The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-14
Young Pigs In Winter.

Youg pigs that are narrowed in tins to
be tuged into the clover fields when weaned
makehe best and cheapest pork that can be
prodted. To have them come daring the
extrslely cold weather of this season is to
entaiw atchfulness and care upon the farmer
to ses them. There are many difficulties
in 70 way Of success with them now, as
theJare less active, and, therefore, more
lab 10 injure from the dam. Should the
eovail the provide sufficient nourlshment
theigs will often freeze to death on severe
daJ owing to insufficient bodily heat.
shild they occasionally become chilled
thFesult Will be either diarrhea or cold on
III bowels. When stnnted in growth for
VT of food or insufficient warmth tke pigs
" make no growth until the spring opens
\ the weather becomes favorable; and bat
yle profit win result unless there is care
l management.
IYoung pigs of the Suffolk and YORKSHIRE
yeeds are good feeders and grow rar
Dvs of such breeds readily assimiIate the
bod digested and convert it into fat or
hlk. Even when nursing large filters they
o not lose flesh as quickly as do sows of
ther breeds and usually are in good condi-
ioH when the pigs are weaned. But the
hthculIy with the pigs is that they become
Fery TAT and often sufocate, as excessive fat
lnteTferes with their breathing should they
have q cold. Ii is not to be inferred that
pigs of the Suffolk or Yorkshire breeds are
necessarily afflicted in ouch manner, for
those breeds of sows make good mothers and
care well for their young; but in using such
breeds the farmer should not feed too high
~ on concentrated food. As long as the
SOW keeps in high flesh she should never be
fed on corn or cOrnmeal. Cooked vegetables
will answer much better than grain, If such
food Is provided literally, but should the
SOW become thin in flesh she may be ted on
anything she will eat. For the farmers
purpose the cross of pure breed with large,
coarse sows will give the best results.
Should the sow that is to farrow be very
large an attendant must carefully take the
pigs from her and place them near a stove or
IN warrn room for a Few hours, or until
they become able TO move about. Should
any OF them be very weak or exhausted inn
merse in water at temperature of 103 de-
grees will be found very beneficial, but the
pigs so treated must be wrapped in cloth or
nsnnei and well dried In q warm room. The
d1tnculty with farrowing sows Is that tbs
pigs are liable to perish from cold before
they become strong enough to seek warmth
from their dam. Heavy sows will crush the
pigs BY falling on them much more fire.
quently IN winter than in summer. The first
week is the most critical period; II the pigs
are carefully watched for that time they will
need but little assistance afterward
The weaving Of pigs should be defesred Ia
winter as late as possible. They need sll the
food and warmth they can get and If they
eat from the trough and also derive nourish.
ment from the dam so much the better. II
kept IN growing condition they win prove
as profitable in the coming fall as can be
expected, for the clover will be IN time for
them when they no longer need assistance
from the SOW. BerkshiEss, Poland-Chinas
and Chester Whites are not as tender as the
Essexes, Suf1olks and Yorkshires, and such
pigs thrive well; bat greater loss occurs to
them sfrom the dams, which are usually
heavy, and crush them. For this season, or
in early spring. pigs of the small breeds
usually give the best results, while pigs that
are narrowed in the fall should come from
the larger breeds, as they need longer time
for maturity. There is difficulty in raising
pigs that are farroTed at this time if they
are exposed to the weather AID the SOW not
properly fed; but if farm work is scarce
there is no reason why an early period
should not be favorable.