Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-08-01

narrowing time. from seven 10 ten
days before narrowing she should be
put in a small lot with a shed pro-
rected on north and west, II in winter.
and plenty of shade, If in summer.
Have shed so arranged that you have
piece of scantling, say two inches
by four inches, nailed about ten
inches from ground and out six inches
to eight inches from the wall, so that
the SOW cannot get up against the
wall and mash the pigs. 1t is we'll
to watch her carefully when farrow-
ing, as you may be able to help save
some of the little fellows from being
mashed, or even getting out of the
bed and freezing when very cold.
After pigs are several hours old you
may give the SOW fresh water to
drink, as she suffers from thirst even
in cold weather. When pigs are As
hours old you may give a thin slop
of middlings, not more than one-halt
pint at first feed. This may be grad
ually increased until SOW is on full
feed at end of two weeks. But let
me warn you that more harm is done
by too early feeding and too much
feeding than any other cause. When
the SOW first farrows her breasts are
full and the secretion Of milk is as
rapid as the little fellows are able to
take. II you increase the secretion
you produce more milk than the lit
tie fellows can consume and the milk
becomes sour, producing bowel
trouble, also giving the sow fever
and destroying her appetite. This con-
dition Injuries very much the after Sc
erection of milk and stunts the pigs
so they recover slowly, if at all. Once
the SOW is perfectly well and has
been gradually brought up. to full
feed. she should then have what she
will eat up clean twice a day, or bet
ter. three times a day. When pigs
are three to four weeks old they will
begin to eat with the SOW and should
have a pen with a fiat trough where
they may eat by themselves. Take
care to feed only sweet, fresh slop,
never more than they will Leaf up
clean. II is better for them not to
get quite enough than to have more
than they can eat, which will fer
ment and cause trouble. BY proper
care pigs at ten weeks old will be
ready to wean. This is best accom-
plished by reducing the slop to SOW
by giving only dry feed and giving
pigs full rations. The process is then
gradual and no harm results to either
mother or pigs. Do not take pigs
from SOW suddenly, when her breasts
are filled with milk, and allow her to
dry up. This is cruel to the SOW, for
she suffers very much, besides Injuries
her future flow of milk. The SOW
should then have four to six weeks
rest and get in strong condition again
before being bred. If properly cared
for sows will produce two strong lit
tiers a year. Some will give five lit
tiers in two years, but it is not advisa-
BILE to breed so fast.
The boar should be in a good roomy
lot, where he can get exercise. and an
adjoining grass lot to Craze in. This
is very important as the exercise and
grazing give stamina and vigor. The
same kind of feed used for sows
should be used, except in limited
quantity, and some oats scattered each
day for him to eat He should be kept
in good flesh, but not fat, for best re-
suits.
The offspring Of your sows should
be carefully watched and note the,
milk producing qualities of the DAM
Should she not give much milk for her
young when she has proper care send
her to the butcher pen.
When you get good brood sow, one
that has a good litter of strong pigs
and raises them well. keep her until
she is too old to breed, about seven
years The same may apply to good
male. One serious mistake is made
in not keeping the males long enough.
A male from three to seven years old
will give stronger and better pigs
than a younger male. Yet the average
breeder will kill the male after the
second year.
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