Arizona republican., 1898-02-23
MANAGEMENT OF THE HOG.


 ural1y differ as environments are dis similar, yet there are certain underly- ing truths that apply to the right man. agement of pigs in any section of coun- try. Beginning with the brood SOW, we will consider what she needs to bring her to the best condition for bearing strong, healthy pigs. In thinking of her we must bear in mind that at one time, when her ancestors roamed the forest wilds, such a thing as a weakly offspring was not known. The little pigs were always well born and always thrived, supposing that their mother could find subsistence for them. Now it is true that the nearer to these original conditions to some of them, at least-we can get the better will be our success with our brood SOW. First, the natural way for the SOW is to grow to maturity somewhat slowly. She ought to have a good run; it is impossible to hurt her with too much liberty. She ought to gather most of her living in summer from the grass and clover fields. What she needs is to perfect her muscular system. to grow her bony framework, to attain to full maturity of her repro ductive organs, and then she is ready for inpregnation. It is a very weak ening thing for SOW to become load ed with fat It nearly or quite ruins her for a. breeder; especially is this true if she is fattened before she has raised one litter of pigs. The reason for this may not be perfectly under stood, but the truth of it is well known by all breeders.
 Having grown her to maturity Of powers. although not necessarily or bodily size. she is then put with the boar. There is very much difefecce in opinion as to whether young or oid boars are best, some eminent bceed- CTS sticking for immature animals, others preferring older s1res. th nk that the main thing is that the coar De not so young as to be weakllng, and that he be not used too freely, So that he is kept in fine vigOr. The age cuts little figure in the case. The sow IS O f,ranocious animal. and is reacy to breed at eight months or less; If bred too young the pigs are apt to be small and the mother to be poorly supplied with milk, yet it may result in her becoming a better sucker and mcra useful SOW than if she is allowed to at tain more mature age, when the dan ger of her becoming too fat is greater. The pregnant SOW needs very little at tention; the run of a dry pasture IS good. In summer she will need no other fuel than grass, and in winter she should by no means be confined to the pen unless there are very weighty reasons for not allowing her a run. f,1 f1,. I-f H6 of a kind that will make the tissues of the little pigs, that will supply the bones and sinew, and that will repair the waste of the sow-s own system. Corn alone will not do this. Milk is excellent where it is available, and a little wheat bran is good, or middlings
 It should never be forgotten that the SOW is naturally a grass eating animal, and that her intestines are the better for a distension with bulky food Therefore, in winter give her clover hay, alfalfa hay, or if neither of these is to be had, corn fodder, bright and nice She will eat a good deal of this, and should do so. It will pre- vent constipation. the bane of the pregnant sow and the source of the pig eating habit.
 Care must be had that the SOW while pregnant does not become too fat; it is nearly fatal to her fortunate de liverance and future success with her pigs. This is one argument in favor of feeding the bulky foods, such as wheat bran and clover or alfalfa hay. The SOW, in eating them, comfortably fills her stomach without taking into her system enough nutriment to hurt her. She must have comfortable bed, although it need not be in an ex- pensive building.
 When the time has arrived for the pigs to put in their appearance the manager should keep some watch. If the weather is very severe, it will be wise to put load of straw or manure over the little building, so as to con fine the heat. I have in this way brought out safely a litter of pigs when the thermpmste.~ registered 10 degrees be70w zero. It is not often tkat| the SOW has need of help at far rowing time It is especially unlikely that she will need help if she has been rightly treated, as I have outlined. In all my experience I have never giv- en any aid to the farrowing SOW nor lost one, this experience covering twenty-five years, and keeping from nV0 to CWeiNo DrOOQ SOWS. AIIef the pigs have come the SOW needs better feeding not all at once, but a gradual change so that by the time the little pigs are ten days old she is getting all that she wants of good, nutritious food. Here is a place for milk, if you can get it, for wheat middlings, ground wheat or barley, a trifie of oil meal is good, pumpkins are excellent; if in hn Of a1O 1r. alfalfa field must be given if possible. The little pigs get immense amounts of milk from their mother, and grow very quickly if she is well and fat, but at the same time they must be taught to eat at their own trough. This can hardly be done too soon, and the lit tie fellows are very grateful for the chance to use their young digestiOns. The food of the young pigs must be rich in protein, such as milk with mid dlings or shorts mixed with it. Corn is not to be withheld from the SOW and pigs, but it must on no account be
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