Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-01-04
4. i. + !. I'D. i. 1. i.
Care Of the Brood
Sow in Winter. !.
BY q. A. Gaumnitz, Minnesota
University Farm. ;.

= r = = = y = = = . = = = . = = =
AS the most important factor in
the business OF pork production, the
brood SOW deserves, at all seasons OF
the year. the greatest solicitude OF the
p0rk-raiser for her bodily comfort and
healthy living: Particularly in winter
should he see to it that she is well
cared for in all the matters OF feed,
shelter, bedding and cleanliness For
of all domestic animals the hog is the
| most poorly protected against the con-
tingencies Of winter climate like
| that of Minnesota The custom being
that most Of the pigs shall be narrowed
in the spring, the health and vigor and
fattenng capacities of the litter may
! be largely affected by the condition in
which the sow is maintained during
! ton
How much the young porkers. with
which the SOW is preparing to present
us. are to cost at birth. depends al
most entirely upon the way she is fed
and handled A sow that produces
i
a great deal more than one which
gives us only three or four If brood
sow costs $40 year for feed and keep,
and she produces but four pigs. each
! pig will cost 81 so On the Other
hand. if she produces eight pigs. they
will have cost but $125 each at birth
Where one is growing 100 pigs. the
~
groups Of sows. respectively averae
ing as above. would amount to $l25 at
the start
! Sows are not kept fey the purpose OF
eating feed. merely. Their business j.;
tc farrow pigs and to nurse them to a
point where they can he led for mar
ket With this in view he SOW
should be So fed and managed as tc
enable her to do her work to- the hest
! advantage. She must be kept in good
condition, but without fattening and
should not be permitted to lie around
without exercising properly every day
If she is properly handled and tails t.
fulfill her duties. the SOW has no husi
ness on the farm. and The quicker she
is found OUT and disposed 1T the n+.t
ter
In feeding SOW, economy IN the "a
ton. supply of the proper nutrients
and each in the proper amount. snonlc
he kept constantly in mind Adj
vantage should be taken ut such ire
Quent happenings as that milk can b,
had at small price from creameries
or that ground rye is cheaper thar
shorts. or that corn and oil cake i:
cheaper than shorts. or that clover ha,
is cheaper than grain. The cost o
the ration should always he dealt will
most carefully.
Quantity and Quality Of Feed
Usually, as many of the farm grain:
as possible should be fed Frequent
ly. however. it is much cheaper to Use
! others rather than exclusively farm
produced feeds. The amount to 'eet
depends upon the SOW. For her keep
about 8 lbs. daily per hundred weigh
is required; or for a 400-lb. SOW, abou
3.2 lbs. daily. II the sow is in goot
condition, and. carrying litter. woult
weigh 500 lbs, it means that the SOW
is to gain 100 lbs. in weight Thi:
gain should be made gradually, an(
distributed through the time between
now and when she is going to farrow
Suppose it were November 1st ant
that she were to farrow April 1st-
$50 days Intervening time The SOW
would need to gain sc lbs, or rough
~, Z lbs daily. 1t takes about %45 lbs
of feed to make pound of gain, ant
about 3.15 lbs to make Z lbs. of gain
BY adding this amount to that re
quired for maintenance, the tota
amount to be fed, or 6.35 lbs, will bt
found. Fat sows, of course. should b.
fed separately from thin sows. What
ever their condition, success will fol
low only by careful feeding. Since
over feeding makes brood sows unde
sirably fat, and since their voraciou!
! appetite inclines them to unmusica
squealing when they are not full, i
has been an approved plan to provide
them, when they are not caring for ;
litter, with feed only moderately nu
tritious, but as bulky as possible
such, for instance, as contains .consid
cradle water. This class include:
roots, clover or alfalfa hay and milk
BY the use of these and other bulk,