Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-19
THe CARS oe PIGS AND sow.

THE CARS OF PIGS AND SOW.
In order to get the best results from
pigs, the care Of them should begin long
before they are born. 1t must begin with
the sow and instead Of feeding her corn
while pregnant. rs a great many do
while corn Is so plentiful and cheap, she
should be fed with q ration that will
build up bone and muscle, for this is the
most important building up period In the
growth Of the hog. At this time the
foundation Is being laid on which to
build large, healthy body. The bone
must be large enough TO hold this large
body, or else il will be broken down ;
and once broken, YOU might ss well sell,
for IL will never be any better.
know that some farmers will argue
that they cannot afford TO buy bran. and
will az the same time be feeding corn,
while IL viii pay them well to trade
some corn for bran. A SOW that Is going
to have pigs should be fed very little
corn the third month along. and none
whxtever the fourth month. The first
two months. considerable corn may be
fed 10 get her in good flesh; for be-
li.ve SOW should be in good flesh, not
fat. As YOU diminish the corn ration.
increase the bran. Also give her roots
IL YOU have them, and plenty OF good
clover hay. IL will surprise you, II you
never fed your hogs clover hay, TO see
how much they will eat. We are fstten-
ing - hogs that will weigh about $50
pounds spiece. They eat nearly 30
pounds of clover hay every day. So
give your brood sows some every day !;
IL will do them good.
Now We are ready for the pigs. When
YOU find good litter Of pigs some morn
ing, don't go and fix ups swill pail full
OF wsrm bran nash and give the SOW the
first good meal she has had all winter,
but on the contrary, give nothing but
water the first day. Don't disturb any
more than possible. Watch her TO see
that she does not lie on the pigs; In saw
ing all the pigs Is where the greatest
profit comes In.
The second day after fsrrowing she
should have little swill with some bran
stirred in. decrease gradually on her
feed. and let it be week or ten days be-
fore she ia put on full feed. After this
she may be fed all she can eat. Too
much feed at first will make too much
milk. The little pigs can't use sll Of IL.
IL will do them harm hy giving them the
scours, which will be their first setback
on their short Journey through life.
A pig, 10 make the most money for
YOU, should not have the least setback
from the time il comes into the world
until IL is ready 10 sell, but should be
kept growing every minute OF Its life.
IL should not even be allowed 10 come 10
y stsnd-still for single day. Ii should
always weigh more at night than IL did
the morning before.
As soon ss the little pigs begin to get
into the trough, pen should be built
close 10 where the SOW Is fed, and some
little troughs placed in il. A little milk
should be put in them, and you will soon
see the pigs slipping through the cracks
10 these troughs. As they learn 10 eat,
take a portion OF the sow's feed and give
II 10 the pigs. Give them the best, aud
all they will eat up clean, three times n
day. As the pigs begin TO eat more,
gradually diminish the sow's swill and
give IL 10 the pigs; and AZ the same time
you are diminishing the swill, gradually
Increase her corn ration. This will keep
her from getting too poor while sucking,
These pigs should have the run OF a
pasture lot, and should not be fed very
much corn at first. There may be n
gradual increase OF corn until the last
two months Of their stay with you, when
they should be flushed of by giving
them all the corn they can eat up clean,
when they ought 10 sell ut six months
old weighing not less than 200 pounds
eaeh.-Cor. Country Gentleman.