The Iola register., 1901-04-19
PLAN FOR HOG PASTURE.

PLAN FOR HOG PASTURE.
the acre and cultivate It in when going
through with the corn cultivator the
last time, usually not deeper than two
to four inches. By this time the ground
Is generally quite well shaded enough
by the corn to hold the necessary
moisture to insure a good stand Of
clover even In dry season
The next year pasture 9 will be
your clover grazing ground, and in
pasture B the clover sod will be turn
ed under for corn and seeded down to
clover again as before. Every year
change the clover on the corn pasture
and the corn on the clover pasture. By
this continual exchange of grazing
ground the pasture soils will be get
ting richer every year and growing
larger corn and more clover. This Is
also good place TO pick out your seed
corn
Make the feeding floor of cement. 1t
was stated that 1t was thought to be
better not TO have a roof above the
feeding floor, 80 as to get all the sun
shine on top of II, but that there could
be a three foot tight board fence
Ground the sides of the floor to keep
off the chilly winds.
! Fig. d is water barrel with an au-
tomato fountain.
Provide dry, comfortable sleeping
quarters, with plenty Of light, sunlight
being the best disinfectant. On a cold
winter day you will frequently see the
! hog go out 10 Craze on clover field if
he can get at It If each one of the pas
! lures contains Is acres, the plant out
lined will usually be sufficient for $50
to 175 swine.
In paper on the care of the sow and
| her litter read before the Illinois Swine
Breeders association Mr.. IT. b. Hart
said:
1t is of greatest consequence that the
SOW be fed in a manner TO put her in
the best possible condition before far
rowing in order to maintain the health
and vigor of the SOW and litter after
farrow. The feed before farrowing
should be about the same as after far
row, except with old sows it should
not be so liberal. The most important
| factors to be considered are shelter,
proper feed, cleanliness and exercise,
good blood, pure water and proper mat
ings. Good shelter is necessary for OBJ
vious reasons.
Cold drafts must positively be avoid
ed, as pigs and young hogs are per-
haps more susceptible to colds and
pneumonia than any other animal. Cold
drafts will produce these Affections
sooner than you know, and when the
pigs once contract the disease they are
only little way from the grave. The
shelter having been provided and TAX
| ing for granted that the SOW is In good,
strong condition, neither poor nor Ia
den with fat, it is now necessary to
look after the new arrivals and get
them properly started on the road to
market and crowd them along
1t is conceded by experienced breed
ers that for the first three days of the
pigs life It's dam should be fed very
moderately on thin slop. Heavy feed
ing at this stage will produce greater
flow of milk than the little fellows can
consume, leaving the surplus to fever
and curd In the udder, which In turn
will prove disastrous to the life Of the
pig. The feeding of swill to the sows
while the pigs are young will also pro-
duce evil results, usually causing dys-
entery, and when this trouble once as
sumes aggravated form it is most sure
to claim some of the best of the litter
as shining marks. 1t is probable that
more pigs are lost by improper feeding
of the dam during the first week OF the
pigs life than from any other cause.
About a week will be required to bring
the SOW up to full feed. Then rush the
whole family along till weaving time,
1t has been our practice to allow the
pigs to run and feed with their dams
till about 10 weeks old, at which age
they will practically have weaned
themselves. At this period separate
pen should be provided in which to
slop and feed the shoats, 'leaving the
old sows TO weep and wall on the out
side" A couple of ears Of corn would
be good for the old SOW, but If 1t is in
tended to keep her over for another lit
ter her pr nal feed should be grass.
1t has been niy practice to clean out
the sleeping apartments at least once a
week and oftener II the bedding be-
comes damp or soiled. Damp bedding
is about as disastrous to the thrift Of
the pig as cold drafts.