Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-27
WnY sows Eat Thelr Pics.

WHY does a SOW sometimes destroy
and eat her pigs2'' There are a good many
reasons given for this habit. Among them
the following: "Hysteria. something sim
lar 70 puerperal mania in the human fam
fly" IAN unnatural craving produced by
an unhealthy condition OF the body" An
acute thirst due TO too much grain being
fed and an insufficient supply OF water"
might give a half dozen other reasons,
but II investigated 10 the bottom they
win all be found 10 be due 10 one cause.
Improper feeding OF the mother during
pregnancy" No SOW when narrowing IN
summer. running in good pasture with
ulentv OF water 20 drink. ever eats her
MICS. II Is only when she farrOws in win
ter quarters OF in the very early spring
after being in winter quarters that this
trouble occurs.
Il makes me tired to read as did a few
DAYS ago in a western paper devoted 10
the swine industry. such advice as 20 be
sure TO feed a pregnant sow for rev
DAYS before narrowing a piece OF fat pork
daily and IL costive TO give dose OF salts
suhicient 10 move the bowels and cool
the blood" What nonsense Why not oe
sensible and tell the owner 20 make the
conditions az near Ike summer as posi-
bic and then feed the SOW. not only for a
few DAYS or weeks before narrowing. but
during the whole period on a succulent.
cooling diet. I viii stake my reputation
as a farmer that no SOW kept in roomy.
warm pen and fed literally on roots.
wheat middIIngs with a little Tnseed oil
meal added and plenty Of skim milk, VIII
ever eat her pigs
I last winter put u sows into a rOomy
basement and fed them on nine bushels OF
culIed apples and . pounds OF wheat mid
dIIngs daily. and the Il raised 100 nice pigs
and never moment was lost in watching
them: nor did they show any tendency 10
cannfbaIisrn I am this winter keeping %
on a diet Of mangels. wheat middlings and
~kfmuflk with a little oil meal occasional
IL. and I am not the least afraid any or
them viii have a craving for young pork
at farrowing time When breeding SOW
r. wintered. as so many OF them are, on
what hay she can pick up In the barnyaro
and a daily feed OF ear corn, and COM
PEELED TO sleep in the straw or under the
barn. she becomes cOnstipated and fever
fsh. and when the family arrive there is
no milk for them. but on the contrary the
udder Is caked. badly infiamed and sore
and not being able 70 reason from cause
10 effect Il is no wonder that instead OF
eating the owner. who by his foolish way
OF feeding is the responsible party, she
has hysteria and eats the pigs. The Won
der is that she lives through the ordeal Of
narrowing.
OF course. Il is better not to NEEDLE with
the SOW at this time unless assistance is
absolutely necessary. but every SOW from
her youth up should be handled and made
50 tame that the presence Of her owner
will not annoy her. so that he may be
around. but II she be fed properly as above
indicated she viii need nothing until she
Is through. when in a short time she
should be given a drink OF quite warm
water and then left until she comes from
her bed OF her own accord, which will
sometimes not be for full day or more.
OF course. II will not do to feed so much
Eucculent and laxative food as / have in
dicated. and then compel the SOW 10 en-
dure zero cold OF sleep in a snow bank or
wet straw But every man so foolish as
TO keep his sows in such quarters ought
to know enough not TO try 70 have them
raise q. family until they have had time TO
run IN pasture so as 10 fully overcome the
evil effects OF such a suicidal system Of
wiutering