The daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1884, 1884-05-23
pLEAsusE FOR PIGS.

Hon. james Ii. MICAH, ono Oh the
most prominent and successful hog
raiscrs in this section of Kansas. and
who has written many good articles
on the subject of hog breeding, in a
talk with us the other day emphasized
the necessity of keeping pigs clean and
comfortable. Apropos to that sub
ject we publish the following well
written article:
We are pleased to sec a disposition
to improve the sanitary condition of
swine. 1t is only within few years
that swine huve 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, and his
family have suffered everything, even
unto death, from the want of knowl-
edge. If the water has been clear and
sparkling, he thought himself most
fortunate, never dreaming that death
might Turk 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 in 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 aud 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 so
many hundred generations, that it
might be expected to become an
hereditary instinct. We think it
would take but few generations to
teach the pig the better way of clean
illness and health.
Bnt the important question is, can
pigfeeders afford to keep theirpigs in
such filth as breeds disease and death to
their herd? When pigs have sach
foul wallowings, they seldom get any
pure water, and 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 I'M
wholesome for butter or cheese. And,
as we eat the flesh of the pig, why
should not as great care be taken to
preserve his health rs that Of the
cow?
For cattle, farmers 60 to the trouble
ofmaking troushs and pumping water
into them daily, where there are not
clear, running streams, or Of conduct
ing water into them by pipes where q
spring is possessed high enough to adj.
nit of it. Human dwellings are con
sidcrcd more healthy when placed
upon an elevation, and so, likewise
should the swine house be placed high
enough to have all foul matters run
from it, instead of toward it.
We once tried an experiment to see
ifpigs would use clean water in pasture
i'm warm weather, to cool themselves
and keep off flies. We constructed ;
shallow vat, ten inches deep, and SUM
it six inches in the earth, so that thu
pigs could easily walk into it. Thi
was filled half full Of clean, clear water
The pigs would go into this vat and
lie down with the appearance of grca
comfort. This water was drawn OF
every two days, and fresh water sup
piled. The pigs not only used thi
water-vat, but abandoned water
hole some fifteen rods from it, clearl.
showing their preference for cleal
water. This vat was used for severa
seasons, and always successfully. Ant
it would be entirely feasible to us
such watts for large herds, the cxpens
| being very little.
Modern improvements in farm man
agement will also make it the hes
economy to have pig-pens so con
structed that the manure, liquid am
, solid. shall all be most scrupulousl
saved and this is best done by
Slated floor that allows the dropping
to go through, thus always keepin!
the pen clean. We have used thcs
1 sclf-clcaning pens, and find them
great saving in labor, besides afford
ing pleasure in seeing clean pig
The pig-pen should always be vent
lated, and in way not to produce
r drafts or currents of air. When farm
t ers study to give pigs as good air all
, water, and rs clean food as they d
their other farm animals, we shall hca
less of cholera and other swine dis