The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-04-13
FARM AND GARDEN.
Care of Young Pigs.

This is subject that has been dis
cussed and written about until ma
jority Of the breeders, and many farm
crs have become we'll advised and well
informed, yet it is a subject which ILL
terests us all, for in Il pigs infancy is
laid the foundation for it's profitable or
Improbable life. After the pigs are far
rowed, the care of the SOW is very I'M
portant. We think it best to let her lay
as quiet as possible for twenty-four hours
or longer it she desires, letting her have
her will. But when she gets up for food
or drink we would give her fresh, cool
water, letting, or rather compelling her
to drink it very slowly. This will prevent
We think this Il better way than giving
warm water, as it cOOls the system and
allays fever. We would then feed wetted
bran, with handful of oil meal mixed
together, three times Il day, with one ear
of corn twice a day, increasing as the
pigs grow to full feed. Cows milk and
middlings is one of the best diets for
milk, one-half bran, one-half middlings
and Il small amount of oil meal soaked
together about six to eight hours make
an excellent diet. The bed should be
watched carefully; it should be kept we'll
aired and changed often. II damp places
otc"I III IL spiihh!e Win urs siaCheu i'!e
and then cover with dry straw. The tails
Of the little porkers should be carefully
watched lest they get sore or crack. The
tail of 4 pig is 4 very small item in the
avoirdupols and a very small item to the
body, but il great many breeders have
experienced a queer feeling when to thei,
surprise they notice the very finest pig of
ing to curl over it's beautiful back and
point to the North Star. About the
surest and safest way is to grease them
with lard as soon as they dry, or in Il
short time after they are narrowed. The
health Of the dam should be watched
very closely. COstiveness is sometimes
very prevalent in mothers. We generally
fourth pound of salts dissolved in warm
water. Sows also take cold very readily,
which may result in injury to the pigs.
II the SOW is timid about taking, salts
let her get little thirsty then give them
III weakened sweet milk. Salts given
to sucking sows. The condition of the
sow has a great deal to do with the
health of the pig. Securing of pigs usu-
ally comes from the mother taking cold
or from taking too much feverish milk
When pigs scour we change the feed of
the mother to dry bran and corn, allow
ing her to have plenty of charcoal Or
Sto'c Codl Ill the Nafu. we also Keen
pigs indoors for two or three days. One
of the finest appetizers we have ever
tried is one-fourth part salt, one-fourth
Stacked lime, one-half wood ashes, placed
where they may have free access to
them. At two weeks old pigs will begin
to eat little. 1t is better to feed them
in small places away from the dam.
When it can be done it is better from the
start to turn the SOW out entirely away
from the pigs when feeding, to prevent
them from being tramped upon. Soaked
corn mixed with middlings makes an ex-
cellent feed for young pigs. They should
be fed what they will eat and no moro,
feeding them very gradually at first; it is
best to develop their little stomachs
gradually. When once developed they
Will travel the road to maturity rapidly.
we let them nurse from eight to ten
weeks. After pigs are weaned they
should be provided with Il nice grassy lot
and if possible should have a liberal sup
ply of sweet milk in addition to soaked
corn. mlddlingS and oil meal We would
feed all they would eat up clean three
times a day. We do not push a pig in
tended for. breeder to the fullest ex-
tent. but give it slower growth. which
is sure to make it a better breeder and n
more useful animal. But if they are for
the butcher the sooner you can get them
fat and to the market the better, and the
more profit we realize, and that is What
every farmer and breeder is after anal
lty, economy and profit.-John w. Coon
order III Prairie Farmer. =.