Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-03-26
Pig Eating sows.

1t is certainly most discouraging and
Improbable when fine litter of pigs
comes into the world only to be eaten by
the mother, yet this accident" is no un-
common occurrence on the average
farm. 1t is peculiar thing for
mother to do; quite unnatural apparent.
ly, but due to some depraved condition
and this indeed is the true cause. We
find on study uf the subject that it
most commonly takes place where sows
are pampered and kept indoors. Here
they are fed for week after week upon
ration of corn, with but a little thin
slop from the kitchen or an occasioal
mess of bran or middlings. The con.
sequence is that the systems becomes
loaded with carbonaceous matters, Is
hot and feverlsh and the animal slug
gish and inclined to lay on fat. The
condition is unhealthy and far differ
ent to that seen where the SOW is al
lowed to have ample exercise out of
doors and mixed ration of nitrogen
eous rather than carbonaceous foods.
Where, during the early periods of ges-
tstion, the SOW is allowed to run on
clover pasture and at the same time is
fed such foods as middlings, bran and
ollmeal her bowels are kept nicely open
and her entire system in the most vigor
GUS state. All of the functions are
normal under these conditions and
should she farrow, her instincts will
also be normal and nstural-not deprav-
ed and unnatural. The SOW becomes
cross, itseems, when she is fed heat
ing diet right along, and more especial
ly soif she be penned up and given prac-
tically no exercise il the open air.
When the pigs come they are nuis-
ance to her and she may kill and eat
them for this reason, but more often
we think 1t ls on account of an appetite
for some change, something lacking in
the rations, something craved by a
system abused and Ill supported or not
supplied with varied feeding materials.
Farmers have some idea along this
line as shown by the fact that they feed
salt pork to prevent pig eating, but this
is surely the wrong way to get at the
matter. If instead of feeding meat
they will let the SOW run out of doors
where she will have an abundance of
fresh air, ample exercise to keep her
blood circulating properly and diversity
of scene and company which every ami
NAL needs and likes, the first step will
be taken in the right direction. In ad-
dition to this management she should
have, right along during pregnancy, an
abundance of all sorts of food instead
of the everlasting rations of corn, corn'
corn. The food given should be at once
nutritious and laxative. /. The bowels
should be kept in open condition and
every function of the body healthy. For
this purpose ration containing bran is
needed and in addition to this that nat
ursl sperient, oilmeal, may be given
and roots If they can be obtained. The
grain ration need not be excessive, but
slop of middlings, oat meal, etc, is USE
full especially as parturition as time
draws nigh. Coming to her time of
trial IN this condition parturition will
bea natural function and all that is
now necessary will be to have the pigs
arrive in clean, roomy, well bedded
place where there is board around the
edge of the wall under which the young
sters can lie or run as the case may be
when the SOW is feeding. If they are
constantly getting in her way and
squesling, she may become cross and
kill them In anger OF she may lie upon