Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-09-02
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
THE BROOD SOW.
sare Necessary In Her Production and Sc
lection.

.,are Necessary In Her Production and Sc.
lection.
Vo.smes have been written by cat
tie men on feeding for beef ard feed
ing for milk. Experiments NE been
succcs sfully carried out showing that
.hc ration for beef animals is not the
one lest suited for dairy stock Dairy
men have led the way in selecting and
feeding heifers To develop their powers
as milk producers. 50 there is no long
er any question that the capacity rs
well as tendency To produce milk can
be- improved by proper feeding. The
pooft of the SOW has not rested SO
largely on her powers 10 produce milk,
and the conditions Of feed and care
have not been so intelligently and ac-
curately tested in growing and han
ding sows rs cows. The up-to-date
dairyman weighs every milking and
every feed. and knows not only the
amount and quality Of milk produced
by each COW. but the cost of IL
Swine-breeders have not their BUSH
ness reduced to the same degree OF ac-
curacy, and from the nature 81 the case
never can 80 readily and accurately
test the milking capacity OF their sovs.
Their tests can only be ON the results
produced ON the suclSing-pigs. Enough
is known. however. to make IL certain
that the quantity and quality o. the
sow's milk are both affected by the
shelter. feed and care given the SOW,
not only while sucking the litter but
even while carrying the fe,us and be-
fore conception. The hcifcr that IS to
excel as mixer il fed from start TO
finish on feeds that produce vigor aud
force rather than fat and heavy flesh.
IL fed literally at the start of fat-form-
ers the habit OF readily taking on fat
becomes so established that even if the
hcifer is of family of noted mixers
this fattcning habit is found to lessen
her value A. mixer. II is accepted
Is law OF nature that an animal can
not produce great quantities of milk
and lay ON flesh rapidly ut the same
time.
Some of the most successful swine
breeders have observed the same care
leSsness in selecting gifts intended for
breeders. and have separated them
from those intended for feeders, and
have fed the breeding stock, not for fat
or early maturity. but for growth and
vlgor of constitution. The animal that
is To produce large filters of lusty.
vigorous pigs must be strong. healthy
and vigorous. The tax of maternity
does not end with the birth of the OFF,
spring. After this comes Il demand for
an abundance of wholesome milk. IL
the SOW is lacking in strength and her
digestion weak and appetite poor the
supply of milk must be less and the
quality poor. Hence the need of care
in first selecting gifts of strong con-
stitution, and second of feeding so as
to develop strength and vigor to
resist disease or yielding to the
heavy tax that comes at each
narrowing. This means plenty
of rich feed in protein rather
than fat-formers. Milk, mill feed.
clover. grass, vegetables. roots furnish
not only the cheapest. but the best
feeds for the growing sow. Corn has
been too prominent in the ration used
in growing sows.
The animal intended for meat is 10
mature early. and will not be called
ON to endure the hardShips that come
with bearing and rearing young. The
feed and care of the pig intended for a
breeder ought To lie adjusted to NEE,
the conditions Of life that follow. The
SOW is expected to live several years
and to bear 4 litter each year or often.
er, which means frequent and heavy
tax on her strength and vitality. The
barrow. ON the other hand. is
to live less than year, and
can be fed less protein and
more fat-formers. A. diet can wisely
include more corn. which, with n run
to grass and clover. will make rapid
growth of good flesh. The SOW need,
less corn. with all the grass and clover
in their season She will eat, along with
such cheap muscle and bone formers n,
oats and mill feed as can be afforded
| The well-balanccd ration for growing
the lean meat ~ much talked of nov
will be very suitable For developing
| gifts and fitting them for service. Fee,
what we may the best results can only
1 DC WITCH lAit SOW oA IN
ercise. This she gets il allowed tn,
range of grass and clover or wood lot
and is not confined to pens longer thar
is necessary about narrowing time.
To sum it all up. the profitable SOW
is grown or service and not for fat o
show. She must have VICAR and healtl
to grow strong, healthy pigs. and fur
nish steady dow OF wholesome milk
1t is not in the line of economy of feed
nor of reason. to f. d them fat for shoy
or sales by the time they are six month
old. Many prominent gilt has beel
ruined as breeder by overlooking TO
sales. In fact, the system of fittiui
young boars and sows for fall sales i
damaging to the business of breeding
as the pigs are fed for fat rather thai
for vigor and strength. The disappoini
ment that follows tie purchase q
overfed pigs are leading many to loo
for their breeding stock from herd
that are handled more nationally
breeders Gazette.