The Van Buren press., 1897-09-25
FARMER AND DPLANTER.
THE BROOD SOW.
csre Necessary In Her Production and Sc
lection.

| Esra Necessary In Her frouuctioh anu 90
| lection.
Volumes have been written by cat
tie men on feeding for beef and feed
ing fog milk. Experiments have been
successfully carried out showing that
the ration for beef animals is not the
one best suited for dairy stock. Dairy
men have led the way in selecting and
feeding heifers to develop their powers
as milk producers, SO there is no long
er any question that the capacity as
well as tendency to produce milk can
be improved by proper feeding. The
poofit of the SOW has not rested SO
largely on her powers to produce milk
and the conditions of feed and care
have not been SO intelligently and ac-
eurately tested in growing and han
ding sows as 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 it
| Swine breeders have not their busi-
ness reduced to the same degree OF ac-
euraey, and from the nature of the case
never can so readily and accurately
test the milking capacity of their sows.
Their tests can only be on the results
produced ON the sucking pigs. Enough
| is known, however, to make it certain
that the quantity and quality of 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 fetus and be-
fore conception. The heifer that is to
excel as mixer is fed from start to
finish on feeds that produce yigor and
| force rather than fat and heavy flesh.
| If fed literally at the start of fat-form-
ers the habit of readily taking on fat
becomes so established that even if the
heifer is of a family of noted mixers
this fattening habit is found to lessen
her value as mixer. 1t is accepted
as law of nature that an animal can
not produce great quantities of milk
and lay on flesh rapidly at 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 litters 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 demand for
an abundance of wholesome milk. If
the SOW is lacking in strength and her
digestion weak and appetite poor the
supply of milk must be less and the
gnality 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 to
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 be adjusted to meet
the conditions of life that follow. The
SOW is expected to live several years
and to bear litter each year or ofterA
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. AS diet can wisely
| include more corn which, with run
to grass and clover will make rapid
growth of good flesh The SOW needs
less corn, with all the grass and clover
in their season she will eat, along with
such cheap muscle and bone formers as
oats and mill feed as can be afforded.
| The well-balanced ration for growing
| the lean meat so much talked of now
will be very suitable for developing
| gifts and fitting them for service. Feed
what we may the best results can only
| be had when the SOW has plenty of ex-
ercise. This she gets if allowed the
range of grass and clover or wood lots
and is not confined to pens longer than
is necessary about farrowing time.
To sum it all up, the profitable SOW
| is grown or service and not for fat or
show. She must have VICAR and health
to grow strong, healthy pigs and fur
nish a steady flow of wholesome milk.
| 1t is not in the line of economy of feed,
nor of reason, to feed them fat for show
or sales by the time they are six months
old. Many prominent gilt has been
ruined as breeder by overfeeding for
sales. In fact, the system of fitting
young boars and sows for fall sales is
damaging to the business of breeding,
as the pigs are fed for fat rather than
for vigor and strength. The disappoint-
ment that follows IL purchase of
overfed pigs are leading many to look
for their breeding stock from herds
that are handled more rationally.-
| Breeders Gazette.
ENRICHlNG THE SOIL.