford
ing a pleasure in seeing clean pigs.
The pig-pen should always be ven'i-
lated, and in way not to produce
drafts or currents of air. When farm
ers study to give pigs as good air and
water, and as clean food as they do
their other farm animals, we shall hear
less of cholera and other swine dis
eases.