The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-12-12
SELECTION AND CARE OF BROOD
SOWS

SoWS
60. Hull, Farmers Institute Lee
turer,)
A few hints on the selection and care
Of brood sows may not be out of place
at this time of year. OF course, the
careful breeder has made his selection
of sows for breeding long before this,
but many farmers neglect this work
which is SO important to success in hog
raising until just before time to com
menace breeding for spring narrowing.
This is not right; as sOWs, designed
only properly selected, but properly
fed long before breeding time. This
applies, of course, more to the young
sows to be bred this fall. They should
be fed foods to develop large frames,
with good bone, rather than fat max
ing foods; foods that contain a large
amount of protein II ash, such as
a~lfalf,., wheat shorts, oil meal or tank
age.
Some of the things to look for in a
brood SOW: The mead should be broad
between the eyes, dCnOting intelligence
and short ~denoting easy feeding quail
tiles. Ears should be medium in size
and fine in texture. Back should be
strong and we'll arched. "No feet no
hog" should be the motto of the man
who is selecting brood soWs. Hoofs
should be short and stand erect. Legs
should be fairly long so the udder will
not drag the ground when sucking
her young. The udder line should be
long, hips broad and the body deep.
In sele' ting a brood sow, be sure
that she is gentle and easily handled.
A nervous, cross, high strung SOW is
dear at any price. Having selected
the sows, how shall we feed and shell
ter them? In selecting The feeds, we
should never loose sight Of the pur-
pose for which these soWs are kept.
W = want llltS > S'N " SI|e DlllH 70 a
large litter 0 strong, bony, muscular
pigs, and we must not forget that We
will not have this result unless We sup
ply the proper foods to the mother.
At least two things must be con
sidered in the feeding of any animal,
economy and fitness, and generally the
fitness of the food will also determine
the economy Of the food. have found
in many years of experience in feeding
two per cent Of the weight of SOW fed
In corn, together with all the good
alfalfa hay she will eat. makes the
cheapest balanced ration Of anything
have w fed If alfalfa cannot be
had, then wheat shorts, oilcakv, tank
age or some food containing a LARGE
amount Of protein should be substi-
tuted. A brood SOW should be kept
strong and healthy, in good flesh with
out being too fat.
Warm. We'll ventilated, sanitary,
sleeping places should be provided.
Sleeping places should admit plenty Of
sunshine, and should be frequently
cleaned, disinfected, and plenty Of good
clean bedding supplied. If brood wv
are left 70 sleep under open sheds, or
around strawstacks they pile up and
get damp, and then if fed in an open
place they take colds, which may re
suit in their death, and then We are
apt to say our hogs have the cholera,
Then this piling up of sows during the
period of CESSATION is apt to result in
many pigs being farrowed dead.
Great care should be taken that
sows, as well as other animals, are
kept free from lice or worms. If lice
are allowed to remain on the sows
until narrowing time, they will very
soon get on the pigs, and they will
soon be stunted in their growth.
Remember you a never make econ
omic pork from a pig that is not born
right or is stunted at any period Of its
life.