Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-08
Poor Pig Luck.

was talking with a man not long ago
who had raised hogs for years, and he
complained that his sows rarely have
full litters of fair-sized, fully developed
pigs, some being only partly grown and
others stillborn. He is a good corn
grower. his farm being fertile, and In
the course of the conversation he said If
he could raise the hogs to eat his corn
he would be we'll satisfied, but luck was
against him.
Now, have made good many mis-
takes at one time and another In farming
as we'll as other ventures, but never
blamed my "luck"; at least not until |
had studied out whether had any part
in the failure myself through want of
knowledge, lack of attention or other
equally important factor, so naturally |
began to inquire what was the cause my
friend assigned for his misfortune. His
sows were mature ones, of good breed
and breeding-Poland Chinas. His sire
was unrelated, but the breed and the re-
latiouship, or want OF 1t, cut no figure In
results, as these were practically the
same year after year. He bad tried get
tug breeding stock of Durocs also, and
vet results were no more satisfactory.
This man Is not the only one with this
kind of trouble, and yet many never dis
cover that it can be prevented by proper
care and feeding during the pregnancy
of the SOW.
LACK OF PROPER FOOD.
The SOW may be In good, healthy con-
dition at time of service and large lit
ter is the result and all goes we'll till the
demands on the SOW for the nourishment
of the unborn young are greater than
she can supply from the food she gets.
The good corn raiser usually has plenty
of bis favorite crop, and he wants to use
bis hogs we'll, so he shovels 1t out to
them.
Corn is not very "heavy" in protein,
the very element needed to make bono,
muscle, hair, ETC., and as there 10 not
enough to 60 round, one by one the pigs
IN the litter die, and In place OF being
able to count on an average OF eight OF
ten pigs to each sow, four or five Is "do
ing pretty WE'LL" At the price good
SOW 10 worth, and counting tho cost OF
her feed for six months (this assumes
that two litters are raised each year,
this number Is pretty poor return or
the investment, and 1t would pay oil
profit to study up on the feed question
and supply what the SOW needs. \
Give her q chance to run to the stack
of clover, alfalfa or cowpea hay, and sht
will balance her own ration II you feee
| her corn. II these are not at hand, sup
ply shorts, oilmeal or tankage with The
corn, and IL possible give some succulen
feed, like silage or roots of some kind
| and give the SOW freedom to move about
| 40 that BY exercise she may induce
vigorous growth Of her pigs. There ar
many who deory srtiohokes, but / hav'
found them the best ally / ever bad Il
1 the hog business, a. these will suppl!
both protein and succulence; but m!
/ experience with them will have to b
"another story" and can only repeat
| Give the SOW . variety Of feed. some o
i which must contain protein; let he
have exercise In abundance, comfortable
sleeping quarters, and keep her frou
other animals that might use her rough
", and last, let her have only drinl
which 10 slightly warm, and there VII
be no danger OF dead or undevelope
pigs at hrfowing time, and the trouble
incident to this period will pass away
| D. C. Cornman In The Farmers' Review