The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-04-28
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
HOG FOOD.

A succeSsful Berkshire-swiae breeder read the
following ut the Ohio Swine Breeders Insti-
| tute:
when a breeder is looking about for boar
to head his herd it is always an important item
that he secures one that will mate we'll with
the sows that no intends TO use them UPON
| Now, after have mated my sows with the best
| boar, and the pigs have arrived at pighood, /
find the next best cross to make is a largo hand,
wisely and bountifuliy displayed at tho feed
/ trough. | know some one will say not too
I much feed but would like to know If we can
produce well-matured hogs Weighing 900 to $50
pounds mt nine TO ~ mon tbs old unless they do
eata great deal offood and good, substantial feed
at that. Twill say that il good feeding jud gment
is used in caring for tho SOW before Throwing
time, and for both SOW aud pigs afterward, that
it is surprising how much feed the pigs will
consume. / want to set the fact down that
regularity is the principal key to good judy
nent in caring for and in feeding both sows
and pigs.
Tho exhaustion brought upon tho SOW at
the time of narrowing almost invariably creates
wonderful thirst; therefore after she has re-
covered somewhat from exhaustion would
give her pure drink of water. depending uro1
the condition ftho atmosphere as to its temper
AZURE. L would commence feeding her in small
quantities, but at frequent and regular inter-
walls, on the same kind of food she had been
used to having from four to six weeks previous
to her farrowing. As an abrupt change of feed
will prove disastrous at any time in the feed
ing of pigs it will prove more SO at this critical
time. Corn, oats, and wheat bran, equal parts,
made into a slop with milk and water (more
milk the better make as good ration for the
firstsi1 weeks as anything 1 can feed Twill
say that by experience | have learned that
somewhere in the lot where the SOW and pigs
feed and exercise must be placed lump Of
rock salt, where they can lick whenever they
choose, and this to be kept by them from the
beginning to ths end.
During the second six weeks the pigs will
learn to look out for themselves. I would give
them the same kind of food as before, with
the addition of cooked potatoes, which find
that pigs have a wonderful liking for. Dur
ing this six weeks teach the pigs to eat IN
trough by themselves, which no. only keens |
them from being knocked about by the SOW, |
but also prepares them for tho weaving that |
must take place about the end Of this period. |
It is necessary for the weaving 10 take place |
gradually, so as not to get the pigs off their |
feed.
When I finally separate them, do 30 By |
taking the SOW away frem the pigs and leave I
the pigs in the lot they have been used to feed
ing in, until they are thoroughly weaned then /
l give them their usual run for exercise and /
grass, if it BIO in season for the latter. For the
next three months following the weaving / /
would feed the same ration they had been liav-
ing BEFORE except would leave ont the bran
and substitute it to some extent with oil-cake
meal. / also would have them to learn during
this period that they must depend more upon
corn for their diet by giving them whole Germ,
either on the cob or sheIled. If tho corn is dry
and hard il should be soaked
"TlIree months more will be sufficient time T
to finish them in, as they will reach the most /
desirable weights in that time that our markets
require, and as it is necessary that they put
ON the most number of pounds possible during
this period, I would feed thonI all the slop
made of corn, oats, barley, or rye and cooked |
potatoes aud all the whole corn they will eat"